family

San Gregorio State Beach day with the family

 in General Fashion  tagged beach / family / staycation / summer 2020 by

san gregorio state beach san mateo coast

What a beautiful week-end! We decided it was time to venture to the coast for the first time since the lock-down. Temperatures were forecasted to hit well over 90 degrees, so the coast sounded like the perfect escape. Well, we did escape from the heat! It was in the 50’s along the coast, and the wind was very strong! My hat blew off several times, and we found ourselves bundled up on the beach instead of soaking in the rays. haha That’s life on Bay Area beaches!

Despite the crazy wind, and the cold air, we tried walking a bit, and also just relaxing on the beach while bundled up. We also enjoyed a little picnic we hiked in with us. It was a fun time with family while relaxing with the sound of the waves.

People were coming onto the beach, and only lasting about a half hour before leaving. The wind was pretty strong, so most families decided to not stick it out. In the era of social distancing, this worked out really well for us since we had a large space between us and the other beach-goers. If you can gut out cold wind, it’s a great way to have the beach to yourself! Instant social distancing! haha

My trusty adidas sweatshirt kept me warm so I could chill on the sand. While my hat kept blowing off head, it did it’s job of keeping the sun off my face. That’s all I can ask, right? I had an easy walk on the beach in espadrille slides, and my flip flops were great for testing the water. This straw tote bag was perfect for carrying my purse essentials as well as a book, hand sanitizer, and Clorox wipes. Loved it!

All in all, it was a fun beach day! If you are looking to head out to the beach, and are unsure of how social distancing will work, San Mateo County has great practices in place to ensure people stay apart. They have signage on all the paths, and the ranger reminds people to stay apart and wear a mask. People were really good at maintaining a distance, and everyone was wearing a mask. Love my fellow Bay Area people!

Tips for going to the beach in the covid era:

  1. Go early and avoid holidays. Try to schedule your beach day when crowds will not be going. Holidays and weekends are the most crowded. If you can snag a day off during the week, do it!
  2. Bring a back-up mask. Just in case your mask gets too sandy, or it gets wet, have a spare mask on hand.
  3. Bring your detox kit! Bring your own hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and hand cleaning wipes. Try to use the bathroom at home before you head out to the beach to avoid needing to use the public restroom.
  4. Respect the space of others. If you arrive when the parking lot is near capacity, the beach might be crowded. Try to make your space away from other people. Just because you want a great view of the water, doesn’t mean you should risk social distancing. Stay at least six feet, if not more, away from other groups on the beach.
  5. Have fun! The beach is an affordable and beautiful way to enjoy the day. Find your space, and stay safe. You will have a blast!

My beach essentials online:

Have you ventured out to the beach since the lockdown? What was your experience?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Almaden Quicksilver Park Mine Hill Trail

 in Fitness  tagged almaden quicksilver / family / hiking / outdoor fitness by
Quicksilver Mining equipment on display at the Almaden Quicksilver Park Hacienda Trailhead in San Jose.

We are have having so much fun exploring the trails in Almaden Quicksilver Park! We decided to park at the Hacienda Trailhead in order to catch a trail from there. It was fun to see some historical mining equipment near the trailhead, and learn more about the quicksilver mining history in the area. Isn’t the equipment cool!

There are a few trailheads you can catch at the Hacienda entrance, and we decided to hike the Mine Hill Trail. It was a nice, uphill hike with views of Almaden Valley’s more rural areas. We could see historical homes, buildings, and rolling hills. It was really pretty. The trail was wide too, allowing for easy social distancing.

Mine Hill Trail in Almaden Quicksilver Park was slightly busy, but I believe it was due to the fact that hiking is one of the few things open right now.

This trail attracted more than just hikers. We encountered a lot of bike riders, and a few runners and dog walkers. The bikers rode pretty fast, and as a hiker, you had to be aware of them or you would get run over. Just a warning 🙂

Once again, I wore my balaclava as a mask. It’s easy to slip up and down when people are around. I would say 80% of the people on the trail were wearing masks. If you go, be ready to turn your head if someone comes by without a mask.

Shop my hiking gear:

This was a great trail for my kids to hike on. It wasn’t too steep, and they were able to keep up with only a couple of breaks. There was a mix of bright sun and shade during the hike. It was a comfortable hike, and it felt like medium intensity. We really enjoyed the Mine Hill Trail!

I hope you are getting out there and enjoying the nice weather! To find the Hacienda Trailhead in San Jose, take Almaden Expressway to Almaden Road. Continue all the way through the historical part of Almaden. Shortly after the museum, which you can’t miss, you will see the parking lot for the trailhead. There are several trails you can catch there. We will definitely go back!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Five books to read while shelter in place

 in Entertaining / Home  tagged books / family / lifestyle by

5 books to read while sheltering in place

Do you always want to read a book, but find yourself complaining about not having the time to read one? Well guess what! Now you do! Since we are all staying home, social distancing, and sheltering-in-place, we have an increased amount of free time on our hands. Unless you are one of our community heroes at a grocery store, hospital, or other essential service. If you are an essential service employee, I salute you and I thank you for your dedication to the community. You are truly helping all of us get through this!

If you are like me, and are hunkered down at home, then you have time to read. After all, wouldn’t you like a reason to get off your screens? I would!

I am currently reading “Season of the Witch,” which is about how San Francisco shaped into the city it is today. As someone whose family has been in San Francisco since the gold rush, this is very interesting to me to read. While it’s opinion differs from those in my family who lived through it, it is an interesting read and perspective.

Another good read is “Modern Etiquette Made Easy.” This is a great book for seeing how etiquette plays out in our modern era. Many of us learned older versions of etiquette growing up, so this is a great way to see what’s new, and what’s still relevant. My teen girls really enjoy reading this book too. So if you have a teen, this is a great time to teach your teen modern etiquette through this book. even if you don’t have a teen, this is a fabulous read for any age. I believe it was written for adults like us. Love it!

Shop my favorite books to read while sheltering in place:

What are some of your favorite books to read right now?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy