Laguna Beach Kelp Snail

A kelp snail (Norrisia norrisia) on kelp at Laguna Beach, California.  The body of the snail is bright orange while the shell is usually off white or brown.  These are very common to see while snorkeling or diving, just look closely at kelp.  The kelp twists with the waves, so keep looking if you don't see any.  The snails supposedly crawl up the kelp during the day, then down the kelp at night.  From time to time you can see them while tide pooling, but not very often.  I've never seen them on washed up kelp either, so they must know to find new kelp when that happens.

Laguna Beach Garibaldi

If the visibility is good, you can see Garibaldi (the bright orange fish) every time you go snorkeling in Laguna Beach.  In some places (like here in Diver's Cove) they will swarm over to you because some divers feed them.  They are near the kelp and reefs in shallow water near shore and are obviously very easy to see.  They are illegal to fish in California.  You can't see any in this picture, but the young Garibaldi have iridescent blue spots, stick very close to the reef and are challenging to take pictures of.

Laguna Beach Round Ray

A round ray or round stingray seen while snorkeling off of Diver's Cove in Laguna Beach, California.  They are hard to find in Laguna Beach, but very common in the back bay Newport Beach and areas of Seal Beach.  Don't confuse them with the more common and larger bat ray.

Laguna Beach Pyrosome

A pyrosome floating around in Laguna Beach, California.  These pink jellyfish like tubes are uncommon, but apparently 2012 was a banner year for pyrosomes.  They seem to wash up to shore occasionally,  so if you see a couple you'll see hundreds.

Laguna Beach Kelp Crab

A Southern Kelp Crab hanging on to the kelp in Diver's Cove, Laguna Beach, California.  Search the kelp and you're likely to find several, they seem to be more later in the year.  If the water visibility is poor, you can entertain yourself trying to find these.

Laguna Beach Bat Ray

A bat ray at Diver's Cove, Laguna Beach, California.  This is a smallish one, you usually find them on the edge of sandy areas on the sand.  They are very common in the area and you can find them just about every time you go out snorkeling or diving if you're looking for them.

Laguna Beach Sea Star

A sea star (no longer called starfish) in Fisherman's Cove, Laguna Beach, California.  You can see these while snorkeling, or tide pooling (at low tide).  They generally hang out on the piles of mussels.

Laguna Beach Sea Anemone

A sea anemone just off the shore at Fisherman's Cove, Laguna Beach, California.  I think it is a giant green sea anemone, but I'm not positive.  You can see many of these snorkeling on the right side of the beach or in tide pools all over the area.

Lake Campground and Jackson Lake Review

A typical campsite at Lake Campground.

Just back from Lake Campground California, west of Wrightwood in the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest.  It looks like the campground is remote, but its really not, with other campgrounds right around it and a lodge touching the east side, it is also fairly close to the road (for this reason I would argue the south side campsites are better with the exception of the one next to the toilet).  There are 8 well spaced out campsites, which on summer weekends are 100% full, there are two pit toilets, one latch didn't work, but they were clean.  There are probably four water faucets.  The campsites are typical fire ring, bear box and some semi-flat land to pitch a couple tents.  Parking might be rough if you have two cars depending on the site, but the road isn't that far at all.  The campsite host was great and actually is based in the next campsite over, Mountain Oak.

The campground is about a quarter mile walk from Jackson Lake, shown below.  Jackson Lake is a small lake, not really suitable for anything but swimming and fishing.  Even kayaking would probably get old quick.  There is a rope swing and it would probably be fun to go in after a day of hiking and then just walk back to the campground.  It was pretty busy on the weekend.

Anyway, June is a nice time of year to visit the area, the weather was great, a little windy, but good temperature.  It is a surprisingly close 75 minutes from orange county with no traffic, twice that on a Friday night.

The small beach at Jackson Lake, CA. 

A view of pretty much the entire lake.

Huntington CA Dog Beach

Huntington Dog Beach is right off the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Huntington Beach California.  The whole point of the beach is your dog can run around off leash.  It is pretty much the only decent beach in the LA / Orange County area you can do this.  A few tips:

• Bring quarters for parking (currently $1.50 an hour, so don't bring 4 quarters and think you're good)
• Come early if you want to park close (this means before 10) otherwise be prepared to park 1+ miles away
• There are two lots, but they fill up fast and people hover for spots creating a long line
• The best thing is to throw your bike / scooter / skateboard in back of your car, drop your kids off then find parking wherever and ride to meet up
• There are only two bathrooms, which usually have 4-5 people in line, so plan ahead
• If you don't have a dog go to the main beach (Huntington beach...), which has more bathrooms, more parking, and shops close by
• If you get tar on you, it comes off with nail polish remover, it won't just wash off

Laguna Beach

This picture is the beach off brook street.

A few tips:

• Bring quarters for parking, meter parking is usually closer and cheaper than lot parking
• Drop everyone off at the beach with all the stuff then troll for parking by yourself
• Staying in town is not necessary, you can save $400 a night by staying someplace 15 minutes away
• If you want to stay in the water for a while, you'll need probably want a wet shirt
• The water was surprisingly clear, visibility was good
• Getting out on the water by kayak or SUP is worth it
• Lots of great places to eat within walking distance (unlike say some parts of Huntington Beach)
• High tide goes quite a bit up the beach, so if you plan to stay for a while, park your stuff high up

Aliso Beach, Laguna Beach CA

My Review:  Aliso Beach is right next to Treasure Island Beach in Laguna Beach, CA.  Aliso beach has a pay parking lot right next to it, Treasure Island has a pay garage up the bluff. Both are right off the pacific coast highway.  Come early if you expect to get a spot on a weekend.  The beach is nice, but swimming can be iffy, the waves break at the shore so it can be rough.  Both the north and south side of the beach have rocks and tide pools.  The north side also has a natural arch tucked off the main beach a bit, which is great for a picture looking south, you may have to get in line as it is popular with photographers.  No dogs allowed on the beach and I even saw a lifeguard kick a couple of dogs off the beach, so don't even try it.  The Montage resort is next to Treasure Island Beach.

Orange County Park

I said before that Sacramento had the best parks, but Orange County certainly gives them a run for their money.  This is a random Orange County park, one of many small ones scattered around.  Sacramento parks can have giant trees, Orange County's are smaller and better manicured overall.

Scott's Flat, CA

Scott's Flat Lake is about 90 minutes from Sacramento, California up highway 49.  The campground is big, expensive, and crowded on weekends.  They do have pay showers and reasonably nice restrooms though.  In July the lake water was perfect and swimming was great, the lake wasn't that crowded, boats and water skiing are allowed, personal watercraft are not.

Loon Lake, CA

Loon Lake Reservoir is in the Eldorado National Forest about two hours east of Sacramento, California.  It has a campground and boat ramp.  Loon Lake is at a higher elevation than Ice House Reservoir (which you drive past to get to Loon Lake), so it opens later in the year and is usually less crowded.  A general store is nearby at Ice House for supplies and showers.  My wife claims the boating at Loon Lake is superior to that at Ice House, but you really can't go wrong either way.

Ice House Reservoir, California

Ice House Reservoir is in the Eldorado National Forest is about 80 minutes east of Sacramento, CA.  It is a bit cold in June, but its the lowest elevation of the Sierra lakes on Hwy 50.  We saw a bald eagle flying around while we were on the lake.  It has a paved boat ramp, a few camp grounds, and a $7 day use fee.  Just a couple miles away is a general store where you can fill up on the things you forgot.

San Francisco's Pier 39

Another picture of Pier 39 on a crowded weekend.

Golden Gate Bridge

This shot of the Golden Gate bridge is from the first stop over on the Marin side, I must look like a camera geek because 3 people stopped me to take pictures of their groups while I was walking around over there.

San Francisco's Pier 39

Turkey

Northern California is infested with "wild" turkeys, they're everywhere, this one was at River Bend Park in Sacramento, one of about 30 I see regularly. There is a bunch of turkeys that hang around work too, and that is one large business park with not much uncontrolled space.