"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world."…read more I don't trust PG&E, the world's largest utility. Ever since that neighborhood in San Bruno imploded in 2010 I've been leery. Thankfully, I'm not the first person who's felt this way. Back in the late '50s/early '60s PG&E began erecting a nuclear power plant right beside the ocean on Bodega Head in the town of Bodega Bay. The site sat directly atop the San Andreas fault (that worked so well in Fukushima...) near environmentally sensitive dairy farms and ranches. PG&E got as far as drilling a hole in Bodega Head; a hole 142 feet across and 120 feet in depth. A hole sizable enough to drop a 10-story building into if one desired though the actual plans for that hole were to contain the biggest boiling water nuclear reactor ever. And then the opposition began. A small group of thoughtful, committed citizens banded together to fight it. Their opposition ran on for five+ years and represented an early step in the environmental movement. After years of loud and ongoing opposition as PG&E pressed on for their "Atomic Park" (sic), the PUC in 1963 rejected PG&E's request. The hole was left to fill naturally and has now become a freshwater "pond" for birds and wildlife. PG&E eventually sold the entire 225-acre site to the state park district for $1 and abandoned their scary plans for the site. Hole in the Head is, today, most easily viewed from the parking lot at Campbell Cove. There you'll see a little walkway and signage which will take you to a viewing area looking out on the large water feature. Signage on the Bodega Head trail will also alert you to Hole in the Head which can be seen far below that trail. Without historical knowledge there's nothing either interesting or exciting about this body of water. Only when you know its history however, and realize that California's Environmental Quality Act and California's Coastal Commission were borne out of the fight against PG&E's plans do you begin to respect it as you should. * That opening quote is attributable to cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead. * Read more about the hole here: http://sonomacountyhomesforsaleonline.com/bodega-bay/hole-in-the-head-bodega-bay-ca/ and http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2296499-181/battle-over-bodega-head-nuclear * Truth be told, I've not been a fan of PG&E since far before the San Bruno incident. * Oh no she didn't... oh yes she did. I just reviewed a hole in the ground.

If you have never gone on one of these events, add it to your bucket list…read more You start off on this little beach hidden off of Hwy 1 just as you are heading into Gualala. As you drive up, the smell of bbq is wafting through the summer air. On the evening that we went, we had the choice between Steak or Lobster. We had the lobster...yummy. Afterwards, we loaded into our kayaks and slowly made our way down the Gualala River (I think that's the river), until we ended up at the ocean...all under a huge bright full moon.

What a community treasure. First off, the grounds are gorgeous, totally lush with native plants and…read morewildflowers, and I went in July so it was pollinator heaven, you couldn't look anywhere without seeing blossoms just oozing pollen. I felt like I had stepped back in time to visit the original Secret Garden. The woman who met us near the apple orchard was charming and seemed to have an encyclopedic understanding of the life of insects and their relationships to plants. The grounds are old, which is a part of the magic- butterflies painted on old barns, rambling wild roses, passage ways flanked by goldenrod and seemingly ancient bay trees. I have never seen so many quails, hummingbirds and bees! Best of all, my daughter and I wanted to wander, we aren't necessarily tour types, and the docent seemed to get this right away. She just let us go do our thing. We are signing up for one of the Moth Nights, now that we know about it. I read other reviews about folks feeling disappointment in not seeing butterflies, and as a naturalist, I have to laugh. One, butterflies are like all of us, they have times that they are around and other times they are not. Some live locally, some just pass through. Depending on the time of day, where you are standing, etc, you may see a ton or none. Welcome to nature. As for people wanting posters- no thank you! So tacky. Buy a guide book, observe, schedule a tour. Personally I don't want this garden to have the feel of a museum, I want to wander, wonder, observe, and hopefully, leave with a feeling of curiosity that I can continue to explore.

I love Hallberg Butterfly Gardens (see previous review). But while they get five stars for concept…read moreand purpose - butterfly conservation and education - they get one star in execution. In all the times I've been here - and it's many over the years - I have never seen a single employee on the property. There is no one available to answer questions, tell you about butterflies, or even discuss events. We signed up for an event today, and there was not a single person on the property. We wandered around for an hour and found NO ONE. Oddly enough, you can't get in touch with them via phone, either, because no one ever answers. Try for yourself and see. There's no outgoing info when you call, and you cannot leave a message. Amazingly, there aren't even posters displaying the different types of butterflies you might see, or how to identify them. Given that this place focuses on butterfly education, you would think they would offer some education...? Moreover, the place is falling apart - it's run down with poor signage. There's also a massive amount of disorganization: we signed up for one event on 7/2, and got confirmation for an event that already happened weeks ago. There was no info contained in the email beyond the gate code and the time to show up. We didn't know if someone would be leading the event or if we would be meeting people there. (Answer: no and no.) Hiring a part-time assistant to organize public events that attract people here would be a worthwhile investment, one would think...? I am ALL about natural spaces and supporting science education, and have always supposed the Gardens -- but if this place wants to make money and keep fans, they need to prioritize, even minimally, the people and events that support their existence.

Not a big place, but a good jumping off spot to explore this part of the coast. Two grocery stores,…read moreample places to eat and sleep. Most of the motels have ocean view, and there is a short walking path along the bluff looking out across the river to the ocean. The regional park, a short drive, was a great beach walk. This is off the beaten path for Bay Area crowds, just north of Sea Ranch Plantation, with a reasonable range of places to stay and eat. Most of your exploring from here will be by car, but that was fine with us.

I'm impressed someone bothered to make a Yelp page for this room at Castello Di Amorosa... then…read morenever bothered to check in or write a review for the place. Well, I don't like wasting a perfectly good page, so allow me to put some life into it. The Castle Torture Chamber is an underground room inside the winery castle known as Castello Di Amorosa in Calistoga. It cannot be accessed with general admission - you must take a tour of the castle to gain access. With good reason... can you imagine if some of the kids tried playing hide and seek in the Iron Maiden? Tours are $20 for wine club members, otherwise $40 for adults. Minors are also allowed to go on the tour, but I believe there is a minimum age. So why is there a torture chamber in the winery castle? Because back then, all castles had one. Dario Sattui wasn't going for a Disneyland castle... nope, he wanted it to be authentic as it could be (w/ indoor plumbing and electricity). In fact, he spent decades sneaking into castles in Europe to investigate their inner walls. Thus, we have the torture chamber with all the tools used for interrogating and punishing misbehaved men, treacherous wives, traitors, etc. While he went for authenticity, most of the torture chamber props are high quality replicas - Sattui had them hand crafted in Europe. While not as sharp, they're still likely to cause pain. The only authentic piece is the Iron Maiden, a coffin like piece that has spikes inside. The spikes were strategically placed not to kill anyone but still cause an immense amount of pain. I guess there's no point in torture if the person you torture dies quickly? I also wonder how one manages to purchase an authentic Iron Maiden from the medieval times, but I shouldn't question a man who had the money to build a castle in Napa. ;) Again, pretty neat space to be in, albeit a little creepy. Props to Mr. Sattui for getting his castle down to the nitty gritty.

I'm impressed someone created a Yelp page for it, and that they advertise it in the actual Chamber…read more Now just to get cell service to check in while I'm in the actual castle. It was both neat and odd to be in this room, which was included in the Wine Train tour we booked. All in all, which I will go into more detail in the actual winery review, I wasn't the biggest fan of this tour. I found it too long and while the air quality was better than expected, the torture chamber added an extra squick factor to the fact we were underground (this is California) and many of these items are high quality replicas of items that were actually built back in the middle ages. Which, why build a room of replicas? I honestly didn't get it and don't think I was the target audience for the tour. The chamber could have been much better utilized or sold, especially since a few minutes after we left the chamber we were then "locked" into small cells for the wine tasting. They could have built a bar into the iron maiden and had 'blood wine.' or used the room to sell a specific brand of the wine 'Torture Red.' Instead all the attempts to make it authentic just rang hollow. Either the space could be a fantastic museum where art, history, and literature of the age could be shown because it's attempting to replicate the time period, or it can be what it is, a highway attraction that hosts a winery and puts a lot of effort into making it "authentic." It just came off poorly and I don't think I would come back for another tour.

I first experienced Point Reyes in the mid 70s when we arrived from Chicago Illinois. We lived…read moretemporarily in my grandparents family home in Inverness while my dad was studying for the California bar. After he passed the bar exam and obtained a job and we moved away. We continued to spend weekends and summer vacations in Inverness and I spent a lot of time in Point Reyes and surrounding areas. Almost 50 years later it is still very familiar to me. A lot more hipster than hippie now but still laid back and nostalgic for me. Many of the original businesses are still here just with modern updates. Toby's, the gas station, the Presbyterian church, the elementary school are still around. This is a great place to come to after a day of hiking or spending time at one of the nearby beaches .

It irks me when people pronounce it as Point Rays instead of Point Reyes. C'mon people, this is not…read moreRow-deh-yow Drive in Beverly Hills. Stop anglicizing every Spanish word in America, people. Reyes (Rey-yess) is a Spanish word; Point Reyes Station is named after the impressive cliffs that used to be inhabited by the Miwok tribes along these coasts by explorer Sebastian Vizcaino, who named the area as "La Punta de los Reyes" after the the 3 wise men from his Catholic faith. Translated into English, it's called "Point of the Kings" for the people in the back who can't hear me. OK, now that I got that off my chest...this lovely, charming, quaint and small town that has a population of about 350. It's the gateway to Tomales Bay and Point Reyes National Seashore. It's also near San Andreas Fault, which runs up and down along this peninsula. There's even a fence that moved 20 feet apart after the 1906 earthquake and they left it as a historical marker at the aforementioned location. It used to be an actual port and a terminus stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad connecting the various towns and cities along this area. It's also a nice pit stop whether heading north towards Marshall and Bodega Bay or west towards Tomales Bay State Park, the lighthouse or Inverness. You can grab some supplies at Palace Market if you're picking-up some oysters, going on a picnic or hiking the wonderful trails. If you're low on gas and are headed to the lighthouse, better fill up here since there's no gas station past this station if you're headed there. But it's also more than just a pit stop as it has several places for excellent, organic and artisanal food like Cowgirl Creamery, Cafe Reyes, Whale of a Deli, Side Street Kitchen, Brickmaiden Breads, Station House Cafe, Tomales Bay Foods, Bovine Bakery and Toby's Coffee Bar. I highly suggest spending a couple of hours here exploring everything that it has to offer at a leisurely pace. And I can't stress that enough as the pace here is very leisurely and relaxing. It's worth every minute of it. Speaking of relaxing, I even found a Zen Buddhist Garden at the rear of Toby's that one can meditate in. Find your inner peace and chant the sutra to feed your soul. And if you're looking for spirits, they have an old western saloon appropriately named Old Western Saloon located on the main road to quench your thirst. A nice weekend getaway destination to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you don't mind not having phone signals, it's the perfect spot to really get away. #YelpChallenge2020 review No. 40

TTHE BEST small town fair! Not to be missed! Complete with parade on Sunday, and the Sheep Dog…read moretrails, plus local vendors and 4H judging. Lots of rides for the kids.

I was in the area, totally by accident, at the time of the Fair. With my favorite short person in…read moretow, getting conned into going was a forgone conclusion. Let me qualify by saying that I don't really care for rides, crowds or paying twice as much for ho-hum food eaten standing. So I was not expecting to enjoy myself. Boy, was I wrong! Some highlights: -Science tent for kids -Very gentle shaded petting zoo tent (I think I enjoyed it more than the kid.) -Very good live music in a wooded glen area with plenty of seating -Sweet local parade -Extra long slide -Pony rides -Extensive agricultural display (the sheep and goats were particularly fun) -Anderson Valley Beer We packed a picnic to enjoy by the river later, but I almost regretted that. The food smelled quite good. I still wasn't crazy for the rides or games. But, hey, it's a fair.

Looking for a traditional, old time, multi course meal? Look no further. Absolutely wonderful…read morefood, vintage ambiance and wonderful service. We live close enough to get take out, this weekend ordered their minestrone soup and a wedge salad...it was PERFECT!!!!! When we have company we take them here for the "experience." You order your main dish and are served multiple courses before that main dish. Anti pasta, soup, salad, bread, pasta (if you didn't order pasta as your main dish), and then your main dish. Don't fill up on the smaller courses because you are going to want to have room for the main meal. Fun to watch all of the courses being brought out on rolling carts. This is one of those places you remember going to as a child, it is fun, casual and an "experience."

Another incredibly fantastic time at Dinucci's! Service is always spectacular! Such a unique…read moreexperience... it's like being invited to your best friends 'nonna's home'... You feel the love the second you walk in the front door! From the eclectic bar to the family 'farmhouse' dining area. Signature antipasto, glorious minestrone soup and fresh bread... ya gotta have that!

Neat local flavor to take a look out…read more It's actually someone's house that they live in, so make sure to be mindful and polite when visiting (because I can't imagine how annoyed the neighbors would be with randos going in and out as well as just thinking this place is an eyesore with how rich and pretentious the neighborhood already seems). There are statues of the saber tooth there and Fred, some dinos. Lots of purple and orange colors. It's not only just Flintstones theme as there are bunnies, aliens, Terracotta warriors and an eclectic mix of decor. Neat, fun and interesting stop if you're nearby and on the way somewhere else.

Flintstones House Hillsborough CA Wed 4/12/23 ©…read moreLet me start by saying, this quirky house is not a tourist destination! For decades, this prominent feature in Hillsborough hills just off the scenic route Hwy 280 brought happy feelings to passers by! Of course it's been a curiosity for decades in existence... but wait! All it is, a wonderful single family residence, with a twist in a story full of intrigue & litigation! And it has its own Wikipedia page! I've told myself, Grey, you live close by, you've got to write about the Flintstones House! It's a curiosity worth noted, yet a source of controversy to its neighbors! A colorful authentically looking residence in the affluent Hillsborough community uniquely affected the inner moods within the neighborhood, while much of the story remained hidden from public eye. The listing wasn't on the Yelp maps until recently, a yelper put it on during the pandemic, the house itself has been gracing the hill for decades in existence. The Flintstones house has been renovated & changed hands some years ago... I believe it used to sport an off white stucco, at some point it got repainted bright orange & purple... sold in 2017 & that's when complaints began. As the storytelling goes, the original Flintstones suburban sprawl developed in real life! Much controversy to it in the recent years due to the current owner coloring it even brighter burnt color resembling the cave & decorating the yard even more...beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Neighbors considered yard decorations an eye sore! So they brought forth the law suits. The installations of dinosaurs became a point of contention. Maybe historic inaccuracies were getting on their nerves? :-) After all, all we know is that Fred & Wilma enjoyed the company of their pet dinosaur Dino, but were there many others in the Stone Age? What about a Giraffe, a woolly mammoth, and a Fred Flintstone himself?! I understand neighbors didn't want any attention in the affluent town they reside in. Well, the owner won the law suit! She gets to keep her dinosaurs! Not only that, but also $125K from the city for originating the architectural review in the first place! And we the public got to enjoy this amazing architectural creation for years to come! *Well, he packed his guitar and his bar-room tan, Gotta get some miles behind him as fast as he can, Another destination, some place else to play. *But as the night approaches, a change is in the air His heart is pumping fast, he's got no cares The music befriends him, it can take him anywhere It's a honky-tonk engagement But there's no better place to play His mind feels like crazy pavement He's getting crazed out every day [ Review #766 w 2 pix on May 2, 2023 ] Flintstones House! Hillsborough CA Wed 4/12/23 Yabba Dabba Doo! @Flintstones House Hillsborough CA Wed 4/19/23