Once abandoned and in ruins, when we first moved to the Bay Area it was a desolate and decayed huge…read morelot with a pet goat and a caretaker in a mobile home to shoo off explorers and vandals. Built in the 1930s by Kenneth Kitchen. It's inspired by romanticized Hindu mysticism as well as the arcane and occult. Because of this the site is covered in symbology and hidden meaning. From the obvious all seeing eye at the front gate to the mini details in the brick there is an esoteric design language that keeps it all unified and cohesive. The legend is also complemented by the fact that the owner and brothers were bricklayers and stone masons and it was only constructed under moon light. It was purchased in 2016 and lovingly restored and developed by the new owners to preserve the local folk-art style architecture. The new main house is next to the "court of mysteries" and a lot of the missing abalone and smashed brick has been painstakingly replaced.

The Court of Mysteries (which also goes by The Red Brick Castle, among other names) is a beautiful…read moremonument and home in Santa Cruz, which not many people know about. It has a very interesting history to it, and though you cannot go inside the house or on the property itself (because it is a private residence), you can still appreciate the architecture from out front, including a lovely fountain in the courtyard, and learn about the stories and mysteries that have defined this unique landmark. These stories can easily be found online, but some of the most interesting details are that the original builder (Kenneth Kitchen and his brother) built it only during the night, modeled it after a Hindu temple, and incorporated hidden messages throughout, using shapes, astrological symbols, and dashes and dots resembling morse code, with possible connection to the occult. Also, there is no historical record of Kenneth Kitchen after he left Santa Cruz in the 1950's, so yeah a lot of oddities to drive your imagination and make you wonder. One of the most intriguing parts of the Court of Mysteries is the "Gate of Prophesy" which has two magnificent towers and an intricately designed archway with the mysterious triangular structure at its center. Beautiful trees and vegetation surround the brick and abalone "temple" and entire site, creating a picturesque scene overall. Apparently the property was restored a few years ago by the previous owners (I'm pretty sure that rebuild didn't occur "only at night"). They even built a house on the left side to live in while reconstructing the Court of Mysteries. The property was subsequently sold in late 2021. If you're interested in a quick visit, it's easy to just park right on the street, take a few photos of the amazing archway and towers, and peek through the gate to see what the Court of Mysteries looks like today... and then maybe amuse yourself with the legend and history behind this strange phenomenon.

The Badger Hills Trail Head at Fort Ord National Monument is a gateway to an place where you'll…read morefind many different types of animals and plants, with some stunning views to be enjoyed. The area is steeped in history, and those who appreciate such things should make a point of visiting. Tip: If your idea of visiting nature requires the kind of crowds and congestion typically found at Yosemite, then this place won't be your cup of tea. That said, if you appreciate quiet, natural beauty with only small crowds to content with, then this is your kind o place! Within the National Monument area, there are several different trails available; you can find something that's short, long, easy, strenuous, or some combination of the aforementioned to suit your personal preference :-) This is a great place for both hiking and biking riding - I suggest you plan a visit to enjoy the natural beauty, and to learn a bit about a place that was once a key training location for the US military.

Saved my mental health during Covid. The goats who traipse through the upper part, accompanied by…read moredogs and shepards, make it an otherworldly experience, especially at dusk.

The Soledad Mission is a beautiful place to stop and explore CA history. I especially enjoyed the…read moregardens and old trees. The ruins in the back were fascinating. My only suggestion is that they clean the fountain and add water plants so that the koi fish can survive. The Santa Barbara Mission did that with their koi fountain and it looks beautiful & healthy.

I really enjoyed my visit Mission Soledad. Although this mission is much smaller than many of the…read moreother missions in California, there is still plenty of beauty to see along your visit. I also wanted to mention that the two women that worked the gift shop works extremely welcoming and treated my wife and I and our son like family. The view surrounding the mission was also breathtaking hills and mountains of luscious California farmland. It definitely made me proud of being born and raised right here in the central Valley of California.

I didn't know that I loved lighthouses until I had the tour of the Point Pinos Lighthouse in…read morePacific Grove. Now I am drawn to lighthouses for their beauty, their history, and their unique mystique. The docents at Point Pinos Lighthouse were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The grounds are impeccable, and the exhibits within the lighthouse are a slice of living history. The setting is stunning, right at Asilomar Beach. You'll want to leave time to walk along the water after you explore the lighthouse. Even if you are not into history or the military or lighthouses, you should definitely drop in to visit this space. You will walk away having digested a bit of unique beauty. Check the hours online -- they are very specific and limited, and it's easy to get shut out. Many people don't know that women often worked the lighthouses back in older times. This is just one fact that stayed with me after my visit. A candle on the water helps lost sailors find their way home.

This is the oldest working lighthouse on the West Coast. It is absolutely beautiful. The volunteers…read moreare amazing and very knowledgeable. The weather was great today and we could not have asked for a more perfect visit. If you are into history or lighthouses or the military this place should be on your radar! This is 100% hands down!!!!

feels like ur in heaven.. spectacular view.. lucky to experienced the sea of clouds... God creation…read moreis so wonderful.. this is during fall season.

Iconic Views and a Must-See Stop on Highway 1! The ride…read morealong the coast to get here is absolutely amazing, and seeing Bixby Bridge in person is totally worth the drive. The bridge itself is gorgeous, and there's a convenient pull-off area right near it where you can safely park and snap some incredible photos. A few helpful tips before you head out: Cell Service: Be prepared to lose all cellular service out here! The good news is you really can't get lost--just keep going straight down CA-1.  Traffic & Timing: It was pretty congested when we visited on a Saturday. I definitely recommend going on a weekday if your schedule allows, as it's much easier to find a spot to pull over and enjoy the view. Road Conditions: Keep in mind that a section of Highway 1 shrinks down to a single lane controlled by a traffic light. Traffic backs up quite a bit, so just be prepared for a lot of stop-and-go driving until you clear that light.  Even with a little traffic delay, it's an absolute staple of the California coast and a stunning stop!

Carmel Mission Basilica (formal name 'San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo') is one of six minor…read morebasilicas in the state of California (five being former Spanish missions). It is the oldest one, founded in 1770, and elevated to basilica status by Pope John XXIII in 1960. My wife, her mom, and I visited it during a late Sunday afternoon during our first day in Carmel, and found it to be a great, worthwhile experience, especially if one is Roman Catholic. The basilica is still a working parish, so parking during non-mass hours was easy to find. A ticket booth was set-up at the visitor entrance, with cost of $15 per adult ($13 for senior). There is an adjacent gift shop that doesn't require admission and sells all the various religious items that one would expect from a religious tourist attraction. We ended up spending about 90 minutes here (there is a lot of information here, along with a lot to see). -- Founding priest was Junipero Serra ("Apostle of California"). He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015, and his shrine/remains are interned here. -- Only U.S. church visited by a pontiff during a papal visit: Pope John Paul II in 1987. He paid homage to Father Serra, and laid flowers at the tomb. This visit is clearly commemorated. -- the Munras Family Heritage Museum is worth going to, to see a short movie about the prominent Monterey family, along with early California artifacts from the family. -- the Nativity scene was one of the most intricate -- the large courtyard is a good place to stop and admire the architecture of a California Spanish mission, along with a thick trunk Cork Oak tree By the time we were leaving, the ticket office had closed (last call is at 16:30, to allow everyone to have enough time before official close at 18:00).

My friends took me to the Basilica and we enjoyed walking around the grounds and visiting the…read morevarious Chapels within the site. It is also the final resting spot of Saint Junipero Serra, the Founding Father of California. Pope John Paul II visited here in 1987 and is recognized in the Our Lady of Bethlehem Chapel, which is a beautiful, small chapel with a confessional from years ago. The Mission Cemetery is the final resting place for some members of this Parish. It also includes a symbolic cemetery representing the hundreds of indigenous people buried here and the surrounding area. These grave sites are adorned with abalone shells as an honorary recognition of their cultural presence to the area. There are several museums on site, beautiful artwork and religious artifacts as well as an extensive courtyard to wander around. Finally, there is a display of the final resting place for Saint Junipero as well as reproductions of other parts of the Basilica back in the day. The price of $15 for adults/$12 for seniors may be a little steep for families, but it is worthwhile to explore the history of the renowned Basilica.

Pretty sweet stairs that runs a long from a residential area up a hill top…read moreIts not that long but its still nice to be able to see the hills ranges sunsets and the tops of the dense housing

Excellent place to get a workout! If you like walking stats, it has 250 of' em spread over two…read moresections. Try running those 5 times! If you prefer walking on a hill, they have a bigger looping sidewalk that goes adding both sides of the stairs. Several places to stop and do burpees, pushups, squats, whatever. And a really nice view of south San Jose. No water fountains so bring water. In the past, not so much lately, residents in the area get mad at you for making too much noise (even if you're not) or parking near their driveways (even though you're not in their space). Touchy, touchy resident!

If you are a school or group learning about California missions history and interested in a tour of…read morethis mission, I highly suggest skipping the mission tour, and instead go directly to San Juan Bautista State Park, which is right next door. The land is literally connected to the mission and they offer wonderful programs about mission life. Benito is in charge at the Mission, and he screamed and yelled at our school group. And from what I learned, we were not the first. He is arrogant, hostile, aggressive, and incapable of keeping accurate schedules he makes himself. Our group consisted of women and children, almost entirely non-white. I spoke to Benito TWICE in advance of the field trip and scheduled the date and time directly with him. When I went to check in and pay before the start of our field trip, the ladies at the front called Benito, because he was somewhere else on the mission grounds on lunch break. He literally SCREAMED into the phone so loud, I could clearly understand. They may not have realized based on my race that I understood their Spanish, but I did. He kept screaming they don't set field trips at 1, but he did. We spoke in detail, and he set the tour at 1, knowing we were at the State Park Mission Life Program in the morning. The ladies were clearly intimidated by him, and kept trying to tell him that he spoke with me directly to set this up. He was angry about coming back from lunch. When he finally came, he stalked up to our group--of all women and children, almost entirely non-white--and started screaming at us about how they don't do field trips at 1. I spoke clearly and calmly to remind him that we had spoken and set this date and time. He looked at me in disgust, completely ignored and blew past me, then started addressing the group as "boys and girls." He addressed them like kindergarteners in 1950 every other sentence. His behavior was a disgrace to actually kind people-of-faith, and I'm guessing this is not the kind of legacy the church wishes to continue--MEN IN POWER SCREAMING DOWN AT WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF COLOR. It did, however, make for a very negative and real connection to actual missions history--clearly not something we were expecting our children would be exposed to on a school tour.

In July 2018, my friend Jinsol and I went on a road trip around California. We had initially…read moreplanned on going east (departing from/returning to the Berkeley area), however due to wildfires we ended up going thru the Bakersfield area, Los Angeles, Malibu, Big Sur, and San Juan Bautista. On our drive we had been seeing a lot of signs denoting the highway we were driving on as a historic route. Since we were nearing our return, we decided to check out one of the next historic sites, enter Old Mission San Juan Bautista. The Old Mission was a very enjoyable walking adventure. The grounds and buildings were well kept/maintained and had information available about the site and its founding, the corresponding church, and some of the smaller items - such as describing different parts of wheeled vehicular transport or blacksmith tools. A main building was also available to explore and included information about what daily life was like/included for inhabitants of the mission in the past. Both of us thought it was a satisfying last stop for our road trip and helped ease us back into our graduate school information-frenzy culture.

History, innovation, and whimsy all in one beautiful historic house situated in Downtown Campbell,…read moreand It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places! From the outside it looks like it's straight out of a storybook, like Goldilocks & the 3 Bears. They offer tours Friday-Sundays and our group of 4 adults + 2 kids (ages 10 & 15) had so much fun! Esther was our tour guide and she was excellent! She really knew everything there is to know about this unique 1925 English Tudor-style house (turned museum), the fascinating history of the Ainsley family, and even the details of all the impressively preserved original furnishings, decor, appliances, and even some of the fashion from that era. It was so cool to see what life was like in those days! The outside courtyard/garden can even be booked for special events and weddings. There's a visitor's center and gift shop as well. Overall just a fun and interesting peek back in time, while also learning about an important part of Campbell's history. Big thank you to Esther!

What a delightful little jewel in Campbell! I had no idea this place existed until recently based…read moreon some volunteering work that someone I know did here. Each of the rooms has been decorated by a different organization for Christmas and it looks awesome. The volunteers here were so friendly and earnest. Loved it! Check out a slice of history in our backyard!