Pacifica Performances
1220 Linda Mar Boulevard, Pacifica
www.pacificaperformances.org

This great music venue offers concerts throughout the year from a variety of artists.  Not only is great musical talent highlighted, but the art exhibit offers stimulating visual art to enjoy as well.

Sanchez Art  Center
1220-B Linda Mar, Pacifica
www.sanchezartcenter.org

Full of a wide variety of visual art, the Sanchez Art Center offers art exhibits, classes and events.  Classes are open to the community to try their hand at ceramics, painting and much more.

This Sunday, July 18 Curator  Susan Hillhouse, Museum of Art & History in Santa Cruz will be presenting a seminar.  Come learn more about seeing art in all its forms!  July 30 kicks off the 50/50 exhibit which will run through August 29.  This favorite show features over 69 artists and fills all three galleries- you won’t want to miss this exciting exhibit!

Whether you are an art enthusiast or not, you’re sure to find this up and coming scene in Pacifica irresistible!  There are many other places to discover and events to enjoy in the Coastal town of Pacifica.  If you would like more information on this city, whether as a visitor or hopeful resident; let us know!   Our goal is help connect you to the San Mateo Coastal area!

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Experts

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit Our Website
Email Us

Half Moon Bay is just one of the distinctive cities along the San Mateo Coast.  Whether you’re a resident of the area, or just looking for a place to visit; check out Half Moon Bay!  If relocating is in your future and you’d like more information on Half Moon Bay or the other coastal cities, please let us know.  We enjoy helping people find the home of their dreams and with years of experience in the San Mateo Coastal area market; we can help you find the right home to fit your needs.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Experts

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit Our Website
Email Us

Foster City, Fourth of July Celebration
TIME: 8:00am – 9:45pm
LOCATION: Leo J. Ryan Park, Foster City
The day will include a pancake breakfast, a family parade, dog show and many other events!  Fireworks will begin at 9:30pm!  For more information, visit the Foster City website.

Redwood City Parade, Festival & Fireworks
TIME: 9:00am – 5:00pm
LOCATION: Redwood City, CA (Parade starts at Corner of Brewster & Winslow)
The Redwood City festival kicks off at 9am with the 33rd Annual Fun Run followed by a day of activities including a car show, battle of the bands, arts and crafts and more!  The fireworks begin at 9:30pm. Visit the Parade.org website for more details.

Half Moon Bay, Ol’ Fashion 4th of July Parade
Time: 12:00pm
Location:  Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA
This yearly event is the highlight of the summer season!  It’s old fashion charm is sure to bring joy to young and old alike.  Don’t miss this special event!

The San Mateo area offers events throughout the year as well as a lifestyle of based on community, health and well-being.  If you’re searching for a home in the San Mateo Coastal area- please let us know!  We’d be happy to help you in your search!
Have a safe and happy 4th!

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Experts

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit Our Website
Email Us

This yearly event is hosted by the Downtown San Mateo Association, a non-profit organization that helps showcase all that this vibrant city has to offer.   This night is filled with various musical groups, VIP tastings and a showcase of participating businesses who open their doors for tasting rooms.  Additional information including tickets, things to know and musical guests can be found the Downtown San Mateo’s Wine Walk website.

On another note, the City of San Mateo kicked off The 2010 Central Park Music Series this past Thursday and will continue this great outdoor event every Thursday from 6-8pm until August 5th.

This annual concert series is a favorite amongst the San Mateo community and even to those from neighboring towns!  Families enjoy the opportunity to spend time together at this free event and children love to move to the music.  With local restaurants such as Central Park Bistro, Pizza My Heart and Rubio’s Mexican Grill (to name a few favorites); you’re sure to find a place to enjoy dinner with friends before heading to the concert.   Enjoying local and national bands is a great way to get involved with the community while supporting the performing arts scene in San Mateo.

Whether you choose to attend one of these events, or both, you can rest assured that you will enjoy your time in downtown San Mateo!  We enjoy helping guests and residents find the best local events and tastes that will help them soak in what life on the San Mateo Coast is all about!  For help finding your San Mateo home; please give us a call.  We’d be happy to help you discover one of the best places to live!

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Experts

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit Our Website
Email Us

While Mother’s Day was met with enthusiasm, Father’s Day was merely a joke to most. However, over time, people began to accept it with as much regard as they do for Mother’s Day. It is celebrated all over the world – and San Mateo County is no exception…

For 8 years and running, the Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County has held its annual picnic for fathers and their families. Affectionately called, “Dad & Me @ the Park.”

Bring Dad along June 19th for kite building and flying, games, prizes, face painting, arts and crafts, a barbecue lunch and fatherhood awards at Coyote Point Park in San Mateo County.  The event runs from 11 am – 3 pm.

The San Mateo County Fatherhood Collaborative’s mission? “To increase the awareness of the value of fathers and other significant male caregivers and the role they play in their children’s lives.”

Another great event to attend this Father’s Day is the Moonstock Benefit at Cameron’s in Half Moon Bay. Not only is it going to be a day full of entertainment including tons of live music, art displays, and barbecue, but it also benefits the boys and girls club.

The iconic image of a child and father flying a kite in a Pacifica park, or playing ball in the backyard of a beautiful Montara Home is a lot more realistic than it may sound. If you are interested in San Mateo County Real Estate or Coastside Area Real Estate, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Experts

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit Our Website
Email Us

One of these cities is the charming community of Half Moon Bay.  Its small coastal town atmosphere offers tranquility, yet at the same time, an abundance of things to do.  Here are a few of our favorite options.

Wine Tasting- One of the richest parts of Northern California’s heritage is, of course, the wine.  Enjoying these wonderful flavors paired with the most decadent cheeses is a must for any visit to Half Moon Bay.  La Nebbia Winery is one of our local offerings nestled amidst sprawling gardens and is ideal for wine tastings, events or dinner parties.  If you don’t have an entire day to spend sipping wines, check out the popular stop Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese.  This store sells the finest in wine and cheese and hosts events throughout the week.

Horseback Riding- Take in the stunning views along the coast or in the rich forests of Half Moon Bay on horseback!  Open all year round, seven days a week is the Sea Horse Ranch & Friendly Acres Horses & Rentals which takes you along seven miles of breathtaking scenery.

Bird Watching- You may not think bird watching is your type of activity, but the San Mateo Coast is home to many unique birds that won’t see anywhere else.  The Pescadero Marsh bird refuge is a unique place where you can view over 200 species of birds.

Farm Visits- If organic food is a passion of yours, you’ll enjoy the various options of stopping by our local farms that sell the freshest vegetables, fruits and herbs.  Make a day of it by opting to pick your own fruit at Phipps Country Store and Farm.  There are an abundance of options along the coast to visit our local growers who provide a rich blend of community and outstanding food.

As you can see, there are a number of reasons to visit Half Moon Bay!  Better yet, if you’ve always dreamed of living in such a unique town; let us know!  We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about the San Mateo Real Estate market!

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Experts

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit Our Website
Email Us

Below is a list of San Mateo’s Farmer’s Markets, and with their various schedules; you could buy fresh each day of the week!

25th Avenue Farmers’ Market in San Mateo
Tuesday- 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
May 11, 2010 to October 19, 2010

Belmont Farmers’ Market
Sunday- 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Year-round

Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Farmers’ Market
Wednesday- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
April 21, 2010 to September 29, 2010

Kaiser South San Francisco Farmers’ Market
Tuesday- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
May 4, 2010 to September 28, 2010

San Bruno Farmers’ Market
Sunday- 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
May 2, 2010 to October 31, 2010

San Carlos Farmers’ Market
Thursday- 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
May 6, 2010 to September 9, 2010

San Mateo Farmers’ Market
Wednesday- & Saturday- 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Year-round

South San Francisco Farmers’ Market
Saturday- 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
May 8, 2010 to October 30, 2010

Be sure to check out each market for any events they may have! Many offer classes on organic food or cooking as well as special guests for live music. This is just one more reason to make the San Mateo Coastal area your permanent home! If you are already enjoying the lifestyle that San Mateo has to offer, but are hoping to find your dream home- please let us know. We enjoy helping people find the home that best suites their needs and style. Contact us today- we look forward to hearing from you!

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Experts

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit Our Website
Email Us

Beginning today, you can head to the library to learn about Composting or view Disney’s Documentary Film:  Earth.  Tomorrow and Thursday, you will find information on “green” food, solar energy, smart cars and sustainable energy- to name a few!  This is a great way for anyone from adults to children to learn how to make not only San Mateo, but our whole earth a better place to live!

The San Mateo Coast is very in tune with how we are to care for our surroundings and finds that “green” living is a part of our culture.  With natural beauty from every angle, it’s no wonder why San Mateo is a desirable place to call home!  Throughout the year, our coastline communities provide a variety of ways to stay in touch with the environment while building “green” into our daily lifestyles. Why not visit the stunning coastline of San Mateo?  You may be temped to stay, and if you are, we can help you in your San Mateo home search!  We look forward to showing you around!

For more information on the San Mateo Public Library’s Earth Day events, click here.

We hope you enjoy our earth on this special day!

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Experts

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit Our Website
Email Us

The first is taking place this Saturday, February 13, on the shores of Half Moon Bay where surfers from around the world will compete in the Mavericks Surf contest for the $150,000 prize.  Surf enthusiasts and local business owners welcome this event which has brought in upwards of 40,000 spectators in the past to the small beach surrounding Pillar Point.  For those not planning to attend the event, please note that Princeton will be closed to drivers coming off Capistrano Road at Prospect Way and Airport Street on contest day – except to Princeton residents and business owners.  And although this may make travel around this area tricky, it’s a small price to pay for the attention and business brought to our community.  If you’ve never witnessed the Mavericks Surf contest, this may be the year to check it out!

Another exciting event of which our community gets to be an integral part is The Amgen Tour of California bicycle race which was officially announced this past Wednesday and will make its way along the San Mateo Coast.  Highway 1 is stage three of this six-stage race along the coast making this the second time our highway will be used in the five years of this race’s existence.  Set for May 18, this race 120 mile race begins in Ocean Beach in San Francisco at 11:15 am and concludes in Santa Cruz, about four hours later.

If you’ve always wanted to be involved in a community where fun events are guaranteed and the residents enjoy taking part in all that’s offered, perhaps the San Mateo Coastal area is for you!  We’ve loved living in this paradise inspired location and know you would as well!  We’d be happy to show you around the community and some of the great homes that are available.  We hope to hear from you soon!

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Expert

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit My Website
Email Me

This is no more clearly seen than in the upcoming event “Spring Ahead” on February 24 from 6-8pm at Cypress Meadows in Moss Beach.  This unique event will highlight organic food from the local farmers markets, tips from resident experts on gardening and healthy living as well as live music and dance performances!  Learn about sustainable landscaping and how you can transform your lawn to be independent of water and chemicals.  Have your questions answered and become inspired by creative ideas!

San Mateo Coastal area offers many events like this throughout the year to make sure our community is growing together as we grow our environment.  Learn more about this event.

If you are searching for a strong community in a naturally beautiful setting – look no further!  The San Mateo coast has it all with close proximity to big city life while retaining a charming small coastal town feel.  We would enjoy the opportunity to answer any questions you may have regarding life here on the coast and would be happy to show you some of the amazing coastal properties that are the perfect place to call home!

Kathy & Michael Rain
Your San Mateo Coastal Real Estate Expert

San Mateo Coastal Real Estate
View San Mateo Coastal Listings
Visit My Website
Email Me

It’s been said that the gathering of the clan brings a rush of adrenaline to the calmest.  Holiday stress comes in several forms.  First there is the last minute shopping that the brawny gender finds as stressful as divorce and death.  Maybe there is a correlation somewhere.

Secondly, there is the anticipation of getting reacquainted with the relatives. What self respecting family member isn’t concerned with  wanting a fun, pleasant reunion.  I just try to keep the names straight to remember which of the 3 Jeff’s, 4 Mike’s and 2 Terry’s belong to which cousin.  Family reunions this year were filled with good intentions and kindness as well as yelling, stress and meltdowns.

We’re expecting a heatwave over the next two days on the coastside.  So what do Bay Area folks do when the temperatures get close to 3 digits everywhere-go to the beach.

Surfers Beach-El Granada

Just as we reached the top hill, a man came running down from the ridge overlook towards us and headed down the trail towards Montara. Not unusual in itself except that the man was naked. He did have some cloth which we assumed was a pair of shorts that he was holding in his hand and used as a cover for the front of his lower body as he passed us. Yes, he did have running shoes on.

Within a few minutes, we passed several bicylcle riders that thought we were joking when we asked if they had seen a nude black man run past them. We assumed he came up from the Grey Whale Cove parking lot and had been at the nude beach. However, we also remembered the news story from last week that talked about the Germany nude hikers invading Switzerland. The Swiss have now banned nude hiking so we wondered if the Germany hikers had discovered Montara Mountain.

Let us know if you have made any interesting sightings on our local hiking trails. We wouldn’t discourage the shy from hiking or bringing their children. The amazing sites you see of the Tunnel Project, the dead car graves, spring flowers and city views are always a treat on Montara Mountain.

We took the Great Hwy (this is Hwy.1) and drove north to the parking lot just past the Cliff House Restaurant. Here is where the old Sutro Baths and it’s ruins are located.

These baths were one of the many highlights of San Francisco. The Land’s End Trail and several other trail offshoots make for a wonderful hike with excellent views. The trail ended at the famous Sea Cliff district of mansions where we took surface streets back to our car. Along the way we passed the famous 17th hole at Lincoln Park Golf Course with spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Legion of Honor Museum at this end of Golden Gate Park.

Below is what Wikipedia has to say about the Sutro Baths:

Opened to the public as the world’s largest indoor swimming pool establishment. The Baths were built on the sleepy western side of San Francisco by wealthy entrepreneur and former mayor of San Francisco (1894-1896), Adolph Sutro. The vast glass, iron, wood, and reinforced concrete structure was mostly hidden, and filled a small beach inlet below the Cliff House which was also owned by Adolph Sutro at the time. Both the Cliff House and the former Baths site are now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and operated by the United States National Park Service.

A visitor to the Baths not only had a choice of 7 different swimming pools—one fresh water and six salt water baths ranging in temperatures—but could visit a museum displaying Sutro’s large and varied personal collection of artifacts from his travels, a concert hall, seating for 8,000, and, at one time, an ice skating rink. During high tides, water would flow directly into the pools from the nearby ocean, recycling the 2 million US gallons (7,600 m³) of water in about an hour. During low tides, a powerful turbine water pump, built inside a cave at sea level, could be switched on from a control room and could fill the tanks at a rate of 6,000 US gallons a minute (380 L/s), recycling all the water in five hours.

The baths were once serviced by a rail line, the Ferries and Cliff House Railroad, which ran along the cliffs of Lands End overlooking the Golden Gate. The route ran from the baths to a terminal at California Street and Central Avenue (now Presidio Avenue). The line was filmed in 1902 by Thomas Edison, Inc., available from the Library of Congress online.[2]

The baths struggled for years, mostly due to the very high operating and maintenance costs, and eventually closed. A fire destroyed the building in 1966 shortly after, while in the process of being demolished. All that remains of the site are concrete walls, blocked off stairs and passageways, and a tunnel with a deep crevice in the middle. The Sutro Bath ruins are open to the public, but a warning sign advises strict caution, as visitors have been swept off by large waves and drowned at the site.

Currently, visitors coming to the Sutro Baths from the above parking lot are presented with a sign that describes the history of Sutro Baths starting from its construction and glamorous opening to the public in 1896. Another sign describes the later years of the site’s history up until its demolition and complete destruction by fire in 1966. As one walks up out of the ruins toward the historic Cliff House, home to two full service restaurants: “Sutro’s at the Cliff House” and “The Bistro”, as well as the “Terrace Room”, a private Dining/reception room, one can find other pictures, paintings, and relics from the golden age of Sutro Baths’ functional operation.

Seal Rock is just offshore from the bath ruins.

BTW, the view is great from the restaurant. A good place to stop for lunch/dinner or a drink. After taking this hike, you can see that one of the treasures of the Bay Area is Golden Gate Park. You could walk many paths for short or long hikes all close to our coastal communities with the bonus of being able to pick a great place to get a bite to eat in the City.

Hiking Sutro Baths and Golden Gate Bridge Views from Kathy & Michael Rain on Vimeo.

San Bruno Mountain, situated in northern San Mateo County, California, is the northernmost part of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Most of the mountain lies within the 2,326 acre (9.41 km²) San Bruno Mountain State Park, which is a landmark of local and regional significance as well as a county park, standing as a unique open-space island in the midst of the San Francisco Peninsula’s urbanization. It is adjacent to the southern boundary of San Francisco, surrounded by the cities of South San Francisco, Daly City, Colma, and Brisbane.

San Bruno Mountain is topped by a four mile long ridge. Trails to the summit afford expansive views of the San Francisco Bay Area. Radio Peak (elevation 1,314 feet or 400.5 meters) is the highest point, hosting several radio broadcast towers and NBC’s KNTV Television, serving a huge area that would otherwise have poor service in the topographically complex Bay Area region.

The mountain provides habitat for several species of rare and endangered plants and butterflies. The endangered San Bruno elfin butterfly inhabits this mountain along with certain other limited locations.

Usually it is really windy and brisk on this mountain. You can see the burned brush from last year’s fires that start up quickly on this dry hill. Not a place to hike in the Summer. As this was a warm Spring day, we got the best of the wildflowers and spotted a few butterflies. The poison oak was in full force but had yet to spread over the trails. We hiked the Summit Loop and then went out to the Peak. At this point we were as far East as we could go and were looking “back” at the City to the North and the Airport to the South. At one point we could see both the Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The views were magnificent. We ended up hiking close to 9 miles roundtrip. The paths and grades were moderate. Remember that we always hike with our Black Diamond Trekking Poles and without them, you might find the hike a bit more strenuous. A memorable hike that we will want to do again next Spring.

San Bruno Mountain Summit Loop Hike from Kathy & Michael Rain on Vimeo.

So what is a Goddess doing in a dumpster? “To educate, inform and show the world a new way to approach recycling using recyclized products and reuse as a worthwhile unique design style for interiors.” What a great mission!

As an award winning Interior Designer, Carol Tanzi, The Goddess of Garbage, creates recycled items that are beautiful. You won’t find The Goddess turning junk into fancy junk. The creations made by the Goddess will be hard to identify as junk, garbage, recyclables or anything other than the beautiful accessories that can be showcased in any home.

Check the many items that you can get started with today by going to www.goddessofgarbage.com

The Goddess of Garbage from Kathy & Michael Rain on Vimeo.

When you go by the showroom, you will find American Clay and Tobias Stucco made of natural materials.  All of the products in the showroom are chemical free for use in your home.   You won’t want to miss the beautiful counter top materials, recycled glass tiles, flooring materials, gifts, fireplace alternatives, and chemical free line of custom paints and supplies.

A unique business with a knowledgeable staff, Green Intention Design can be contacted at www.greenintentiondesign.com.

Green Intention Design from Kathy & Michael Rain on Vimeo.

Brothers Geno and Anthony Caccia are both Accredited Green Plumbers by Green Plumbers USA. This organization started in Australia where drought conditions have required Australian Plumbers to deal with water and plumbing issues in an eco-conscious way. Geno and Anthony have taken over 40 hours of additional classroom courses as well as being graded on the impact and success of implementing these practices with their customers. They are versed in showing homeowners how to save money implementing high efficiency practices and products for water usage. One of their services is a Home Inspection doing a needs analysis of your plumbing systems and ways to make it more energy efficient and cost effective. One year later, they will return to evaluate and measure the dollar savings.

Call to talk to Caccia Plumbing about their green plumbing product lines which include Tank-less Hot Water Heaters, Recirculating Hot Water Systems, High Efficiency Toilets, fixtures with the “Water Sense” rating which is like the “Energy Star” rating for home appliances and County Rebate programs which usually cover the installation cost. You might also want to ask when Caccia Plumbing is hosting the next Homeowner PGE seminar at their company headquarters at 917 Amphlett Blvd., San Mateo. Call and talk to a Caccia family member at James Caccia Plumbing 650-342-5363.

James Caccia Plumbing Company from Kathy & Michael Rain on Vimeo.

COME TO THIS FREE FAIR LOCATED AT 248 MAIN ST., HALF MOON BAY

SOLAR UNIVERSE

SOLABRITE-TUBE SKYLIGHTS

SOLAR HOT WATER HEATERS

RADIANT HEAT

TANKLESS HOT WATER HEATERS

HOT WATER RECIRCULATING SYSTEMS

EMERSON ENVIRONMENTAL-ENERGY CONSULTANTS-”WHERE ARE YOU LOOSING ENERGY”

GREEN INTENSION DESIGNS-GLASS TILES, CORK FLOORS, RUG/CARPETING-USING RECYCLED MATERIALS

PAINT WITH NON-TOXIC PAINTS

CARPET CLEANING WITHOUT TOXIC CHEMICALS AND QUICK DRYING TIME

REMODEL GREEN-HARRELL REMODELING

THE SUSTAINABLE CENTER OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO-ONE AMAZING PLACE

CAROL TANZI, ASID “THE GODDESS OF GARBAGE”  YOU WON’T BELIEVE THE GREAT INTERIOR DESIGN  as seen on CNN,Rosie O’Donnell Show, Sunset Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, etc.

Alice Held is an incredible Realtor with ReMax Fine Properties serving Arizona.  You must check out her fabulous site on www. Come2az.com and send all your friends that are planning on going to Arizona and looking at Real Estate.

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Wishing you a Happy Holiday!
If you find or need a moment to relax, please enjoy these sites!
We’ve included fun for adults and a list Just for Kids!
 
A Winter Web Wonderland and fun Christmas stuff, including a virtual Christmas tree has wonderful information about Christmas trees, how they’re grown, harvested, and goes further with Holiday Tips for the festive season.

Don’t bother with the malls this holiday season: they’re crowded; the parking lots are full; and you’ll never find what you’re looking for, anyway. Go instead to your “one-stop shops” for all your holiday purchases: shopping.com , Bizrate, Pricegrabber, Nextag, MySimon, Froogle, Yahoo Shopping, and for last minute shopping, try for gift ideas for everyone on your list.

CNet lists the Top 100 of 2008 and ZDNet has reviews for you, too.
Got that last minute gift to get? Go holiday shopping at these great places! Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and in spirit of the economy, Wal-Mart and Target are offering some great deals.

If you’re doing Christmas on a Shoestring this year, check out these tips.

From Brooks Brothers to Wal-Mart, there are coupons galore . Instead of downloading and printing them, here you request that they be e-mailed to you. You can also post comments about a product. This site has a good privacy policy.

In all the years that carolers have been singing the 12 Days of Christmas, the price of a partridge in a pear tree has never been higher. Want to see how the prices of the 12 Days of Christmas has escalated since it was written? Check out what A Partridge in a Pear Tree costs these days. PNC Bank did an enlightening Christmas Price Comparison.
 
Add zip to your holiday newsletters with Holiday Fun Facts from the U.S. Census Bureau data collection. You’ll find lots of holiday-related facts and figures from its data collection.
 Visit the famous Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center. Each year designers transform department store windows into miniature holiday worlds attracting passerbys, hoping they’ll shop.

Talking about Christmas trees, this Christmas tree farm has lots to tell you about the care, types, events and just fun! Don’t forget to go down Hwy. 92 for several Xmas Tree farms offering great family fun.
Countdown tells you how much time you have left by the days, days, hours, minutes, seconds to shop and say Merry Christmas from around the globe. If you still don’t have the Christmas spirit, try this Countdown page to check out all the fun things it has to do.

Want to sing along this season? Here’s some good lyrics and midis to get you in the mood.

Need to send a Xmas card real quick? You have a choice in these sites.

And here’s a fun way to decorate your own holiday card … just slide the ornament to the right and see what happens. Then click on the snowflake and watch it snow!

 For a fun page to get you in the mood The Ultimate Christmas page will have entertaining ideas and themes and holiday tips, and Christmas in Cyber Space has a Christian theme. And leave it to How Stuff Works to tell you everything about Christmas “stuff!”

This Christmas tree has the history of the Christmas tree for you.

More interested in egg-nog, elves’ fudge, peanut clusters, fruit cake (the good kind) and Santa’s Punch? You’ll want to head on over to this collection of desserts, candies and drinks gathered together at the rather aptly titled Christmas Recipes. For everything gingerbread… enjoy! According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest gingerbread man cookie weighed 372.13 pounds and was 13 feet, 11 inches in height.

So, you now know the difference between a chanterelle and a shiitake mushroom. But, do you know the best way to save your all-important recipes? Tools for the Gourmet will help you. Holiday recipes are Epicurian’s favorites to share. VegSource serves up 3 full-course vegetarian menus for the holidays, each designed to serve 8 people.
Reader’s Digest Holiday Extravaganza has decorating ideas, recipes, and holiday crafts. Get organized for Christmas has many ideas to get ready for the day. And if you’re sending a newsletter this year, here’s a place to find Holiday Clipart.

Start with one mouse a-clicking…you don’t have to be a sleighve to tradition…this site has photos of real-live-reindeer on a America’s Heartland… with lots of Christmas stories and sites, as well as tips to preserve your tree. 

Join PopGun for the neatest Christmas Flash pages he puts the Merry in Merry Christmas!
While you’re in the mood, here’s some easy to sing along Christmas songs.

Just in time for Christmas, Jako Olivier has gathered together the lyrics of the carol Silent Night, Holy Night, as translated into 147 versions in 100 different languages. The Silent Night Museum in Salzburg celebrates the author, Joseph Mohr, and has many renditions as well. 

How to say Merry Christmas in 33 languages and another with even more , including European, Japanese, Korean and more! Christmas in many languages offers just that: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in many, many languages. See how 30 different countries celebrate Christmas! 

Do you know the Sacred Cities? Every culture has sacred, historic elements. Travel to these sacred cities via the Internet: Banaras the Eternal City, India; Jerusalem, the Holy City, Israel ;Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet ; Machu Picchu, Peru; Makkah the Blessed, Saudi Arabia; and visit the Splendor of Persia .

Christmas is one of the few holidays that is celebrated worldwide with as many Christmas Traditions as there are countries. Whether the Celebration of Christmas is the Yule Log, or singing carols, many cultures celebrate the season. Traditions Around the World lists religious Christmas traditions.

You’d rather play Spin the Dreidel? Fine. Go ahead. Really, it’s nothing to feel gelt-y about.
Oh, and Happy Hanukkah and Chanukah on the Net , Kanukkah, Khanuka. You get the point, there are a latke of ways to spell it. Celebrations has caloric treasures, yum, gifts, and spiritual perspective. Virtual Jerusalem has photos of all the holy sites.

Kwanza was established in 1966 to provide an opportunity for the African American community to celebrate their heritage. Kwanza is celebrated for 7 days starting on December 26th and ending on January 1st. On December 31st a feast is prepared for family and friends. The History Channel has some wonderful features about the Kwanza holiday.

Ever wonder how Santa does it? Visits every house in just one night? SantaLand will tell you! Santa’s Reindeer Secrets has an excellent Video of Santa’s actual reindeer in Lapland.

NORAD has tracked Santa Claus on his annual delivery travels since 1958. If you want to see up-to-the-minute, high-tech radar tracking of ol’ St. Nick, the NORAD Tracks Santa website is the place to go. And of course NASA will assist Santa weaving in and out of all those satellites and space debris. In addition to Santa-Spotting: Stargazing at Our Challenger Space Center. They have a Christmas Stargazing event.

Curious as to just where in the world Santa’s workshop is? Here’s a satellite image, thanks to NASA. and ESA. Live From the North Pole has a daily reading.

Visit Christmas at White House and see how Deck the Halls look.
 
Wilstar’s Christmas page has been up since, 1995! Check Jerry’s Singing Christmas tree.

Looking for some free Christmas music clips? Christmas Midis brings the holiday to your desktop; Midis in different languages.

Get your snowflakes and reindeer here. Want snow and don’t have it? Find out how to get it on this Snow page . Then Build-A-Snowman online!

Just For Kids:
What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Snowflakes, of course. So you can make your own , more here, and here too! What they’re really made of is here . And if you have a really lot of them, you have snow!
Santa’s Secret Village

The North Pole

Don’t forget to email Santa and read what others have written him.

Check on Santa’s Elves

Christmas Stationery and Screensaver page for Children

Santa’s Page has a Kids Zone and fun pages.

Kids Domain and Christmas Time Together have tons of things to do!
Holiday Lessons about other cultures.
Just for fun Shake-a-globe
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus from the year 1897.Where is Santa’s factory and what makes it magic?
Finland is where Santa lives. Visit him here! But, guess what? He speaks English! Then visit Virtual Finland and find him there, too! (Aulikki, my friend, is from Finland, and knows Santa very well.)

 Believers click here! Santa’s Elves take you to all kinds of wondrous activities. Check the weather at the North Pole for daily updates! Then pay a virtual visit to Santa in his colorful, snowy town in the North Pole.

Did you know there is a Santa Claus Championship with 100 “Santa” competing? Who will be the best? Check it out here.

Ever wonder what it’s like “down under” where it’s summertime during out wintertime? Christmas in Australia will tell you all about it.

Holiday Home for the Family includes mail to Santa, recipes, movie reviews, crafts, music, and a section Kids Zone with artwork, stories and games. Check out this complete Christmas Recipes Index. Better Homes and Gardens has more for you, too.

It just isn’t Christmas without a Gingerbread house! Ginger Lane to the rescue!

 And if it’s to Grandmother’s house we go, the Family Travel Guide offers up some useful and important information for traveling with kids of all age groups. And TravelSense has lots of good tips, too! TopoZone is a searchable database of the entire United States, from sea to shining sea (and every hill, rock and field in between).
 

Best and warmest wishes to you!!
May you always have an Angel by your side!

On Saturday we got into two cars, went from Montara to the Starbucks at  Linda Mar in Pacifica and picked up two double lattes.  We drove over to Adobe and went to Higgins where we turned and parked at the end of the street.  This is where one of the trails begins/ends going over Montara Mountain.  We left one car and turned around and went back to Montara parking just South of Devil’s Slide.

We walked along the old road going East until we got to the rangers house.  Two paths, one to the left and the right path, that we took, which is a dirt road with a straight uphill incline.  We stopped several times as we ascended to admire the views and get my heart rate under control.  About 15 minutes later we came to the paved path that we had bypassed when we took the dirt trail.

Then our time really got started following the old San Pedro Mtn. Road.  Michael started recalling stories his Grandfather had told him of driving this road in the 1930′s to buy produce in the country outside of San Francisco.  We were amazed at the effort it must have taken to build this road in the early part of the 1900′s and how long a ride this was over the mountain.

Switchbacks and views, granite hills with a cave!  We noticed another cave and then two others around the next switchback.  We realized these must be from the Ohlone Indians with great visuals of the ocean and hillsides below.  These would be great local ruins to check out if we could.

Then we came upon the view looking West to see an amazing perspective on the Tunnel project.  This is one of the sites we can’t see from Hwy.1.  The day was very clear and as we got to the top we could see the “golf ball” at Pillar Pt. at Mavericks, all of Montara, Moss Beach and the beach with surfers and cars everywhere.  Nice days like this bring lots of people wanting to enjoy the beach and the small towns of the coast.

We got to the crest and turned down the path and headed into a grove of Eucalyptus trees.  As we made the first turn we could see all of Pacifica, San Francisco, Marin County and Mt. Tamalpias and a faint Golden Gate Bridge.  Absolutely beautiful in a completely different way then the views we had left to the South.  This dichotomy reminds me of being on the Golden Gate Bridge and looking in one direction and seeing San Francisco in all it’s glory and looking in the opposite direction to the West and seeing the mouth of the Bay surrounded by rugged terrain as it opens to the Pacific Ocean.  Thus, the Bay Area which is a place of utter beauty.  Thus, the Coast, another.

As we continued down the trail the Eucalyptus grove kept closing in and creating a canopy over us.  This is a place that’s like being in the book of Alice in Wonderland.  We felt like we were spiraling into the Looking Glass.

This glorious walk is about 5 miles.  We only saw a few people walking and several bike riders.  Serene from beginning to end and a great way to spend 3-4 hours getting a workout and so much more.  Michael and I were excited.  We will return to explore the many other trails we saw on the Mountain the next time we have an afternoon off.

The next week we had a few hours one afternoon and wanted to explore the trail in Pacifica along the ocean.  We went back to the Linda Mar shopping center and got a few nibbles from the deli at Safeway.  We walked over to the parking lot next to the Taco Bell and started our adventure.  Most of this trail isn’t visible from Hwy 1 and what you see of it when driving by, doesn’t give the true feel of what this trail is about.

The all-paved path starts out level and wraps around Linda Mar beach with a slight incline.  The incline continues to get more intense as you walk north towards Rockaway Beach.  Some switchbacks that are long and curvy are great fun for bikers.  This trail is so friendly with lots of benches to stop and look at the view along the way.

At the top of the hill you drop down to the North side looking at Rockaway Beach.  The views were over Pacifica and of San Francisco and Marin.  The switchbacks reminded us of Lombard Street in San Francisco but with an ocean view and a little shopping area at the base.  Michael and I stopped at  the top where there was a bench and had our nibbles from the deli enjoying the views surrounding us and trail watching.    Bicyclist, hikers, casual dog walkers and runners were part of the mix going up and down the switchbacks.

We took our “Lombard Street” pathway until we reached the little center of Rockaway Beach.  This is a great place to look at a few shops, eat at one of several restaurants and take a bathroom break.  The restrooms are located in a passage way at the north end where businesses are on two sides of the building.  You can access them from either side.  I like the west side of this walk because there is a garden that you walk through.

After leaving the center you can turn back around or continue north to Vallemar.  This portion of the walk is a level, paved path that wraps around Calera Creek and ends up at a small parking lot at Vallemar.  The local garden club has planted a garden and put several benches with local flowers surrounding them.  People were watering the areas the day we passed by.

We felt a few raindrops and headed back south.  We chugged up our “Lombard Street” path like 2 little engines testing how fast we could go without stopping to take a breath.  We got to the crest and went down the other side of the hill with it’s gentle switchbacks making our descent to sea level.  We got back to our car just before a light drizzle started.  Another exhilarating outing.

We saw several other trails one to the west and others up on the mountain east of Hwy 1.   Everywhere we look, we have more adventures to discover here on the coast.

We had a few hours and wanted to go back to Montara Mountain.  This time we parked in the back of Montara and picked up a paved trail.   As we were walking, I wondered why we hadn’t done this before.  The trail went through lovely vegetation for about 3/4 of mile before we got to the rangers house where we had to decide if we wanted to go up the steep dirt path or take the fork to the left that is paved.  Michael voted for a new adventure, as much as we enjoyed the workout of the dirt road.

Off we went to the left where the trail was level and went into a gentle incline.  We came upon a clearing with picnic benches as we continued the 20 minute walk up the hill.  The trees formed a canopy of pine and with the sun warming the hillside the scent was warm and sauna like.  The springtime blooms were everywhere with purple ceanothus covering the sides of the valley.  We came upon a bench that seemed fairly new and was very sturdy, sitting to the side of the path and snuggled in the shrubs.  We had been ascending a moderate incline and were happy for a nice place to rest climbing the hill.  We continued up to meet the place where the dirt road reaches the paved trail to find another bench that had “Tom’s Bench” carved into it.  This looked out at Montara Beach with views looking south down the coast.  We marveled that we had only to look to the left of the dirt road junction the last time we were near and could have used a rest spot.

We went another mile going down the Old San Pedro Mtn. Road before we decided to turn around.  Since our time was shorter that day we thought we would walk down the dirt road.  10 minutes to ascend and we were back at the rangers house.  We turned left and crossed the bridge where we walked over the bridge and through the horse ranch and back down the trail to the back of Montara.

More people were starting their walks and we stopped to say hi to our friend Elizabeth who had just begun to enjoy her trail walk.  We had spent under 2 hours with stops along the way and walked 4 miles.  Another micro vacation in our day.