Redwoods Walk & Monterey Bay Educational Day Trip

Date and Time: Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 8:30 AM (departure) to 4:30 PM (return)
Meeting Location: Saratoga CA 95070
Fee: $140 per person for Premium Members, $150 per person for Basic Members and $160 per person for non–members. Fee includes transportation, lunch, activities, gratuities and two tour leaders.

How to Register: Space is limited so reserve your spot early! Please register using the REGISTER button at the bottom of the page.
If you have any questions, please email us at share@bayareaolderadults.org

ITINERARY

Expert-led Journey through a Redwood Forest

Over 100 million years ago, redwoods covered most of the northern hemisphere. During the Pleistocene age, massive glaciers advanced and retreated leading California’s west coast to become dominated by more than two million acres of ancient redwood forest. The forest contained Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) and Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum). During the gold rush, men harvested these giant trees in the Santa Cruz mountains to expand development in San Francisco. Less than 3% of this original forest exists. Starting in the 1920s, Save the Redwoods League began efforts to conserve and preserve our local redwood forests. On this day trip, you have the opportunity to explore the 8800-acre San Vicente Redwoods that has a mix of old-growth and second-growth Coast Redwoods. Old- and New-Growth Redwoods. Images by Anne Ferguson.

Our day begins with a four-mile journey with 600 foot elevation gain through the largest privately held property between Silicon Valley and the Pacific Ocean. The trails we travel offer ocean views as well as a rare opportunity to see this cooperatively managed forest in recovery from past commercial logging and the CZU wildfire. Our walk is led by an expert from Save the Redwoods League who will teach us everything we want to know about old growth redwoods, the impact of the CZU fire and their recent conservation efforts. CZU Fire Damage Alongside Resilient New Plant Growth (Ceanothus, Yerba Santa). Images by Anne Ferguson.

Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Fusion Culinary Delight

We will eat lunch at a trendy Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Fusion restaurant that features diverse authentic Mediterranean flavors and brings together the best of Mediterranean recipes from Greece, Lebanon, Turkey and Sicily, emphasizing Middle Eastern influence. Vegetarian option is available. Authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine and Ambiance

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center Tour

Next, we visit the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, where a docent will introduce us to the center and the Monterey Bay ecosystem and then follow us around to answer questions as we tour the center. In addition to engaging interactive exhibits focused on diverse marine ecosystems such as a 3D life-size, immersive kelp forest, there are a series of films about leatherback turtles, white sharks and more! Exploration Center Exhibits, images by NOAA and Bart Hays

We will have 90 minutes to explore the center and/or walk to Cowell or Santa Cruz beach, Santa Cruz boardwalk or the municipal wharf to see the sea lions. Santa Cruz Wharf, image by City of Santa Cruz

Please click the registration button below to register for the day trip.