The Palomar Observatory’s 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope was for decades the largest effective telescope in operation. Owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology, the Observatory is but one of the many things to do on 6,138 foot Palomar Mountain.
This view of the Carrizo Gorge was taken from the Sacatone Overlook that is within the McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area which is off I8 just north of Boulevard, CA. The trestles you see are part of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway, which has been referred to as “The Impossible Railroad”.
Links: McCain Valley RCA
Tunnel View is a scenic overlook on State Route 41 in Yosemite National Park that offers that iconic, expansive view of Yosemite Valley including El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall.
Links: Yosemite Viewpoints
One of our favorite San Diego County destinations is the San Diego Zoo Safari Park located in Escondido. This pic features a male lion, whose roars, when heard by the other park animals, puts additional environmental pressure on them to breed, thereby increasing the likelihood of breeding success.
Links: SD Zoo Safari Park
Lake Ramona is a pretty little lake accessed via a 2.4 mile trail within the 700-acre Blue Sky Ecological Preserve in the city of Poway.
Links: Blue Sky Ecological Preserve
Palm Canyon, located on Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians land, near Palm Springs, offers beautiful hikes, horseback riding, and picnicking among a huge stand of California Fan Palms.
Links: Indian Canyons
The Pumpkin Patch is an interesting geological site located within Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area east of Borrego Springs. The “pumpkins” are actually concretions which are formed much like a pearl, in that sand is naturally cemented around small objects such as a pebble, a piece of shell, or an insect.
The Interpretive Center is an off-grid net-zero energy building designed by Hubbell & Hubbell Architects that is staffed by volunteer docents who provide a wealth of information concerning hiking, mountain biking, and other recreational opportunities within the 784-acre Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. Opened in 2008, the Center is a cooperative effort between The Escondido Creek Conservancy and the Olivenhain Municipal Water District.
Links: Escondido Creek Conservancy Olivenhain Municipal Water District
Pigeon Point Lighthouse near Pescadero is one of the two tallest west coast lighthouses at 115 feet. It was built and equipped in 1871-72 and its first-order Fresnel lens measures 16 ft x 6 ft, weighs 2,000 lbs and consists of 1,008 separate prisms. It was a little foggy the day this pic was taken, lending a bit more atmosphere to the shot.
A great place to hike is Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (San Diego county) which boasts beautiful ocean views and one of the nation’s rarest pine trees, the Torrey pine, which is only found in this area and on Santa Rosa Island off the coast of Santa Barbara. This view is looking north toward Los Penasquitos Lagoon and Hwy 101.
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