#224: Tide Pool Adventures

It's not often when the lowest tide of the month occurs on a weekend afternoon, but this weekend we're in luck. The low tide this Saturday and Sunday is -1.4 ft and occurs at 2:30 and 3 pm. Perfect!

Check out this handy tide chart for more details.

Point Dume in Malibu (#46) is a beautiful place to explore tide pools. These pictures are from our trip to Point Dume in November when the tide was at -1.4 ft. We saw starfish, limpets, anemones and hermit crabs galore.

At low tide we could see the exposed sea grass. Beautiful!

Other tide pool spots to check out:

Free Tide Pool Walks given by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro (this Saturday and Sunday)

Tide Pools at Crystal Cove near Laguna Beach


Where are your favorite tide pools? Leave me a comment below!

#207: Hike to Sandstone Peak

I'm excited to tell you guys about my favorite hike this summer: Sandstone Peak in Malibu! A lot of people say that this hike is what made them fall in love with L.A. hiking, and I can see why. With each turn, you get spectacular rock formations, panoramic views and ever-changing scenery. Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. We hiked it as a 6 mile loop from the Mishe Mokwa Trailhead.

Mike, Michelle and I left at 7 am and did the hour long drive to the trailhead. It was completely cloudy as we drove up PCH, and I thought to myself, this will be a nice shady hike because of all the cloud cover. Little did I know that the windy drive to the trailhead climbs steadily in altitude. By the time we got there, we were well above the cloud layer and the sun was in full force. Thankfully the hike is pretty shaded if you go early in the morning, so the heat was bearable.

We started the hike at 8 am (first ones at the parking lot!) and finished at 11. As we were leaving, the lot was packed and we saw people just starting. I couldn't imagine starting at that time, since the sun was high and it was getting really hot!

Balanced Rock

Some tips for your visit:

• From PCH, turn on Yerba Buena Road. You will pass Circle X Ranch on your right. Soon after that, you will see the Sandstone Peak Parking Lot on your left. We didn't park here. We kept going a little more and parked at the Mishe Mokwa Parking Lot (also on the left).

• We made a counter clockwise loop, starting on the Mishe Mokwa Trail and then connecting with the Backbone Trail. Here's a map.

• There are tons of flies around Split Rock, for about one minute of your hike. You will descend into a shaded area with a stream running through it and picnic benches. I didn't stick around long enough to see if they were biting flies--I just ran through all of them with my mouth closed. No biting flies to be seen in the other areas.

• We encountered one questionably signed junction. When you get here, stay to the left.

Stay to the left!

• Go early in the morning if you are going in the summer. It gets hot there!

• The 6-mile counterclockwise loop was moderately strenuous. There's a shorter way to reach Sandstone Peak, but it's much steeper. You start from the Sandstone Peak Trailhead and go clockwise. I haven't done it, but I read some reviews of people saying it was too much for them.

• You will see some stairs as you approach Sandstone Peak. Take these up to a dirt path. Shortly along the dirt path you will see a rocky area. You must rock scramble a little to the very top of the peak. It's nothing too difficult.

Split Rock

Shady!

Don't miss Inspiration Point. You'll see a small dirt path on your right.

It's just a little ways along that path. Beautiful scenery here.

Taking a breather at Inspiration Point

The view of Sandstone Peak (middle) from Inspiration Point.

The stairs to Sandstone Peak

Sign the notebook at the top

The monument at the top

The view from Sandstone Peak

Photo by Shimage

Sandstone Peak Hike

#198: Topanga Lookout

High above Red Rock Canyon you'll find the site of an old fire tower which is now a graffiti covered concrete platform. This is the Topanga Lookout, a little known treasure in Malibu that starts at the intersection of Stunt and Schueren Road. Take a short 2 mile roundtrip hike to this amazing lookout.

There are no signs for the Lookout trail, but you'll see a gate near the intersection of Schueren and Stunt. Park for free on the side of the road anytime between 6 am and 9 pm.

The trailhead

Continue up the path and you'll come across this junction:

Take the trail on the left

Once you take the left trail, it's a straight shot to the lookout.

You'll pass this radio tower on your right

The hill to the lookout

As you can see, the hike is largely unshaded, so plan accordingly. There used to be a sofa on the platform--can't imagine how hard it must have been to get it there--but now it's gone.

Have you been to the Topanga Lookout? What did you think of it? Leave me a comment below!

View Larger Map

Topanga Lookout

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Summer Fun! Things To Do and See in L.A. this Summer 2011

from teamplayevents

Whew, it sure is hot over here! Summertime has hit L.A. and I'm ready to bask in the sun and soak up that Vitamin D. To celebrate the dog days, here's my Summer 2011 list:

The Channel Islands

from digitalapoptosis

The Channel Islands are just a short boat ride away, but seem like another world. See eagles, lizards, foxes and sea lions at these island sanctuaries. You have your choice of five islands to visit and can either camp or do a day trip.

Pageant of the Masters

from thingstodoinorangecounty

This O.C. event runs from July to August and features "live art"--that's right, real people actually posing in the art. You've gotta see it to believe it!

Sky High (The Trampoline Place)

from jumpskyhigh

Don't know what to do with the kids this summer? Sky High in Costa Mesa is a tiny tot's dream come true; imagine wall to wall trampolines and a foam pit! Adults can enjoy this place too--they have dodgeball games and even "airobics" classes.

The Gibbon Conservation Center

photo from kidsclubzilla

The GCC is the only facility in the world dedicated solely to protecting Gibbons. Tours are by appointment only and are $7-$12 per person with a $100 group minimum, so grab a bunch of your friends and make a day of it!

Garden of the Gods

photo from hollywoodlegend

With thousands of rocky outcrops peeking out of the green hillside, this Chatsworth park makes for a great rock scrambling playground. This is where The Lone Ranger was filmed.

Nicholas Flat

photo from alltrails

This Malibu hike was featured as one of the L.A. Mag's Ten Great Walks. They have it as as a 6.8 mile roundtrip hike, but if that's too far for you, I found this site which makes it into a 4-mile figure 8 hike.

Saturdays off the 405

from Gettyblog

Saturdays off the 405 is a free summer concert series at the Getty. Get there early to see the art and avoid traffic getting into the parking lot.

McCabe's Concerts

from laist.com

This is for all you westsiders who complain about having to drive to the eastside for good music. McCabe's serves up your weekly dose of live folk, country and rock music in an intimate concert setting. Added bonus: McCabe's is a guitar shop and concert venue in one.

Also I Like to Rock

from buzzbandsla

Every Thursday evening of July, displaced westside indie hipsters converge on the Hammer Museum in Westwood for a free night of music and art.

Other Things To Do:

Culver City Music Festival: Eight free concerts on Thursday evenings starting July 7th

Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series: Free summer concerts at the pier

Ride the Ferris Wheel on Santa Monica Pier (#42)

Grand Performances (#130): Free summer concert series in downtown

Ride a Tandem Bike on Santa Monica Beach (#14)

Take a stroll on the Venice Boardwalk

The Hollywood Museum: a must-see for Old Hollywood lovers

The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden: a zen garden in Long Beach

The Gamble House: take a tour of this National Historic Landmark, which was owned by David and Mary Gamble of the Procter and Gamble Company.

****Be sure to also check out last year's list of Things to Do and See in L.A. Summer 2010.****

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#163: Corral Canyon Loop Hike

The Corral Canyon Loop begins at the Sara Wan Trailhead in Malibu right next to Malibu Seafood and Deli. When I say "right next to," I mean "turn into the parking lot for Malibu Seafood and Deli". Hopefully you won't miss it the first time and have to turn back like we did. Adjacent to the deli's parking lot is a small parking lot for the trail. You can either park there for $5, or do what we did and park on PCH for free.

This unshaded, relatively deserted hike is a 2.5 mile loop. I read that it is the only canyon in the L.A. county-side of the range that is undeveloped from the top of the ridge to PCH.

At the very beginning of the hike, you will have to cross a small stream.

After this, you will reach a fork in the trail. Either way is fine since it's a loop, but we took the left one. Soon we encountered the remnants of an old chimney.

The trail continued uphill and then wrapped back and went downhill. I noticed a narrow trail to the left that went up to a ridge, so we took that and were treated to a great view of the ocean and PCH.

We continued toward the ocean and this smaller trail met up with the main one and took us back to the parking lot.

This is a short hike, so it would be great to pair it with a trip to the Point Dume Tidepools. Just be sure to time it with low tide (which we forgot to do!)

Corral Canyon Loop

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