Wildflower Wonderland Hike & Winery Picnic tour start date:
April 16, 2011 tour end date: April 16, 2011
tour registration closes:
April 02, 2011 wine region: Central Coast length of stay:
Single-Day Tour hiking level: Moderate total group size: 11 price per person: $115.00 tour deposit: $115.00
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One-Day Hike & Wine-Tasting Tour: 5.5 moderate miles, 700’ elevation gain Of our favorite hikes local to our home town, we’d have to classify the forests and rolling hills of Long Ridge as being in the top three. The winter rains in the Santa Cruz Range often make Long Ridge one of the best California wildflower viewing areas during late April.
The 1,985-acre Long Ridge greenbelt, located on the western slopes of Skyline Ridge, offers spectacular views of Butano Ridge to the southwest and distant Big Basin State Park to the south, as well as glimpses of the great Pacific Ocean. Grasslands interspersed with oak, madrone, and Douglas fir forests provide wonderful contrasts of light, space, and plant communities, including a vast array of wildflowers! It’s Spring, and therefore you will stop often to “ooh” and “aah” over these beauties.
The hike There are over 12 miles of trails in the Long Ridge preserve, including a 3-mile segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, a work in progress that will someday circumnavigate the San Francisco Bay. The southeastern corner of Long Ridge OSP connects with Upper Stevens Creek County Park trails and Saratoga Gap, which offer additional trail mileage. A 5.5-mile loop trail is our choice; you’ll see the best of Long Ridge, including the Pacific Coast from the trail’s high points, if not the offshore fog.
The wine tasting Afterward, you’ll enjoy a great view of the Santa Clara Valley and a gourmet picnic on the lawn at a nearby Santa Cruz Mountains appellation winery renowned for its locally-made Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Syrah, and red meritage.
The fun The small size of your group will lend itself well to a well-rounded, quality experience perfect for learning, having fun, and making new friends. You can even learn about the wildlife and flora that you see on the trail, or broaden your wine knowledge. Take advantage of your guide’s many years of wine and trail experience! All you need is a desire to know more. And to have fun!
The details All of our single-day tours include trail snacks, bottled water, a gourmet picnic lunch, wine tasting (including tasting fees), and the services of a California Wine Hikes tour guide. A full itinerary will be provided to all guests who book this tour.
Invite your friends Your friends would enjoy this adventure, too. Ask them to join you on this tour, and savor the shared memories! Simply click here to invite your friends, and your invitation to them will include a link to this tour. Or, just click the book now button to reserve your spot today.
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YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OF AGE TO BOOK THIS TOUR.
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“Russ, I really enjoyed the Picchetti hike. Thanks for organizing us. You are a great trail leader. I’m looking forward to many more of your hikes.” — Sandra W., Palo Alto, California
