Help: I'm in Monterey, leaving tomorrow (at 11am-ish). I have a flight from SFO at 20:35 (and car to return, etc.)… what do I do in between those two times, while on the way?
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Have you seen the coastline in between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay? Beautiful scenery, and some good places to go hiking (e.g., Rancho del Oso / Waddell Creek part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park). Most scenic part is probably from a bit N of Waddell Creek to Tunitas Creek.
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I saw the coastline insofar as I drove past it on the way here. 😀 Big Basin Redwoods State Park was something I was definitely planning on heading through at least, but hadn't looked up relatively easy and shortish hikes (or safety, or anything).
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(or rather, I was considering going back via highway 9 and 236 and potentially stopping off somewhere there)
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Replying to @gsnedders
The part of Big Basin Redwoods SP near the coast is more variable and interesting than the more reliably-forested part near the park headquarters, IMO. There are also a good hikes in the preserves at openspace.org/ , especially (for fall) Skyline Ridge or Monte Bello.

Nov 18, 2017 · 6:19 AM UTC

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Replying to @davidbaron
To be fair, redwoods are somewhat novel for me!
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There are also some nice redwood forests in El Corte de Madera Creek OSP and in Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP (again in openspace.org/preserves). It's been a *long* time since I've been to Big Basin Redwoods SP park HQ... but IIRC highway 236 is very slow and twisty.
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