California Flower
Gardens
Pebble Beach is
one of the Sonoma Coast State Beaches featuring stunning coastal views
that hardly seem real. In the morning mist and dew, incredible splashes
of color from flowers that open their buds to the promise of sunlight
include fuchsias, pinks and reds. Framed by the deep blue Pacific Ocean
below the cliffs on which the flowers sit, you can't help but feel
something so special, so powerful in nature that you want to freeze
frame that moment and hang onto it.
There's hardly a
place as magical as Sonoma Coast on the thousand miles of California
beaches. Unlike the huge dunes at Guadalupe or bright, reflecting sands
of Southern California that reflect a mix of Mediterranean and desert
climates, Sonoma Coast is lush, wet and attractive to a variety of
flowers, plants, animals and sea mammals.
While there are many
long, thin sandy beaches below rugged headlands, access to these beaches
requires a bit of navigation in most cases. Known for its stunning
beaches, Sonoma County has taken measures to preserve these natural
resource with features such as craggy coastline, secluded coves,
outcroppings of rocks, natural arches and plateaus of land far above the
ocean.
Pebble Beach is one
of several beaches accessible at Sea Ranch, a planned community designed
to blend with the environment. Pebble Beach is not to be confused with
Pebble Beach in Monterey County that includes several world class golf
courses and 17-Mile Drive. The Sonoma County beach is one of
six beaches that can be accessed at Sea Ranch. Black Point,
Bluff Top Trail, Pebble Beach, Stengal Beach, Shell Beach and Walk on
Beach are among the beaches you can look at, hike to and on, photograph
and enjoy.
Locals joke about
tourists visiting these Northern California beaches. The enjoy the
predictable sight, watching swimsuit-clad families head to the beach,
often lasting a few minutes. The weather can change hourly or by the
minute and sometimes when the wind blows, it feels cold, as the visitors
discover. The weather can be foggy in the summer, but it usually burns
off during the day. For those living no more than 20 to 50 miles
inland, the cool breezes provide a much needed escape from temperatures
that can top out at over 100 degrees a few days each year.
When you seek a
romantic getaway, Sea Ranch is
definitely one great choice for your mini-vacation. Gourmet dining, wine
tasting, hiking trails, kayaking and a variety of outdoor sports and
great coastal drives are a few of the activities you'll find along the
Sonoma Coast.
You will find
Sonoma's Pebble Beach at 36448 Highway 1. You must pay to park in most
locations and will be charged a $4 fee at Sea Ranch Access Trail parking
lots. For more information about Sonoma County beaches:
www.sonoma-county.org
Sonoma County Tourism
Bureau
420 Aviation Blvd., Ste 106
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-539-7282
www.sonomacounty.com
