The following are the most popular community, neighborhood or state parks found either within Santa Rosa or among the surrounding area. Nearly all of the ones located outside of the city limits listed below are within a 10-30 minute drive of downtown Santa Rosa (unless otherwise noted). Camping - for information about camping please visit the Sonoma County Parks Website here. Annadel State Park is located east of Santa Rosa off … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Wineries
Sonoma County, while not the first destination in the state for growing commercial grapes (that being in Los Angeles County), is certainly one of the state's most historical viticultural regions and posseses a heritage that the county does not necessarily promote as much as they should. While not the first wineries founded in the state, two of the oldest ones still in existence are both in Sonoma Valley - Buena Vista (dating from 1857) and the … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Golf Courses
Sonoma County is home to a diversity of golf courses - some 16 are listed here (every golf course in the county); we have personally visited 15 of them. Most are public, but some are private and a number are membership based. The private very prestigious Mayacama Golf Course is located just east of Windsor. Jack Nicholas (who designed the course) teed off on opening day in 2001 to many cheers from the on looking crowds. This private course was … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Annual Events
This is only a partial listing of events. Music, arts, wine and food. Common themes. In addition to the annual events listed below, a number of seasonal events are held in Santa Rosa throughout the year. Looking no further then downtown, the weekly Wednesday night market is held from early June to early September. Vendors fill and pedestrians fills some of the space at Old Railroad Square and part of 4th Street is closed to vehicular traffic. … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Restaurants
The Santa Rosa restaurants listed below are just a fraction of the many restaurants in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. We have eaten at nearly all the restaurants listed below. All are in Santa Rosa unless otherwise specified. Prices are subject to change without notice. Have a suggestion for a Santa Rosa restaurant not yet listed here? Are you a Santa Rosa Restaurant owner who has been in business at least 5 years and would like your … [Read more...]
Nepal – Yaks
Yaks to the Nepali's are like cars to most people. They use Yaks for everything. The Nepalese people in the mountains and outside of the main towns get their milk from Yaks which can be used to make a variety of dairy products. In addition these animals produce their fuel, wool for clothing and are transportation. Disturbing a Yak is not to be taken lightly. Yaks are sacred in the mountains. Yaks are larger and stronger then domestic cattle and … [Read more...]
Nepal – Katmandu
Katmandu, for all its poverty and dilapidated buildings, is a relatively safe city. In all my walks and travels through the neighborhoods I never once felt unsafe. In comparison, many times I felt unsafe walking through Bangkok, Thailand or even cities in California. The people in Katmandu were very friendly and easy going. This was the first city that I have ever seen that appeared to be crumbling to the ground. There were few paved streets, … [Read more...]
Nepal – Kathmandu Attractions
Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple is well worth seeing. This temple is located a short distance from Katmandu. The reason this temple is called the Monkey temple is that there are many many wild monkeys crawling around on the steps and buildings. Be careful not to have any exposed food with you because the monkeys will jump you and try to take away your food. There are 365 well worn steps leading to the top of the temple. These steps become … [Read more...]
Nepal – Chitwan National Park
Chitwan is a National Park in the southern of Nepal - that contains many wild animals including rhino's and the hard to see Tigers. Jump on the back of an elephant and roam around the tall grasslands of Chitwan looking for a tiger. Chances are you will only see the wild Rhinoceros. Beyond the far away haze you can see the giant peaks of the tallest of the white covered Himalayas. For more information about Chitwan National Park visit the … [Read more...]
Nepal – More Info
Books There are many, many books written on Nepal. Some of them are listed below Nepal Handbook by Kerry Moran is probably the best all around travel book written on Nepal. You should be able to find it at a good bookstore. It sells for $18.95 Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen is his written account of his trip to Nepal to track the elusive Snow Leopard To the Navel of the World is a book by Peter Somerville Large which chronicles … [Read more...]