The seasonal show of fall color in California is not limited to falling leaves.  Every autumn, beautiful orange and black Monarch butterflies return to the Monterey Bay area to mate.  One of the best places to see the display is at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz.  Jodi Apelt of the California State Parks reports that on every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. through Feb. 14 (or until the migratory Monarchs depart), Monarch Butterfly Tours will occur.  Natural Bridges is located at the end of West Cliff Drive.   To know that the Monarchs are there when you plan to visit, call (831) 423-4609 in advance.

Monarch Butterfly (1/16/06)

Other colorful California State parks fall events in the Santa Cruz area include a program on Mushrooms of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Nov. 7 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Ranche del Oso Nature and History Center near Waddell Creek Bridge (16 mi. north of Santa Cruz off CA-1).  A mushroom taxonomist will describe where to find them, how to be sure they’re “the right ones,” and tips on gourmet preparation of wild mushrooms.

On the Sunday of the Thanksgiving Day Weekend (Nov. 29), a “Creeping Forest Ramble” will leave at noon from Park Headquarters at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.  Docent Doreen Devorah will lead a three-hour, 2.5 mi hike up and down the “creeping” terrain, along creeks, through fire-scarred redwoods and over log bridges.   Bring water, a snack and good hiking shoes.

Photo Credit: © 2006, John Poimiroo

Fall color is peaking above 8,000′ in the Eastern Sierra.  California Fall Color has posted a beautiful photograph of aspen leaves in a stream, each a dazzlingly bright tone of green, yellow, orange and red.  Weekly updates on this site report where the color is peaking throughout California.  Whoever says California has no change of season reveals they’ve never traveled to these colorful places.

Marshall Pike takes us to the Roosevelt Elk - the largest game species in North America - at Redwood National and State Parks in Humboldt County, California.  CLICK HERE to see the elk.

Feb. 1 is the deadline to sign up to attend a User Capacity Symposium, Feb. 6 - 8, in Yosemite Valley to explore how to approach limiting visitation to Yosemite National Park and other public lands. Participating will be public land managers, researchers, elected officials, tribes and members of the public at large in open dialogue. To participate, email jim_bacon@nps.gov. Attendance is limited to 150.

Spectators watching the Blue Angels air show over San Francisco Bay during Fleet Week will get unlimited shuttle rides to prime viewing locations on Angel Island State Park for $5 per day. The special rate is being offered by the Angel Island Tram Tours to make it easier for spectators to get out to Angel Island’s best air show viewing spots. As an additional bonus, one passenger on each Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry will win an Angel Island Adventure Package including a Sunset Cruise, Tram Tour and lunch voucher (no purchase necessary). The Blue Angels will conduct survey flights on Oct. 4, rehearse on Oct. 5 (from 1 to 4:30 p.m.) and perform on Oct. 6 and 7 (from 1 to 4:30 p.m.). The special shuttle fare applies each day the Blue Angels fly. Roundtrip ferry tickets from Tiburon to Angel Island State Park cost $13.50 per adult/senior and $11.50 per child (ages 6 to 12), including state park admission. CLICK HERE for information about Angel Island or CLICK HERE for information about the ferry.