Tromp Blog

Pump Tracks Find Some New Momentum

The Flood Park Pump Track features awesome rollers and shade. Courtesy San Mateo County Parks Department.

Mountain bikers and BMX riders of all ages are flocking to parks to practice their skills on purpose-built rollers and berms.

Fun and Games for Students in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Quail Hollow Pond is a great place for animal tracking! Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History photo.

Here are a couple of kid-friendly hikes and gamified educational activities in the hills near Santa Cruz, just 45 minutes from Silicon Valley.

The Magnificent Trees of Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve

Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve is home to a lovely second-growth redwood forest—and a whole lot more. Photo by Bridget Lyons.

Experiencing the sensory pleasures of California bay laurels, madrones, and of course redwoods, while running (and breathing) at this hidden gem in Los Gatos.

Why Summer Is My Favorite Time to Explore Local Wildflowers

Proof that California fuchsia's scarlet flowers attract hummingbirds! Photo by Frank Cone/Pexels.

What's blooming in mid to late summer, and where you can find these flowers in the Santa Cruz Mountains region.

Day Trips and Sips: Explore Ancient Oaks and Savor Sustainable Wines Along Skyline Ridge

The Ancient Oak Trail brings you to one of the most stunning Live Oak groves in Northern California. Photo by Majken Talbot.

Explore the trails of Russian Ridge, enjoy a lunch at Alice’s Restaurant, and soak up the views from the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains while wine tasting at the Thomas Fogarty Winery.

‘Whale Bathing’ in Pacifica: Spotting Humpbacks from the Bluffs

You'll be extra lucky to see a whale breaching like this! Photo by David Chamberlin.

Every summer, members of the North Pacific whale tribe feed off the coast of Northern California and put on a show that can feed your soul.

Making a Splash: Swimming Holes Near Silicon Valley

The refreshing Pescadero Creek at Memorial Park beckons. Photo by Mike Kahn.

Five places in the South Bay and Peninsula to keep cool by communing with nature wetly.

Paying to Park Pays Off for Parks (and You)

Want to help keep your "backyard" beautiful? Pay to park. Photo: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Five reasons to take the high-road into your favorite state park’s parking lot.

Why You Should Rip Out Your Lawn and Plant Natives

Farewell to spring (Clarkia amoena), front center, orange bush monkey flower (Diplacus aurantiacus), right, and a low-lying bush manzanita, background. Photo by Mike Kahn.

The common American lawn has a problematic history, and creates a lot of problems for the environment.

The Making of 'The Unseen Peninsula'

Montara Mountain (1988) by Robert Buelteman

A celebrated photographer reflects on the life that led to his first book, which captures a secret paradise in the heart of the San Francisco Peninsula.

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