Callie & Barry
Callie & Barry
Things to Do
Special to Callie & Barry
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
1,600 acres of forest in the Santa Cruz mountains are preserved in honor of Henry Cowell, whose family donated the land to the state in 1954. It boasts some of the tallest redwoods in the world, with the tallest in the park at about 277 feet tall, 16 feet wide, and around 1,500 years old. Wildlife you may get to see include banana slugs, black-tailed deer, or steelhead trout. The Redwood Grove Loop Trail is a particular favorite of Callie & Barry's and is about 1 mile long. It will take you past the tallest tree as well as the famous Fremont Tree, a burnt out tree named after General John C. Fremont who camped inside it in 1846. Parking is $10 ($9 for seniors).
Located about 30 miles north of San Jose, this still-working farm is preserved from the 1850s and produces crops such as corn and wheat. There is a variety of farmyard animals, an outdoor kitchen, and a working blacksmith shop. A train dating back to the 1920s will take you through the property and you can tour the beautiful Victorian farmhouse. Picnicking is allowed and a cafe is open on the weekends.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 10:00am - 4:00pm. Parking is free. Admission varies, max $6
Happy Hollow is a division of the City of San Jose Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services department. It contains a real-life Viking ship, a tree house, and Danny the Dragon, a fun ride for children. Happy Hollow Zoo is home to red pandas, capybaras, squirrel monkeys, and many more! It is a great place for children in a beautiful park perfect for picnics. Hours are 10:00am - 4:00pm on weekdays and until 5:00pm on weekends. Tickets are $18 for ages 2 - 59, free under 2, and $15 for seniors & military. Parking is $10.
Boulder Creek has been home to Callie, Barry, Ava, and Alex for the last 2 years and is a beautiful town nestled right in the Santa Cruz mountains. Historically a logging town, Boulder Creek has maintained its mountain culture and is truly a place to get away from it all. Enjoy a meal at Scopazzi's, grab some ice cream at Foster's Freeze, and shop the thrift stores along the main drag.
Alternative Activities
Located across the street from the high-end shopping district of Santana Row and Valley Fair, the Winchester Mystery House offers daily tours of the mansion and garden. Sarah Winchester, heir to the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune, believed she was haunted by the ghosts of everyone who'd been killed by the Winchester rifle. To keep them at bay, she never stopped construction on her mansion, valued at over $71m today and containing beautiful Tiffany glass pieces, ornate furniture, a ball room, and 160 rooms to explore. Mansion tours are between 10:00am - 4:00pm on weekdays and until 5:00pm on weekends. Tickets start at $44.99 for adults and $22.99 for children. Parking is free.
This garden was built as a symbol of everlasting friendship between the City of San Jose and its Sister City of Okayama, Japan in 1965 and is patterned after the world famous Korakuen Garden in Okayama. It's a beautiful place to walk through, take pictures, and spot some koi fish. Hours are 10:00am - 5:00pm. Admission is free. Parking is $6
Roaring Camp is in the thick of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The redwoods here were the first to be protected from logging, and the railroad, the Santa Cruz & Felton, began carrying tourists to the Big Trees and the beach in 1875. The town of Roaring Camp has been preserved from the 1880's and is a step back in time as you wander through it. Two historic trains run through the mountains or to the beach, weather permitting. Hours are 9:00am - 5:00pm. Admission to the camp is free. Parking is $10. Check the train schedule for hours and rates.