Welcome to Travel Photo Mondays
It’s Monday morning, time to enjoy some gorgeous travel photography and inspiration from around the world. Let’s banish those Monday blues by sharing gorgeous imagery and story telling.
Coastal oaks
Sonoma hike through Olompali
Just south of the Sonoma city of Petaluma is a State Park called Olompali State Park. An area still preserved and left mostly in its natural state, Olompali park with its coastal range is filled huge oak forests, fern dells and beautiful vistas. Olompali means ‘Southern Village or People’ from the coastal Miwok people that lived in this area. The Miwok lived here continuously from 6000 to the latest date of 1850. There is a reconstruction site of typical habitats or tepees made with tree limbs and bark from the local trees, mostly oak or redwood. A large and well-known boulder called ‘Kitchen Rock’ was used by the local Miwok as a mortar to grind their acorns, prepare food and socialize.
Shady trails under beautiful
Recreated Miwok dwelling
Fern undergrowth in the oak forest
Varied terrain
There are some easy to more challenging trails going through the lower portions of the park and up into the coastal hills. At the start of the trails are larger open grassy expanses and leading into shady oak forests filled with dense undergrowth of native ferns and other flora. There are magnificent vistas of the Petaluma valley floor, delta and river opening into San Francisco bay at many points to rest and enjoy the views. Further uphill, the trails open up again into and open grassy hills with rocky outcrops and scattered boulders in strange locations.
Me walking through the coastal oak forests
Friends taking a hike with me today
It’s always easy to take a break from the uphill hikes and enjoy scenic views of the Petaluma basin and delta.
Peek-a-boo views of Petaluma basin and delta
It’s easy to spend a pleasant morning or even most of the day hiking around the trails with magnificent views of the area. I hope you enjoyed your tour of Olompali State Park for Travel Photo Mondays, Please come and visit these other bloggers below sharing their photo essays.
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Noel — The link button on your page is not there. I’d like to submit the following photo essay for your Travel Mondays: Renaissance Architecture in Vicenza, Italy – http://thepalladiantraveler.com/2013/07/30/phoenography-challenge-architecture/
Hi Tom,
You can try any of the more recent Travel Photo Mondays or another one coming up soon, I post them on Sunday mornings for others around the globe
Can’t find the button to add my link! 🙁
Majida, go to the newest post for Travel PHoto MOndays the button is below all the bloggers links
I love the way they’ve tried to let visitors learn about the culture of the people who used to live there! You can understand so much more in a natural environment then seeing isolated artifacts in a museum.
These are absolutely gorgeous photos! What a beautiful area you’ve shared with us on your virtual tour. Thank you!
Love that shot of the dwelling!
Great photos, especially that first one. There’s something mystical about those slanted trees.
Great shots of the place, picturesque.
I always forget how many beautiful state parks there are out there to see as well! Ahh soo much to see so little time too!
The scenery is beautiful and seems so untouched-I so enjoyed the History of the Miwok people and viewing their re-created shelters.
Thank you for this lovely post!
Jemma
What a beautiful series of photographs in an area that sounds like it would offer good year round hiking.
Great photo story – this makes me want to dust off my hiking shoes and get out there and explore this area!
I never would have expected this untouched gem in this area. What a beautiful park and gorgeous scenery. those shady trails look so inviting.
Noel, here you go again visiting places in my own back yard that I haven’t been to yet. This one is really inexcusable, because for the past 23+ years, I’ve driven by it from SF to Santa Rosa hundreds of times and always say to myself that I need to stop there sometimes. Had no idea what to expect until seeing your pics. It looks well worth my time to explore. Thanks for the inspiration.
Great view from the top…
The Miwok dwelling caught my eye. I’ve seen something similar in my travels through Jamaica.
Looks like a calming walk. Love your photos, Noel!
Ohh, I love that green one playing ‘peek-a-boo’. I am always drawn to green photos… and I am green with envy on this one.
Wow! Those photos are absolutely stunning! I LOVE the peek-a-boo views! Thanks for sharing!
Love the green shots Noel!! Absolutely amazing!
thanks Mo, looking forward to seeing your Capture the Colour entry, will check it now!
Thanks Noel… Good luck in the contest!
good luck with you to, lots of really good entries this year, I’ll have to check the pinterest site