by
John Hibble
This area bordering the Monterey
Bay is truly nature's playground. We are blessed with rare and
beautiful wildlife and plants. In addition to the more common
birds such as mockingbirds, jays, hummingbirds and ducks, the
forest is also home to woodpeckers, owls, and hawks. Herons
and egrets frequent the streams and wetlands.
OCEAN LIFE
Over 80 types of sea shells
wash up on our beaches including sand dollars and the occasional
star fish.
You may also see otters, sea lions,
dolphins and whales. The bay is also home to salmon, steelhead,
anchovy, and squid. The giant elephant seals mate at Ano Nuevo
in the winter.
The ocean provides a home for
sea gulls, brown pelicans, cormorants, Bonaparte's gulls,
and sooty shear waters. In the surf you may see loons and
surf scoters. The most common shore birds are the tall willets
and marbled godwits, the medium sized black bellied plovers,
and the tiny, sewing-machine-like sanderlings.
FOREST LIFE
The forest is home to the
bright yellow banana slug which was adopted as the official
mascot for the University of Santa Cruz. There are also salamanders,
rattlesnakes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, two types of fox,
bobcats, cougars, deer, and wild pigs. The once common grizzly
bear is now extinct.
The mountains are covered with oak,
madrone, and one of the world's tallest trees, the coast redwood,
one of the few tree that can regenerate from its roots after
it has been cut down.
The coastal plain is covered with Monterey
pine, Monterey cypress, eucalyptus, and acacia which have
been planted.
There are a number of ferns and
wild flowers including the beautiful Douglas iris.
Aptos--Where the Waters Meet.
It is believed by some that when
the Native Americans named this part of the county, they called
it Awatos - "Where the Waters Meet." The name honors
the spot where two creeks joined before traveling together
to the bay. Today it's called Aptos.
You'll find people living in
everything from rustic mountain cabins in the redwoods to
sprawling contemporary homes on the golf course.
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It follows that the sights of Aptos
are equally diverse. Within a few minutes, you can go from
the nature trails of a redwood forest to the relaxed elegance
of Seascape Resort. Most likely, you'll meet the same people
in both places. This is a spot where nature and modern life
get along just fine together.
It's also a place of good humor. If
you doubt that, then come by for the Aptos Fourth of July
parade. Billed as "The World's Shortest Parade,"
it covers all of two blocks and includes nearly every Aptos
resident, both human and animal. Even visitors are welcome
to participate - just arrive in costume and be prepared for
fun.
Aptos Village itself is just a tiny
dot on the local map, but it's well worth the visit. The old
Bayview Hotel anchors this quaint shopping district, comprised
mainly of friendly little shops and restaurants. A visit to
the Cafe Sparrow is a must. This French-inspired cafe is a
local favorite for Sunday brunch or casual dinners.
Just down the road in Redwood Village
stock up on picnic supplies at th Piggie Market and Deli before
heading into Niscene Marks Sate Park for an afternoon of exploring
the forest.
Down on the shore at Seacliff
State Beach, you'll certainly want to inspect the remains
of the Palo Alto, an experimental ship constructed of concrete.
It made just one short voyage back in 1919 before dropping
anchor here to become a restaurant and dance hall. Today,
only the pelicans, seaguls and fishermen occupy its once-grand
hull.
In this place where the waters
meet, you'll still find those special qualities here.
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