Ben and I walked The Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach today. It's one of Orange County's unsung treasures. The Reserve is about 300 acres of preserved coastal wetlands, including bluffs, marshes, and mesas. It's a major migration spot for thousands of birds each year –kind of like a hotel along Route 66, but for sandpiper and pintails. When you get there you cross a wooden bridge, over a coastal inlet*, that leads to a looped trail which takes about an hour to walk (if you're not with a five-year-old who has to jump off every rock).
As a high school student, some of my friends and I trained as docents through Amigos de Bolsa Chica to lead tours on Saturdays (which they still do). Sadly, all I can remember is the term "Pacific Flyway" and talking bitterly about urban runoff. It's entirely the only reason I know what a coastal inlet* is. I only "led" one tour and promptly quit because it was WAY too cold out there. Pathetic? Yes. Shallow? Yes. True? Unfortunately, yes.
It's still a beautiful place to take a stroll and get your fill of nature, wildlife, the great outdoors and all that kind of thing…
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We listen to some Van Morrison on the way home:
Tupelo Honey
I’ve never been to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. I’ll have to go. Since I’m totally into all that nature crap. Great collage!
Love, love, love Van Morrison and that song!!!
I wish I were there right now. With Van Morrison in my ears….
Looks like a great day to spend some time outside!!!
Gorgeous shots Suz.
Your photographs are so beautiful. I’m glad I stopped here (found this through a series of blogs and comments).
I love the photos, make me long for spring. The one with the duck and the ripple in the water is great, awesome capture. We just got a blanket of 8 inch of snow, arghhh!
Beautiful! One of my favorite places to go. And Van is one of my favorites, too.
How fun!! Never knew about the wetlands… well, I’ve heard of them, but never thought of them as a fun, pretty fun place to visit!! Great photos!! We’ll for sure have to visit there! Thanks!
You forgot to mention you can see my house from there..
Thanks Suz! I now found my next nature adventure. Totally going next weekend!
I need to take my kids here! It looks like fun. It would probably take us a whole day to walk the loop! Love that song.
What a coincidence, I was just writing up a future blog post about the sand dunes along the coast and hit the Bolsa Chica website for some reference info. I’ll have to take my daughter out there when she is a tad older. Great pictures!
I haven’t been there in YEARS! YEARS! I used to go there as a kid. It looks the same. Love that song.
Beautiful. We’ll have to head up that way soon.
Love the collage!! Your photos are awesome!! I have to check this out with my kiddos. Thanks for sharing.
I haven’t been to the wetlands in a few years. I looooooooooove Van Morrison!
Good shots that capured the ‘treasure feel’; the collage complements your post perfectly!
Have I told you lately that I love your blog?
oKay that’s a different Van M. song. But I do love it. Nice shots of Bolsa Chica. It really is a hidden treasure.
Your photos are so great. I’ve really enjoyed the glimpse into the life of a real Orange County Housewife!!
This takes me back. Looking through the links reminds me of how much I used to love going there in HS. Except we would go and smoke and drink beer up on the hill on that bench. Good times. Really, Good times. I’ll have to go back there soon. (not beer or cigs now though)
Wow….look at your photos! So amazing Suz! Love them!
It really doesn’t get much better than Van Morrison….and Tupelo Honey:)
Great pics and I LOVE Van Morrison! I’m liking you more & more each day! By the way…what did you think of Frightened Rabbit? 🙂
I love the walkway pic! Nicely done.