Category Archive: ecotourism
February 21, 2008 at 10:50 am
by bruce
· Filed under ecotourism, Community Service
Already working on the county’s first eco-tourism map, the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce has joined the PG&E Climate Smart program, along with over 15,000 other Climate Smart customers. This program raises money toward high quality, independently-certified environmental projects that absorb or reduce greenhouse gases, starting with preserving California redwood forests (which hug the North Coast). The initial projects will reportedly remove more than 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere making the energy use in our business “climate neutral”. This is part of the county’s continuing push to be environmentally conscious, organic, biodynamic and GMO-free.
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February 18, 2008 at 10:13 am
by nancy
· Filed under ecotourism, attractions, events, parks
On Wednesday, February 20, a total lunar eclipse will be visible along the Coast (barring heavy fog, that is.) An eclipse of the Moon takes place at Full Moon, when the Moon passes through some portion of Earth’s shadow. The color and brightness between eclipses can vary considerably, but most probably it will take on a vivid red or orange color (see the accompanying photo by Carolyne Cathey of MAPA). In recent years, there have been reports of cyan-colored flashes (caused by ozone in the earth’s atmosphere).
The eclipse will last a total of 3 1/2 hours, with some part of it taking place before the moon appears on the horizon. The total eclipse will occur at 7 pm. The Ford House Visitor Center hosts another Star Party, where visitors can borrow telescopes and talk with local experts. MAPA, the Ford House staff, CA State Parks, and Out of This World are co-hosting. Clouds or high winds will cancel: call 707-937-3335 or 707-937-5397.
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January 8, 2008 at 11:37 am
by bruce
· Filed under ecotourism, general, attractions
I was at Point Cabrillo Light Station last week watching the sunset, looked over the cliffs, and just 100 yards offshore, saw a pod of whales. There was tail splashing and spouts everywhere. This was further evidence, as reported by Capt. Tim Gillespie of the Sea Hawk at All Aboard Adventures, that the great annual Gray Whale migration has begun. This tidbit from the American Cetacean Society:
“The only member of the family Eschrichtiidae, the gray whale is a mysticete, or baleen whale. It is a “coastal” whale that migrates along the North American Pacific Coast between arctic seas and the lagoons of Baja California, Mexico. Frequently visible from shore, gray whales provide a unique opportunity for land and boat observation, and commercial whale watching has become a major industry along its migration route. Visitors to the calving and breeding lagoons sometimes encounter the phenomenon of the “friendlies”; gray whales that closely approach small boats and allow themselves to be touched by humans.”
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December 30, 2007 at 9:28 pm
by nancy
· Filed under ecotourism, events, parks
By Marilyn Boese, Mendocino Area Parks Association, 707 937 4700
Russian Gulch Recreation Hall in Mendocino will be the site for Taylor Lockwood’s only coastal showing of his new program, “Chasing the Rain” on January 3. Astonishing photographs and a globe spanning narrative will bring the world of mushrooms to life as you’ve never seen it before. This completely new show features Taylor’s far flung discoveries in the kingdom of fungi as he has traveled the world in pursuit of the “world’s most beautiful mushrooms”. You simply have to see the show to believe it. The show begins at 7:00PM.
Taylor Lockwood is captivated by mushrooms and has brought world wide attention to their variety and beauty. But his is a Mendocino story. Having moved into our cool moist woods, he found mushrooms virtually at his door, and rushed to Fort Bragg to buy a camera. The rest is history, as he has now published his second book on mushrooms, the well received “Chasing the Rain”.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $2.50 for children 12 and under. The digital slide show will be shown in its entirety and mushroom items and books will be available for purchase. Refreshments will be served. Entrance into Russian Gulch State Park is included in the price of admission. Taylor Lockwood’s presentation is a fundraiser for MacKerricher State Park educational programs and the Mendocino Area Parks Association.
For ticket purchase contact MAPA at (707) 937-4700 or email to mapa@mendoparks.org .
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December 17, 2007 at 11:59 am
by dff
· Filed under ecotourism, general, attractions, events, favorites, parks
Every year, over 20,000 California Gray Whales make their way south from Alaska and the Bering Sea down to their breeding grounds in Baja California. After a brief respite in Baja where the babies are born, the whales return back to their northern territory. The Mendocino Coast provides excellent opportunities to see the whales without all the crowds around, starting at the end of December and continuing into April. If you have ever been to Point Reyes when the whales are going by, it’s hard to park anywhere near the ocean because of all the watchers. That’s not a problem up here!
We’ve seen the first whales already, and we’re starting a new feature from Captain Tim at All Aboard Adventures: the whalewatching report.
There are 3 ways to see the whales: watching from the shore, going out on a whalewatching excursion from Noyo Harbor, or going on a plane flight. Some great places to see whales from the shore are: Mendocino Headlands; Chapman Point / Spring Ranch; Point Cabrillo; Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens; Noyo Bluffs; MacKerricher State Park.
The other way to see the whales is to go out on a boat. You’ll find a number of excursion boats that will get you up close and personal (not really — they are required to keep a decent distance from the whales). But you are incredibly close, and you’ll take pictures that amaze everybody else afterwards! Some of the excursion boats are: All Aboard Adventures; Adventures Unlimited; Noyo Fishing Center (Rumblefish and Tigerfish); Lady Irma II; Telstar Charters; Fort Bragg Sportfishing.
The third way to see the whales is to go for a flight with Coast Flyers, who fly out of the Little River Airport.
If you want to know more about the whales, MacKerricher State Park Visitor Center has a Gray Whale & Marine Mammal Program. MacKerricher Docents lead interesting talks and watches about Gray Whales and marine mammals on Saturday and Sunday mornings, January through March. Meet at the MacKerricher Visitor Center, then after a brief program, caravan to Laguna Point deck to watch for whales and other sea life through spotting scopes and binoculars. Call 707-964-8898 for the schedule.
Check out this page for more information about whales, including contact info for the businesses that will take you out on whalewatching excursions.
Whalewatching Report from Captain Tim, All Aboard Adventures
December 14, 2007
We spotted a pod of four whales heading for their winter home while fishing for crabs about a mile off MacKerricher State Park between Pudding Creek and Cleone. Weather was cool and sunny.
All Aboard offers public crab fishing adventures: trips accommodate up to 20 people, but will go out with as few as four. $75/person. Whale Watching for up to two hours for $35/person.
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