Natural wonder of Pinnacles National Monument

San Jose Mercury News reports on the natural sights at nearby Pinnacles National Monument:

The secluded 24,000-acre jewel is San Jose's nearest national wilderness. Yet it is largely unknown to the travelers on nearby Highway 101, hurling themselves toward San Francisco or Los Angeles.

"It's spectacular, and it's in our own backyard," says Jo Feeney of Los Altos, hiking with husband Hal up the steep Condor Gulch Trail along wildflowers and a waterfall. "I can't believe we've been all the way to South Africa's national parks, and have never been here."

The Pinnacles can be sampled in a single day — but visit soon. In April and May, its creeks still gurgle with water and its paths are decorated with colorful poppies, buttercups, lupines and paintbrush. By summer, temperatures reach a scorching 100 degrees.

Read the full story: Pinnacles National Monument: A Nearby Geologic Wonder

How green is that "green" hotel

San Jose Mercury News questions how green so-called "green" hotels are.

Ironically an environmental studies professor at last December's Copenhagen climate conference was trying to reuse his towels at his hotel only to get new towels every day.

It's a conundrum that many travelers face nowadays: They arrive in a hotel that boasts about its environmental credentials, only to see little evidence of them during their stay. When torn between offering conservation benefits and what they consider good service, hotels usually jettison conservation.

Read the full story: 'Green' hotels dilemma: conservation vs. service

Photo from AP Photo / Eric Risberg

Five California Bay Area outdoor escapes

San Jose Mercury News reports on five outdoor experts' local escapes.

Kayaking, biking, horse back riding, hiking and star-gazing are covered.

Read the full story: Wanderlust

Photo from ROMP

LA farmers market to celebrate 75th year

The Los Angeles Farmers Market celebrates its 75th year this month.

The iconic market at Third and Fairfax in L.A. will mark its birthday with a weeklong celebration in the middle of the month.

Events include a July 14 "Taste of Farmers Market," 5-9 p.m. (tickets are $20 or with drinks, $25); a July 15 karaoke contest on the West Patio stage; and a "Big Birthday Bash" party for the public July 16 beginning at 8 a.m., including free cupcakes and a huge cake shaped like the market's clock tower. Live music will be offered July 16-19, and programs for kids will be available July 18-19. Details: www.farmersmarketla.com.

Read the full story: Farmers Market in Los Angeles celebrates 75th year

Visit Chernobyl at your own risk

Doug Murray traveled for the San Jose Mercury News to Chernobyl, Ukraine to report on the tour around the nuclear fallout site.

The site, 80 miles northwest of capital Kiev, experienced one of the worst non-atomic bomb nuclear disasters on April 26, 1986 when one of the reactors (picture left) exploded. The radiation spread all over Europe and created a ghost town when 300,000 people needed to relocate for safety purposes.

"More than 20 years after the atomic genie was released from the bottle, the invisible danger in this modern ghost town remains. [tour guide Dennis] Zaburin tells me not to worry, but I can see the readout on his dosimeter [radiation monitor]. It says 1,800. Only a few hours earlier he told me that 50 is normal. What am I doing here?"

Read the full story: The lost city of Chernobyl

Vancouver BC downtown walk

San Jose Mercury News reports via the Seattle Times on the new three-mile path along Vancouver, B.C.'s False Creek.

The False Creek stroll lets visitors enjoying the sights of downtown with its "glittering high rises, million-dollar town houses and housing co-ops" with the scenic backdrop of the mountains.

According to writer Kristen Jackson, there's lots of stuff to do on the stroll besides just take in the sights:

"Hungry? Head to the Granville Island market, a foodie mecca of small-farm produce and seafood, food stalls and cafes. Or wine and dine at fancier restaurants along the way. Want some greenery? Lounge in waterfront pocket parks. Tired? Take a ride in one of the dozen-seater mini-ferries that buzz around False Creek like brightly painted water bugs."

Read the full story: A scenic stroll on the Vancouver, B.C. waterfront

Biking Canada's Cape Breton Isle

The San Jose Mercury News' Geri Migielicz writes about her three-day bike trip across the Cabot Trail in Canada's Cape Breton Isle - the northeastern most part of Nova Scotia.

"The rich culture and history make it feel like a shortcut to the British Isles or, when in Canada's Acadian territory, France.

This mix of influences has produced a vibrant Celtic-flavored folk music scene, which alone could justify the trip.

And if you're a bicyclist looking for spectacular terrain and challenging steep climbs to notch on your altimeter, look no further."

Read the full story: Two wheels across Nova Scotia

Uptick in agritourism, or haycations

The San Jose Mercury News reports on the growing trend of doing farm work for a vacation, agritourism.

Writer Leslie Harlib visited a farm in Marin County near the Bay Area, where she "reveled in the pastoral scene so timeless it's like being inside a Grant Wood painting."

"At Cow Track Ranch, owners Liz and Bruce Daniels love educating the folks who come to stay. 'Most people have no idea this kind of lifestyle still exists in Marin,' Liz Daniels says. 'If they're interested, we take them on a tour of our vegetable garden. I tell them about our production and where I sell my produce. They can find out about cattle ranching, and see the cattle up close.'"

Ecotravel News has previously reported on this trend in France, Peru, and closer to home agritourism.

Read the full story: Jump on agritourism wave and stay on a farm

California sans car

The San Jose Mercury News reports on a few vacation spots that are easy to get to by public transportation. And once at the place visitors can get around by foot, horse or even Segway.

The three popular spots highlighted are Angel Island, Old Sacramento and San Luis Obispo - all are easily accessible by train from San Jose.

Read the full story: Gas-free getaways

Old Faithful less faithful

The San Jose Mercury News reports that Old Faithful - the iconic geyser in Yellowstone National Park - has become less faithful because of drought conditions.

A U.S. Geological survey conducted over nine years by Shaul Hurwitz found that it now takes 1.5 hours for an eruption as opposed to just about one hour before 1959:

"Hurwitz's study examined data from five reliable geysers, including Old Faithful, from 1997 to 2006. The winter of 1997 in Yellowstone and surrounding mountains was the wettest in at least 100 years, but drought has prevailed in the area for much of this decade."

Read the full story: Drought slowing down Old Faithful geyser

Travel without gassing up your car

Michael Martinez of the San Jose Mercury News wrote an environmentally responsible travel piece this past June about quick getaways using public transportation. For a paper produced in the Silicon Valley sprawl, where driving everywhere is the norm, this was a bold subject. Although originally written to help people not pay high gas prices, he wrote somewhat ironically:

"As it turns out, the virtuous decision to leave the car at home wasn't always an economically smart one. But we felt good about making an environmental statement, even if it cost us a bit more."

Obviously in order to get to these gas-free destinations one must live in San Jose, but there are many destinations in other cities and towns that are within easy reach of public transportation - try and seek them out.

Read the full story: Gas-free getaways