Morgan Hill Aquatics Center

Morgan Hill ’ s Aquatics Center , located at 16200 Condit Road , opens for the 2017 Summer Season on Saturday , May 27 , offering fun for kids of all ages . Have a blast on the variety of water features , or enjoy a leisurely day poolside . The ultimate summer experience is just minutes away with two large waterslides , a water play feature , splash pad , full size competition pool , and a warm instructional pool . morganhill . ca . gov / 209 / Aquatics

Located at 5000 Highway 146 in Paicines , the park was formed over 23 million years ago when multiple volcanoes erupted and flowed together . Its landscape is unlike any other , consisting of grasslands , chaparral , oak woodlands , and canyon bottoms . The park is a home to many species of plants and animals , including Prairie and Peregrine falcons , Golden eagles , and the endangered California Condor . With a little luck , visitors may spot two or three soaring over the peaks . Pinnacle visitors can also explore two systems of talus caves , which were formed by massive boulders wedged in ravines and widened , over time , by water and erosion . The park offers hikers 32 miles of trails , where bobcats , coyotes , black-tailed deer , and any number of lizards and snakes , and tarantulas , are likely to be spotted . nps . gov / pinn / planyourvisit / basicinfo . htm

The Monterey Bay Aquarium at 886 Cannery Row in Monterey is located on the site of a former sardine cannery on Cannery Row , and features thousands of plants and animals representing more than 600 species on display . The centerpiece of the Aquarium is a 28-foot-high , 333,000-gallon exhibit ideal for viewing coastal marine life , including giant kelp . The largest exhibit in the aquarium is a 1,200,000-gallon Open Sea exhibit , featuring one of the world ’ s largest singlepaned windows , where you have a closeup view of stingrays , jellyfish , sea otters , sea horses , and numerous other native marine species . The Aquarium ’ s impressive display of jellyfish is a mystifying sight . More than 35,000 creatures representing over 550 species fill 34 major galleries . There are nearly 200 exhibits in all , providing all who visit the aquarium , “ a window to the wonders of the ocean .” montereybayaquarium . org ,

Freemont

Peak Observatory

Located in San Juan Bautista , the observatory is one of the finest amateur -operated astronomy centers in the United States . Each year the Observatory offers over 2,000 members of the public free multimedia presentations by a FPOA astronomer on Saturday evenings as the sun sets over the Pacific . The “ Challenger ” Newtonian telescope , and a variety of sophisticated amateur telescopes , allow observers to view the splendors of the night sky . The Observatory is open to the public for free scheduled viewing and educational programs from April through October on Saturday evenings that don ’ t conflict with a full moon . fpoa . net

Mission of San Juan Bautista

Located at 406 Second Street in San Juan Bautista , the mission was founded on June 24 , 1797 by Padre Fermin Francisco de Lasuén . Named for Saint John the Baptist , the mission is known for being the largest of the mission churches , and quickly grew to become the core of the prosperous town . The mission features a museum with an extensive collection of artifacts and a serene garden . There are numerous buildings that still remain from the Spanish colonial and early American times : the Plaza Hotel , built 20 years later ; a settler ’ s cabin with gardens , a great example of early California settlers typical housing ; Indian Burial Grounds next to the Mission Church , where over 4000 American Indians are buried ; the Plaza Hall ; and stables . oldmissionsjb . org ,

GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN MAY / JUNE 2017 gmhtoday . com

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