Nature

10/12” Mixed media in art sketchbook

Craving some outdoor adventure, my husband and I took a drive the other day, we ended up at Mission Trails Regional Park. We’d both hiked there before, but neither of us had visited The Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center before, so it was new to us.

We were quite impressed! They have a wonderful learning center with interactive displays and programs to teach children about nature, wildlife, the native Kumeyaay people and how they lived off this land for thousands of years before….. well, you know. They also have a library filled with books related to the area.

I really want to check out some of their Art Exhibitions.

So many things to do and see, and many trails to hike! Cowels Mountain is a great hike with a incredible view from the summit at 1592 feet. It was too hot to hike by the time we got there, but we’ll definitely be coming back, there may even be a camping trip in my future! 🏕

24 replies to “Nature”

  3. That place has a HUGE piece of my heart FOREVER. In the entry area to the visitors center is a wall of rocks. Behind one of those rocks is my signature. A lot of talented people worked so hard to put together a way to preserve that holy landscape and build that building to help people understand that the coastal chaparral is not “nothing.” The Kumeyaay were involved in this and before the visitors center opened that day they came through with local white sage to bless and purify it. Your post made my day, Tiffany.

    California Stars

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    1. If you go up Oak Canyon until the bridge of the 52 you can see where the Kumeyaay ground acorns and found a way to keep water year round with just one boulder. Just past the bridge are the oak trees. San Diego County is full of grinding holes, but it’s cool to have them there where it’s easy to put the puzzle together. When you go back, please tell it I love it and I think of it every day (because I do). My favorite time to go up there was late February when there was water in the creek and maybe the wild lilac would be blooming.

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      1. I can’t wait to explore more! I grew up in North San Diego, Escondido, Valley Center, Palomar Mtn, and I loved to hike and explore the chaparral and incredible boulders, I found multiple grinding rocks out there, tools, arrowheads, and I swear hieroglyphic’s, I have always been fascinated with early natives!

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        1. I love the hike up Mt. Palomar — I skied up it once then down the road! It was a blast. Once we camped on a mountain north of Mt. Palomar — it was wonderful. We could watch the telescope open in the evening. It’s funny but here people don’t have any idea what CA really is. I didn’t either when I moved there in 1984. I’ve only met two people who had half a clue. He’s a wildlife biologist at “my” Refuge and his favorite place out there is the Tijuana River Estuary! Another wildlife biologist out here — a Navajo — fell in love with Ramona! We were talking and he showed me photos of an incredible Kumeyaay mural. I didn’t expect that, either. I was thrilled both times. 😀

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    2. I knew this post would spark you, Martha! I was thinking about you when we were there, and I told my husband about you, (he used to manage the Faculty Staff Club at SDSU!) We enjoyed being there so much and can’t wait to go back and explore more!

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      1. Ah! The faculty staff club! In antediluvian times the ALI (where I taught for a while) held its certificate ceremonies there. Such a cool place (unless it’s moved). It was in a little house by the turtle pond.

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    1. My paintings are always intuitive, so every part is made on a whim, never planned ahead! When I finish a piece it’s all about balance, so I might add color or just something dark and heavy, or light and swirly!😊 Thanks for the question!

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