Nisene Marks State Park, just over a mile from Sand Rock Farm, near apple oarchards and through a few redwood groves was named the Best Bike Trail this past week by the Good Times.

You can enjoy a leisurely ride through the park, or get more serious, biking the 13 miles of trails deep into second growth redwood on the old fire road. Nisene Marks offers a variety of rides, with some challenging climbs and speedy descents.

You could also participate in the 25th Annual Bike Week, riding to work or school A number of activities are offered to get folks out of their cars and onto their bikes.

Local Aptos biking excitement will be at fever pitch, May 14th when the Amgen Stage 2 Finish ends in Aptos village, just a mile from Sand Rock Farm.
Watch the Finish with other biking enthusiasts and enjoy the great outdoors.

This past Wednesday was particularly enjoyable. I was so excited that Ann Parker from the Sentinel published such a delightful and informative review of my favorite restaurant! I love Café Sparrow. If I could indulge more than once a month or so, I would. Instead, I have highlighted Café Sparrow on the map I give to all my guests noting that it is a very popular, consistently good restaurant.

I gladly make reservations for them. I know when I ask them the next day, guests will always tell me that they had a great experience. The food was unique and delicious and the service was excellent. They tell me that they will tell their friends and, definitely want to go again when they return to Sand Rock Farm.

Cafe Sparrow, Restaurant Review: This Aptos Village bistro isn’t just for the birds
By Ann Parker – Sentinel correspondent
Posted: 04/04/2012 01:30:38 AM PDT

The Historical Landmark plaque in front of Cafe Sparrow reads, “1889 Aptos Grocery and Post Office built by James Leonard and financed by his gold mine.”
Next to the cafe’s front door, a less historic but equally informative sign revealed the restaurant’s specials for the night: herbed Dijon chinook salmon, pepper-crusted ahi, spiced New Zealand venison. Cosmopolitan cuisine in the heart of Aptos Village.

www.cafesparrow.com
Phone: 831-688-6238,

For the full article: www.santacruzsentinel.com/food

Don’t miss Spring. Visit Santa Cruz and Sand Rock Farm in April. You can ride the steam engine to Roaring Camp and enjoy the Eggstraordinary Egg Hunt on Bear Mountain, APRIL 7 & 8. Eggstraordinary Egg Hunt visit web site | more info

Just a few miles South in Monterey, the Jellies have arrived for an extended stay at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

THE JELLIES EXPERIENCE
Opens March 31, 2012
Discover a world where jellies dance and glow, bloom and sting. You’ll meet thimble-sized jellies as clear as glass, colorful creatures with ruffles and beads, and jellies that live their lives upside down. Prepare to be amazed.
Learn more

Visit the hugely popular Pebble Beach Food & Wine – April 12-15, 2012 www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com , the premier epicurean lifestyle event on the West Coast, matching 250 acclaimed wineries and 75 celebrity chefs

April is a great month for the fresh and new. Baby animals abound and frolic for visitors at a smaller version of the County Fair to be held at the end of the month at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds.

Ok, so gas prices are out of sight unless you have one of the new hybrids, or an electric vehicle. If so, you are really lucky as prices are not inching, but flying higher daily!

But, if you, like many, still have one of those gasoline vehicles, think of a short get away to the Monterey Central Coast and Sand Rock Farm. Sand Rock Farm is near Aptos village, a few miles South of Santa Cruz on the way to Monterey.

Discover Spring peaking out with daffodils in the meadows and trees budding out, fountains splashing. The lilacs and the dogwood are not far behind.

Hiking the coast or the hills, Nisene Park or Big Basin, whale watching, bird counting, surfing, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, over 30 wineries – whatever tickles your fancy, we have it here.

We would love to have you visit Sand Rock Farm with wisteria greeting you at the door. Let us show you a STAYCATION!

http://www.sandrockfarm.com/2011/01/staycation-sand-rock-farm/

But, the second owners of the property, the Waugamans did farm. Joan, their granddaughter told us of her grandfather, Alvin Waugaman introducing Black Angus cattle to Santa Cruz County in the 1950’s. They roam today on many of the county’s farms.

Sand Rock Farm’s beautiful whitewashed barn of today, was a real cattle barn when the Waugaman’s farmed, with cattle returning each night from the meadows to be fed. Joan remembers visiting as a child and climbing in the hayloft, playing in the hay and swimming in the circular cattle drinking trough, long since gone.

What we call the Upper Meadow was a huge vegetable garden. Joan helped her Grandmother can vegetables and make jam. (I wonder if the garden was fenced? The deer we have on the property today would make a meal of all those fruits and vegetables!)

Flowers were Joan’s Grandmother, Florence’s passion. The lilacs, camellias and pink dogwood that she planted in gardens around the house are still thriving and a special treat for springtime visitors to Sand Rock Farm.

The camellias that Florence planted are now 8 feet tall and stand in front of the 1887 wing of the house. (This is behind where Florence and Alvin are standing.)

We put up a fence to protect the roses from the deer. The lilacs, pink dogwood and magnolia tree showing off their blooms in early spring, 2011 were all planted by Florence in the 1950’s.

Until yesterday, we did not know that Sand Rock Farm owners in the 1950’s were connected to the majestic Rogers’ House that stands at the entry to the County Fair Grounds.

Joan the granddaughter of former owners, the Waugamans, from (1950 to 1999) paid us a visit, bringing pictures and stories of her family.

One of the stories she told was of her grandmother Florence’s family. They were the Rogers who built the house in 1867. Her grandmother’s brother, Carrol married Esther Steinbeck (John Steinbeck’s sister) and lived in the house in the 1920’s before it was donated to the Santa Cruz County and designated as a Historic Landmark.

Next fall, I will pay a little extra attention to Florence Rogers Waugaman family home as we drive up to the entrance to the Fairgrounds.

Todays Bride Editorial Amazae at Sand Rock Farms from Luke Goodman on Vimeo.

Mega tasting, or Mini Bridal Faire.   Whatever we might call it, we just had a pretty amazing time yesterday!  It was the first time that we have hosted more than one couple at a time for a tasting.

Once couples have agreed on a date and site for their wedding festivities, the next thing on the their to do list should be selecting a caterer.  We invited eight couples who are getting married this summer and fall at Sand Rock Farm to join us in tasting from a selection of food offered by one of our favorite caterers.

Local Harvest Catering has just opened their new facility, Front Street Kitchen in downtown Santa Cruz.  We thought it might be a fun opportunity to gather couples who are ready to choose their menus and caterers, to taste a selection of food paired with Santa Cruz Wines from Bargetto.

We were able to showcase linens, china, glassware from Alexis Party Rental on Santa Cruz’s far west side.  Each bride and groom might have a theme, color or idea that is carried out through the wedding and reception decorations.   Alexis helps put their ideas together creating that picture perfect day.

All who marry at Sand Rock Farm may choose from among a number of vendors for photography, flowers, music, officiant and dessert (sweets of their choice).  We provide a list of vendors we know who work well on our property, for the couple’s information.   Of course couples may also use their own vendors.

When asked about the experience, one of the brides said that they really enjoyed having opinions from others planning a similar party, trading experience.   A Thumb’s up for the idea, said another, echoing the first bride’s sentiment.

This month’s Fungus Fair attracts many visitors to Santa Cruz.  Educational and fun, the weekend of January 14 and 15.  Link to the Fungus web page. http://fungusfed.org/

We rearrange the living room a bit to show off the fresh cut tree from the Santa Cruz mountain standing proudly in front of the Eastlake mirror.  We waited to decorate the tree until Emma (my granddaughter) and family came home from two months in Asia.  Still had it up in plenty of time for Santa’s visit.

More birds will visit Sand Rock Farm for the Santa Cruz Christmas Bird Count with the new bird feeder just outside the dining room window.  (A great surprise Christmas gift)  Bed and Breakfast guests will hear and see the feathered visitors from the dining table as they eat breakfast.