Little Yosemite, Sunol Regional Park

My daughter and I went on a short photo-hike on Saturday at the Sunol Regional Park, located just south of Pleasanton, CA.  We hiked about two miles to "Little Yosemite."  In the spring months, Alameda Creek flows vigorously through a small, boulder-filled gorge, named Little Yosemite.  I personally don't see the likeness to Yosemite National Park, but apparently the regional park's outstanding marketing team does.  Little Yosemite is truly one of my favorite places to hike with kids because the park is a short drive from home, the hike is relatively flat and easy, and kids all seem to love the water.  It's nature's water park…but closer, cheaper, less crowded, and without as much pee in the water.

Saturday was an awesome day for a hike.  Mother Nature gave us a break in the rain so we could get out of the house, get some exercise, breathe some fresh air, and run some film through our cameras before the showers resumed on Sunday.  It was a chilly 57 degrees, but we quickly warmed up as we started hiking.  The overcast sky was perfect for taking pictures of the moving water at Little Yosemite because it enabled slower shutter speeds, blurring the moving water and transforming it into beautiful, cotton candy-like, mistiness.

Pictures: Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

The opening picture captures some oak trees, waking up from the long winter and grasping for the sun's rays to feed their young blossoms.

Here's a budding, young photographer, taking pictures of the beautiful creek, enjoying the serenity of the outdoors, and spending some quality time with her super awesome dad at Little Yosemite.

Here's a picture of Alameda Creek flowing through the Little Yosemite area.

Sunol Regional Park is one of many parks under the purview of the East Bay Regional Park District.  If you live in the SF Bay Area and enjoy hiking, fishing, kayaking, swimming, or other outdoor activities, check out the EBRPD (www.ebparks.org).