States with National Recreation Areas


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California National Recreation Areas


Golden Gate National Recreation Area

11/3/1993 Walked down to Pier 41 to get tour ferry to Alcatraz [Island NHL][Golden Gate NRA]. An absolutely perfect day - cool, dry, bright sun. On the island, listened to ranger talks, walked up to the cell house to see the cells (including solitary confinement). Also took a tour underneath the cell house in the foundations of the original 1800s fort. Back on the ferry to Pier 41 ...

The whole island
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A Ranger opening a cell
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A whole cell block
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I tell you I didn't do it!
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5/24/2015 Fort Point National Historic Site From there we moved over to the Presidio of San Francisco, an NHL and also in the [Golden Gate] NRA. Originally a Spanish Fort sited by Juan Bautista de Anza in 1776, it was seized by the U.S. in 1846, and was the center for defense of the Western U.S. during World War II. We checked out the plaque and cannon, and found some of the many quarters buildings for representative photos. The Presidio is also at the end of the Juan Bautista de Anza NHT [CA]. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park We continued around the beach and further west to the San Francisco Point of Embarkation (aka Fort Mason) NHL, also in the Golden Gate NRA. The facility served as an Army post for more than 100 years, as a coastal defense site and a military port facility; during World War II, it was the principal port for the Pacific campaign.

The monument area ...
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... with Ken and me
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One of the many structures
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Officer's Row
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The park sign
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Interpretive signage
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The big buildings ...
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... stretching out into the bay
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

5/18/1998 Went up the Pacific Coast Highway and into the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Went to the Paramount Ranch where filming has been going on since the 20’s. On a much smaller scale now, but still in operation. Visited a western town that is used as the set for “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”. Also took a nice trail through the mountain canyon.

The park sign
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Maureen in the Old West
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Me in the canyon
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Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

5/13/2009 On the road a little after 7, heading west a little to Whiskeytown NRA. Stopped at the visitor center (not open yet!) and took a nice nature trail down to the Whiskeytown Lake in beautiful weather. Drove south to the Dam, then back west to the Oak Bottom area for another enjoyable hike along the lake.

The park sign
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Beautiful views of lake ...
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... and mountains
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