The Holmby Park Lawn Bowling Club is the only lawn bowling club in Los Angeles, with more than eighty years of history. The club house and greens are located on the east end of Holmby park, managed by the City of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. More than 150 members participate in the club, which hosts tournaments and events regularly. The greens are available for use on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 12pm and 3pm. New members receive free lessons.
Two greens sit on either side of the clubhouse, one named for Dorothy Cella and built in 1971, and the other is named for Marcellus L. Joslyn, a business man and philanthropist who supported the club and many other organizations in Southern California. The sport was originally developed in England in the 13th Century, and offers gentle exercise, competition, social interaction and time outdoors.
Cowles Mountain is the highest point in San Diego, and a beloved spot for local hikers. With a 1,592 foot climb to the top and a view that makes it worthwhile, Cowles Mountain is a steep and moderately challenging hike that everyone should experience at least once.
Parking and public transportation at Cowles Mountain
Parking at the lot at the base of the mountain is free, but may fill up on afternoons or weekends. Street parking is widely available in the surrounding area.
Best and worst time to go to Cowles Mountain
Since weather is almost always ideal in San Diego, the only concerns regarding Cowles Mountain are that it can attract hundreds of hikers on Saturday and Sundays.
Admission to Cowles Mountain
Cowles Mountain is free for public use with no fees for admission. Camping is available for $14 per site with one vehicle.
Must see and do at Cowles Mountain
The Hike to the Summit
The most popular reason that Cowles Mountain gets so many visitors is because of the half-mile hike to the top. The entire path is at an incline, so many locals take advantage of Cowles as part of their daily workout.
Views From the Top
Finally reaching the top of Cowles Mountain is a rewarding experience. Views from the top of San Diego's highest peak are thoroughly impressive, and include Silver Strand, Coronado, and parts of Mexico. To help you understand exactly what you're looking at, a map at the summit identifies each location. The view is among the most impressive in San Diego.
Panoramic Photography
In addition to great photographic opportunities in every direction, the peek of Cowles Mountain also provides a rare opportunity for remarkable panoramic photography. You might not need to buy an expensive lens to take phenomenal 180 degree pictures; most smart phones have a panoramic feature that enables you take surprisingly high-quality wide lens photographs.
Other places to visit near Cowles Mountain
Cowles Mountain Coffee
Directly across from the trails of Cowles Mountain, Cowles Mountain Coffee offers various coffee options at a low price. They also have outdoor seating and free Wi-Fi.
Pyles Peak
If Cowles Mountain is too easy a hike for you, then you can hike an extra two mile trail that branches from the summit of Cowles, to Pyles Peak. Pyles Peak offers similar views, but the trail will be notably less crowded, as most hikers stop at the first 1.5 mile hike to the top of Cowles.
The Trails Eatery
The Trails is a beloved local restaurant that not only features a "Hiker's Delight" menu, but also offers unique breakfast options like Croissant French Toast and Chocolate Bacon. They serve breakfast every day from 7-3, but are also open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday from 5-9.
Insider tip for visitors to Cowles Mountain
Although Cowles Mountain is spelled as if it rhymes with "Towels", locals know that it is actually pronounced "Coals". The reason for this is that ranching pioneer, George A. Cowles, developed much of Eastern San Diego, and Cowles Mountain is named after him.
Author's bio: After a seven year career in the US Navy, Nicholas Napier completed his MBA and settled in California. He's published over 40 articles as the San Diego Fitness Trends Examiner, and regularly contributes as a freelance writer to various companies.
The Richard J Elkus Ranch Environmental Education and Conference Center provides a unique hands-on learning experience for youth within the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Students who visit the 125 acre ranch learn about environmental science, California history, animal care, nutrition, and agriculture in a rural setting.
Elkus Ranch is committed to providing a rich ranch experience for all children by offering a myriad of educationally diverse programs, including programs designed for students with special needs. Our Dean Trail leads visually impaired children with the help of a guide rope to explore the natural habitat surrounding the ranch. Our sensory garden contains a variety of plants that can be experienced through their scent, taste, and texture. Our enabling garden has raised beds that can be tended without kneeling or bending. All of our ranch facilities are wheelchair accessible. Our programs are aligned with the California Science Content Standards and provide opportunities to learn about the production of food and fiber, the interrelationships of plants and animals in their natural habitats and the importance of environmental stewardship. Schools interested in scheduling field trips can contact us directly. We offer a limited amount of scholarships to low income schools, please contact us for more information or to see if your school qualifies.
While the ranch is not open to the public, we do offer family oriented public events throughout the year. Our most popular annual events are Sheep to Shawl, Summer and Winter day camps for children 6-11, and Spring and Fall Pre-School Days. We also have opportunities for community service projects and volunteers.
The Conference Center at Elkus Ranch is a 4,400 square foot educational and day conference facility. The facility is available to rent for day conferences, off-site meetings, workshops and trainings. Local overnight facilities are also available. Also available for rental: a commercial kitchen, board room, and ranch house. Please contact us for current rates and availability.
In cooperation with the College of Marin, the Conservation Corp North Bay forged this farm, fostering education and outreach programs. This farm acts as a model for environmental awareness and sustainable living. Programs are available for middle school to college students and Bay Area residents.
The farm is located in the College of Marin campus, adjacent to the school athletic field.
Central Park is a large, beautiful park in San Mateo. It boasts lighted tennis courts, a baseball field and a children's playground. It is also home to a Japanese Tea Garden featuring a pagoda, koi pond and bamboo grove. The park also houses the Central Park Recreation Center, which offers a range of aerobic classes and can be rented out for private events.
Shoreline Lake Aquatic Center offers a wide range of classes, activities and equipment for area residents. The location has sailing and windsurfing and also offers lessons, group classes and private sessions. Some options include summer youth camps, equipment rentals, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing clubs, stand up paddling and much more. Bicycles and canoes are also available. Check the main website for a full list of programs or for details on rental rates.
Community Park is an active park in Poway and offers 470 programs to over 4,800 participants annually. Located near City Hall, Community Park offers 2 playgrounds, an outdoor basketball court, a dog park, open park areas, a skate park, picnic areas, a Swim Center, 2 ball fields, 2 tennis courts, a bocce court, recreation classes, rental facilities and more.
Visit the onsite recreation office to find out about free and family-fun activites or to borrow a soccer ball, a basketball or other fun recreation equipment. Community Park is a place for enjoying an afternoon with family and friends.
