Jack London State Historical Park
Today, Ozreiuosn and I decided to go check out Jack London State Historical Park in Sonoma County. We got to the park headquarters a little later than we’d have liked, because of a little oops in the directions (and my realization that Google Maps on my mobile phone doesn’t like searches like: “38.25334,-122.39014” (which would be exceedingly helpful for people who are sort of lost, but also happen to be carrying a GPS unit).
We finally arrived at the park in the early afternoon. I cannot recommend this gorgeous estate highly enough. Jack London was an incredibly interesting man with diverse passions, including sailing and farming. The location he chose for his farm couldn’t have been more picturesque. In addition to a museum which told the story of his life, the ruins of Wolf House, a stupefying 15,000 square food residence that burned to the ground a month before he and his wife were to move in, are still nearby. The Beauty Ranch, half a mile from the museum, is beautifully nestled among sprawling vineyards and still has London’s unsuccessful attempts at ranching. The cottage, where he spent the rest of his life, is remarkably preserved. What a magical place.
From the ranch complex, we headed up the hill to London’s Lake, a small lake created by damming a small stream. Such idyllic surroundings warrant further exploration in the future.
Our hike took us up and around the Fallen Bridge Trail, which climbed just above 1300 feet before it circled back around through a clearing. Having staggered into the late afternoon, we decided not to attempt to climb the high trail to the park’s summit. Instead, we headed back through the Ranch under the fading light of the setting sun.
Next time, we’re going to have to go all the way to the top.
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