NATURES PLAYGROUND
by John Hibble
 This area bordering the Monterey Bay is truly nature's playground. We are blessed with rare and beautiful wildlife and plants. In addition to the more common birds such as mockingbirds, jays, hummingbirds and ducks, the forest is also home to woodpeckers, owls, and hawks. Herons and egrets frequent the streams and wetlands.
OCEAN LIFE
 Over 80 types of sea shells wash up on our beaches including sand dollars and the occasional star fish.
You may also see otters, sea lions, dolphins and whales. The bay is also home to salmon, steelhead, anchovy, and squid. The giant elephant seals mate at Ano Nuevo in the winter.
The ocean provides a home for sea gulls, brown pelicans, cormorants, Bonaparte's gulls, and sooty shear waters. In the surf you may see loons and surf scoters. The most common shore birds are the tall willets and marbled godwits, the medium sized black bellied plovers, and the tiny, sewing-machine-like sanderlings.
FOREST LIFE
The forest is home to the bright yellow banana slug which was adopted as the official mascot for the University of Santa Cruz. There are also salamanders, rattlesnakes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, two types of fox, bobcats, cougars, deer, and wild pigs. The once common grizzly bear is now extinct.
The mountains are covered with oak, madrone, and one of the world's tallest trees, the coast redwood, one of the few trees that can regenerate from its roots after it has been cut down.
The coastal plain is covered with Monterey pine, Monterey cypress, eucalyptus, and acacia which have been planted.
There are a number of ferns and wild flowers including the beautiful Douglas iris. 
WARNING!
Poison oak is very common and can be recognized by its shiny leaves which grow in threes. The leaves are bright green in the spring, often with small waxy berries. The leaves turn bright red in the late summer and fall off in the winter. |  | 
Aptos--Where the Waters Meet
It is believed by some that when the Native Americans named this part of the county, they called it Awatos - "Where the Waters Meet." The name honors the spot where two creeks joined before traveling together to the bay. Today it's called Aptos.
You'll find people living in everything from rustic mountain cabins in the redwoods to sprawling contemporary homes on the golf course.
It follows that the sights of Aptos are equally diverse. Within a few minutes, you can go from the nature trails of a redwood forest to the relaxed elegance of Seascape Resort. Most likely, you'll meet the same people in both places. This is a spot where nature and modern life get along just fine together.
It's also a place of good humor. If you doubt that, then come by for the Aptos Fourth of July parade. Billed as "The World's Shortest Parade," it covers all of two blocks and includes nearly every Aptos resident, both human and animal. Even visitors are welcome to participate - just arrive in costume and be prepared for fun.
Aptos Village itself is just a tiny dot on the local map, but it's well worth the visit. The old Bayview Hotel anchors this quaint shopping district, comprised mainly of friendly little shops and restaurants. A visit to the Cafe Sparrow is a must. This French-inspired cafe is a local favorite for Sunday brunch or casual dinners.
Just down the road in Redwood Village stock up on picnic supplies at th Piggie Market and Deli before heading into Niscene Marks Sate Park for an afternoon of exploring the forest.
Down on the shore at Seacliff State Beach, you'll certainly want to inspect the remains of the Palo Alto, an experimental ship constructed of concrete. It made just one short voyage back in 1919 before dropping anchor here to become a restaurant and dance hall. Today, only the pelicans, seaguls and fishermen occupy its once-grand hull.
In this place where the waters meet, you'll still find those special qualities here.
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