Our day was spent exploring locally. We started with a stroll through Taylor Creek's Rainbow Trail. 

Named for the rainbows that sparkle in the morning dew, the Rainbow Trail is a special place.  It loops through the largest meadow/marsh at Lake Tahoe.
I think it could be named for the rainbow of colors exhibited by the wildflowers. They were spectacular.







Mt. Tallac is still blanketed in snow. What beautiful scenery everywhere.



A highlight was definitely the Stream Profile Chamber. Located one-quarter mile down the Rainbow Trail, this amazing space provides a view of the stream environment and allowed us to study a diverted section of Taylor Creek through a panel of aquarium-like windows. So awesome.

Dinner was at Base Camp Pizza in Heavenly Village.
Steve made the great suggestion of getting the baby an Epic Ski Pass.
This was the coolest souvenir of a pretty cool day!

Brady and Eric booked into our front yard campsite on their travel adventure with their new and adorable Scamp trailer.

And how fun that we get to know, better, their new and adorable daughter, too.
We spent the day lakeside at Pine Lodge. It was an idyllic spot to frolic with friends.








This gleeful face sums our day up... completely!

My girlfriend, Karen, has a guest cabin and on occasion, she hosts creative gatherings. Tonight's was for us to craft Mail Art.

Although someone once said that mail art probably began when Cleopatra delivered herself to Julius Caesar in a rolled-up carpet, its real roots can be traced to a much later period – in the groundbreaking pieces of Marcel Duchamp and the practices of the Italian Futurists from the early 20th century.
The truth is that artwork had been traveling through envelopes all the time, from Van Gogh’s drawings of painting ideas sent to his brother Theo to Egon Schiele’s letters from his short stay in Vienna, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that someone finally decided to give this creative process some proper credit and proclaim it a true artistic movement.
How awesome is it that we here in Lake Tahoe have our own creative goddess, encouraging us to be artistic and mail more!

For my last day in Santa Rosa, we all went to beat-the-heat at the local swimming lagoon.

This area is known for its amazing bird watching, but these Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) were a bit aggressive and plentiful!
For this germaphobe Grandma, I was comforted to learn that the lagoon is filtered, chlorinated and tested regularly to ensure it exceeds water-quality standards.
And what a cool place, which not only provides room for free swim and lap swims in an open-water setting staffed with lifeguards, but ...
...it also has a very fun looking Water park.

Have you ever driven by a building and just knew that one day you'd have to go there? Today was that day for this groovy 1968 structure which has been calling to me since I began coming to Santa Rosa, years ago.

Built over 50 years ago as a true pharmacy, this café states that "Food is Our Medicine". Clever!

It was the perfect place to spend the morning.

The unique character and beauty of Matanzas Creek’s winery, vineyards, lavender field and gardens have earned the Estate worldwide recognition as a premier California wine country destination. "We invite you to stroll the grounds, play a game of bocce or enjoy our picnic areas."

There are few things that make my heart happier than a field of sunflowers. The agricultural town of Dixon is a consistent source of glee for me.

For anyone traveling west on I-80 (anytime soon), take exit 67 and park at the Chevron Station. You will experience total vision happiness.