I discovered Abalone Cove in my early days of working when I really didn't have much to do but research adventures on the internet. Located in the midst of the fabulous Rancho Palos Verdes, this ecological preserve is a marvel: clear, blue waters, no stray litter, clean air, kelp fronds, and tide pools brimming with life. Who would have imagined such a place would exist a mere few miles west of Long Beach?
Firstly, a word about the area. Rancho Palos Verdes is a place of extraordinary opulence, but it is so tastefully designed (or tastefully hidden behind landscaping) that it feels like an entirely different world from Los Angeles. To observe the enormous mound of earth from the southbound 110, one cannot help but wonder where it could have originated. Kentucky, perhaps, if Kentucky and its horse ranches look the way I imagine them. In any case, once on its slopes, one is exposed to breathtaking views of silver seas stretching out to Catalina Island and beyond. The view from Palos Verdes Drive while the sky is still deciding whether to rain or not is spiritual in its beauty.
A network of trails stretches over the park itself, all leading down to several sections of beach, separated by twenty-foot channels of sea. Two sections host sea caves, where one can watch the blue-green sea swell and spray with all its might. In the early morning, amid the perfect temperatures, one shouldn't be surprised to find a welcome committee of ground squirrels in one element and dolphins in another. The tide pools are teeming with crabs, urchins, anemones, and even the occasional sea slug. I hear rumors that seals inhabit the kelp fronds, but alas, this time, I didn't see any. Nonetheless, as far as tide pools are concerned, these surely do not disappoint.
As far as places go, in the early hours of a Sunday morning, when the only other humans are the occasional fishermen, Abalone Cove is as serene as any chapel. The beautiful coastlines and the regular rushing of the waves create an atmosphere that is a welcome escape from the litter and pollution further north. It is well worth the drive.
Firstly, a word about the area. Rancho Palos Verdes is a place of extraordinary opulence, but it is so tastefully designed (or tastefully hidden behind landscaping) that it feels like an entirely different world from Los Angeles. To observe the enormous mound of earth from the southbound 110, one cannot help but wonder where it could have originated. Kentucky, perhaps, if Kentucky and its horse ranches look the way I imagine them. In any case, once on its slopes, one is exposed to breathtaking views of silver seas stretching out to Catalina Island and beyond. The view from Palos Verdes Drive while the sky is still deciding whether to rain or not is spiritual in its beauty.
A network of trails stretches over the park itself, all leading down to several sections of beach, separated by twenty-foot channels of sea. Two sections host sea caves, where one can watch the blue-green sea swell and spray with all its might. In the early morning, amid the perfect temperatures, one shouldn't be surprised to find a welcome committee of ground squirrels in one element and dolphins in another. The tide pools are teeming with crabs, urchins, anemones, and even the occasional sea slug. I hear rumors that seals inhabit the kelp fronds, but alas, this time, I didn't see any. Nonetheless, as far as tide pools are concerned, these surely do not disappoint.
As far as places go, in the early hours of a Sunday morning, when the only other humans are the occasional fishermen, Abalone Cove is as serene as any chapel. The beautiful coastlines and the regular rushing of the waves create an atmosphere that is a welcome escape from the litter and pollution further north. It is well worth the drive.
No comments:
Post a Comment