Andrew Naylor

Life is Beautiful

Pearson Arastradero Preserve – Redtail Loop Trail

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The Redtail Loop Trail is an interesting area of the Arastradero Preserve. Adjacent to a horse boarding stables, horses and riders are often found walking the same trails as hikers, dogs, and mountain bikers. The property is also adjacent to an off-limits and secretive Stanford property where Felt Lake is located. The Redtail Loop Trail offers some of the best views of Felt Lake and the Stanford property that surrounds it.

This trail is open year-round, but some trails in the Arastradero Preserve are only open as weather permits. There are not a lot of trees which means there is almost no shade anywhere on this trail. The parking lot is too small for the crowds that gather and can fill up on weekends and summer holidays, but it is a short drive from most parts of Palo Alto.

 

Stanford Dish Alpine Road Entrance

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The Stanford Dish hiking area has four official entrances. The most popular is located at Stanford Avenue, where they recently paved the sides of the road to increase parking spaces. The second most popular is on Alpine Road near Interstate 280. Before reaching the entrance gate, visitors must cross a bridge over San Francisquito Creek.

The paved trail begins with tall eucalyptus trees and lush meadows, and opens up to cattle-grazed land that is barren of trees. For such a short walk there are many changes of scenery.

The hike is steep enough to get your heart pumping, but not too long or too steep to keep runners from going up and down.

 

Stanford Dish - Field with LogsStanford Dish - Boy in Grass Stanford Dish - Workshop Building Stanford Dish - Exposed Hillside Stanford Dish - Black And White 1 Stanford Dish - Black And White Barbed Wire Stanford Dish - Cows Stanford Dish - Logs In A Field

Stanford Apple Store

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The history of the Apple Store at Stanford Shopping Center is recent but important. While Steve Jobs was alive the two most important Apple stores were Palo Alto and Stanford. Steve often stopped by to evaluate the retail experience, so everyone at Apple wanted both locations to be perfect.

The problem with the original Stanford store was that it was in a tiny, boring shoebox without windows. When Apple was given the opportunity to build their own space (adjacent to the old Fresh Choice, now Brooks Brothers) they worked with a firm that had designed a number of their stores, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.

Apple stores shine when photographed because so much creativity goes in to their design and maintenance. For example, all the table legs in the store toe the line perfectly. It looks like they reposition them daily to ensure perfection.

The other reason Apple stores are so fun to photograph is because of the products that Apple sells. They sit at the intersection of art and technology, leading the entire tech industry to be better.

Stanford Dish Trail

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One of my favorite short hikes in the Bay Area is the Dish trail at Stanford. It’s a nice, paved hill with great views of Silicon Valley, and the Peninsula. While it’s essentially a simple loop, there are enough spur trails to see something new each time you visit. And because it is paved, you can walk or run in any weather without getting muddy.

Some of the hidden gems of this park include two trails that go underneath highway 280, although one is meant primarily for cattle.

From a photography standpoint it’s a good place for both portraits and nature photography. It’s very green in the spring, and yellow the rest of the time. There are a lot of heritage Oak trees that make for great backdrops.

Stanford Dish Alpine Road Entrance

The Stanford Dish hiking area has four official entrances. The most popular is located at Stanford Avenue, where they recently paved the sides of the road to increase parking … More

Stanford Apple Store

The history of the Apple Store at Stanford Shopping Center is recent but important. While Steve Jobs was alive the two most important Apple stores were Palo Alto and Stanford. … More