Shoreline Recreation Park in Palo Alto, California

Palo Alto is a California city in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has been a little over a year that I have been living here, thanks to my husband who works at a leading software company in Palo Alto. This is the headquarter to several hi-tech companies like HP, VMware, Yahoo, Google and so on. Of course, the famous Stanford University is here too.

According to me, Palo Alto has the best environment, cool winters and warm summers, both which can be enjoyed at the numerous recreational facilities provided by the city. Palo Alto houses several parks, golf courses, tennis courts, lakes, hikes and trails, museums, Zoo, shopping malls- you name it and it is here.

Charming streets with shady trees on either side, bright lit downtown at night with pubs and yummy food that makes you hungry at the smell and sight is a true treat for the pedestrians. Shopaholics can find great bargains during Fall Festivals, Thanksgiving, Christmas or summers too. There seems to be a sale at most of the stores throughout the year.

We recently visited the Shoreline Lake at Mountain View near Palo Alto. It was just about a 15 minute drive from Palo Alto where we live. Located very near to the Shoreline Boulevard Amphitheatre, across the Google campus, it is a 50 acre lake great for boating, wind surfing and kayaking.

You can also find a number of migratory birds, the burrowing owl, geese, and ducks in close proximity. Those who love to walk, hike or skate would find a lot to do here. The park offers nearly 10 miles of trail that is lush green with grass and huge trees. Some parts of the trail are also paved and some are dirt. Paved trails also take you through the golf course and the lake.

Do not be surprised if you are surrounded by geese or other birds while you walk. Of course, it helps to be careful while eating in the open space because you might have a duck or a bird as an uninvited guest to surprise you for a bite of your snack.

Paddle boats, kayaks, rowboats, bikes with helmets can all be rented for nominal prices here, starting from an hour to half a day or the entire day. The lake park opens at 8am in the morning and is open till 5 pm, both during weekdays and weekends. The rental prices are low on the weekdays, so you could try to come over if there is a mid-week holiday.

Kids especially love the place as they can boat next to paddling ducks and spot swans and long beaked geese here. If you are lucky, you can also see these birds trying to catch a fish while you are nearby. Several small ducks keep swimming next to the boats quacking away to glory.

There is a small island amidst the lake. It is a habitat for migratory birds and there is a sign asking us not to get onto the island and disturb them. However, you can paddle or row around the island to get a good picture of the birds. Do not be too sure to get them pose for you though.

It would be handy to carry some bottles of water, hand sanitizer, napkins and some food if you plan to spend the whole day at the lake. There is also a Lakeside Café that offers snacks, sandwiches, water, pastries, fruits and cookies. The restrooms are decent and the crowds are friendly. The people working there are fast and smile as they give you the forms for boat rentals.

Lifejackets are provided and the lake does not seem too deep and scary. Looking at the number of kids who are enthusiastic to sail makes you less worried. By the time you get onto your boat, you are so overcome by the scenic beauty that you forget getting scared; though it might be your first time.

On the whole, the shoreline lake park is the perfect getaway after a week of back breaking hard work. If you are looking for someplace to relax, chill out, plan a picnic, play Frisbee or just spend time with your loved ones, do visit the place and you would definitely want to come back every weekend. It is the place to be one with nature and be lost in the lush greenery.