adventures and outings | Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP)

Archive for adventures and outings

Five Great Accessible Parks

By Bonnie Lewkowicz on April 8, 2019 No Comments

Now that the rains are letting up it’s time to start planning some outdoor adventures. As Program Manager of BORP’s Access Northern California program, I was recently asked by the San Francisco Chronicle to list five parks primarily in Northern California that offered really good wheelchair access; in case you missed the article you can view it here. It was extremely difficult to narrow it down to five because there are lots of great parks that offer a variety of experiences and levels of accessibility. I chose these parks because they offered a wide range of features and one could spend several hours there, if not overnight. To locate more accessible parks and trails check out the Access Northern California website.

Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : Access Northern California, adventures and outings

Accessible South Bay Trails

By Bonnie Lewkowicz on March 11, 2019 No Comments

It’s refreshing to see that some trail agencies recognize that they can serve a broader audience of trail users by posting information about the disabled accessibility of the trails they manage. Two such agencies in the South Bay that provide access information for trails are Peninsula Open Space Trust and Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space.

You might want to wait for things to dry out before hitting the trails.

Categories : Uncategorized

Tags : adventures and outings, hiking

Wildflower Season

By Bonnie Lewkowicz on April 16, 2018 No Comments

You might be thinking enough already with the rain but the wildflowers are saying bring it on. It’s that time of year when people flock outdoors in search of the best places to see wildflowers. With our late rains, this year could prove to be dazzling. While I have not yet been in search of them this year I have in past years found that both Sunol Regional Wilderness in Sunol and Mori Point in Pacifica have been good choices for wildflower viewing. The Camp Ohlone Road trail at Sunol is hilly and for a manual chair user would require good upper body strength. The surface is aggregate with firm underlayment. Mori Point is flat and easy. Both places have accessible restrooms and parking.

If you’d prefer seeing the wildflowers from a moving vehicle you might want to head over to Niles and board the Niles Canyon Railway Wildflower train. This diesel powered locomotive travels through Nile Canyon and leaves from either Sunol or Niles, every Sunday, several times a day. Fare is $14 for adults, $8 for youth ages 3-12. A wheelchair lift is available for boarding and accessible restrooms are at both boarding points.

Categories : Access Northern California, adventures-and-outings, BORP General Interest

Tags : Access Northern California, adventures and outings, borp, Spring, Wildflowers

Camping Options Increasing

By Bonnie Lewkowicz on July 26, 2017 No Comments

Cabin at Clear Lake State Park

For those that enjoy camping in Northern California but no longer want to or can’t sleep on the ground, there’s good news. Rustic cabins are popping up at State and local parks. The newer cabins being installed are fairly similar in design and amenities so you mostly know what to expect from site to site. The unfurnished cabins typically sleep 4-6 in platform beds (some bunk beds), and you must bring your own bedding and in some instances mattress pads. There’s no kitchen or cooking inside the cabin, but outside you’ll find a barbecue, fire pit, and picnic table. Many are equipped with electricity, heaters, and lights, and some even have cooling fans. Rates range from $60-$100. Disabled discount passes generally don’t apply.

Here is just a sampling

North Coast: Patrick’s Point State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

Clear Lake: Clear Lake State Park

Shasta: MacArthur Burney Falls State Park

Bay Area: Samual P. Taylor State Park and Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa. One is coming this fall at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore.

Categories : Access Northern California, adventures-and-outings, BORP General Interest, Uncategorized

Tags : Access Northern California, adventures and outings, borp, camping, Disability

New Events Added to the Adventures and Outings Schedule

By Betsy Dorsett on November 2, 2016 No Comments

Two new events have been added to the Adventures and Outings schedule in November and December:

Saturday November 19 | 11:00 am – Noon
World Dance Class at the BORP Fitness Center (Ed Roberts Campus)
Cost: $11 adults; $8 seniors
*If you haven’t taken a class at the BORP Fitness Center before, please plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early to complete paperwork.
RSVP by November 15

A snowman in a wheelchair carrying a casserole dish. BORP Holiday Potluck

Saturday December 3 | Noon – 5:00 pm
BORP Holiday Potluck at the Ed Roberts Campus
Cost: $5 plus bring a dish to share (If you aren’t a chef or don’t have a dish to bring, please consider making an additional donation.)
RSVP by November 20

Plus there’s still room to join us on Sunday, December 4 for a Hike along the Bay Trail, ending at Rosie the Riveter Museum | 10:00 am – 4:30pm
This hike is a collaborative outing with the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association. Along this paved and level route, we will visit the Rosie the Riveter Memorial, Shipyard Stories and Friendship sculptures, Home Front historical markers, and the Barbara and Jay Vincent and Shimada Peace parks. Sitting areas and restrooms are available along the route. We may also have an early dinner at Assemble. Optional add-ons: Kite flying, picnicking, a playground, and the Visitor’s Center
Cost: No fee for hike; cost of meal and tip
RSVP by November 15

For more information and to RSVP for these or any of our Adventures and Outings, call Lori Gray after 10:00 am at 510-843-4398.

Categories : adventures-and-outings, BORP Fitness, BORP General Interest

Tags : adventures and outings, borp, fitness, hiking