Planning to walk for exercise and fitness but getting tired of the same old routes? Ever wonder where that unsigned trail leads to in the park?
This book has the answers.
The 44 detailed maps and clear step-by-step route descriptions are easy to follow. The narratives point out places of historic interest one passes by such as a public school that once portrayed the Supreme Court in a silent movie and the remains of the 1898 wave motor in the surf off West Cliff Drive.
The book could easily be mistaken for a natural history compendium with details and photographs of birds, plants, and animals one might see along the routes.
A bonus feature is the authors’ explanation of the safety value of pedestrian structures such as safety crossing beacons (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons) and median islands.
Secret Walks & Staircases in Santa Cruz is a guidebook to fascinating walks in Santa Cruz, California ranging from one mile to more than six miles in length. The vibrant route descriptions reveal the location of many unmarked stairways and hidden passageways in this California Central Coast town. The featured walks lead to scenic vistas, historic structures, and natural areas.
More than 130 photographs include over 75 way-finding pictures and numerous photos of plants and animals likely to be seen by the walker. All walks are rated by distance and elevation gain.
About the Author
Debbie Bulger grew up roaming among the lakes and apple orchards of Leominster, Massachusetts. Even as a young girl in grade school, she knew it was wrong that the Nashua River ran blue or red from the dyes dumped by the paper mills upstream.
Writing has always been an important part of her life. She still has the first rejection slip she received at the age of 11. She was the editor of her high school paper.
Bulger has taught high school English; served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia during the 1960s; worked in libraries; edited award-winning newsletters, written numerous articles and brochures, served as product manager for a major hospital chain, and was a women’s healthcare consultant.
She has a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts and an M.S. in Communication from the University of Memphis. Her favorite pastimes include peak climbing and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. She lives in Santa Cruz, California with her husband Richard Stover.
Richard Stover was born in Niagara Falls, New York moving to Richardson, Texas in Junior High School. From an early age he was fascinated by astronomy and built telescopes as a high school student, even hand grinding the glass mirrors and lenses. He attended North Texas State University as a physics major and earned a PhD in astronomy from the University of Texas.
His knowledge of computer programing enabled him to write software to create the maps in Secret Walks & Staircases in Santa Cruz.
Stover worked for 30 years as a research astronomer for Lick Observatory. A skilled amateur photographer, Stover’s photos have appeared in several regional publications. His favorite pastimes include backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, photography and woodworking. He lives in Santa Cruz, California with his wife Debbie Bulger.
Praise For…
“A must read for those new to Santa Cruz. A great guide for those who have lived here for years.”
—Katherine Beiers, former Mayor of Santa Cruz
“As a car-free resident of Santa Cruz for 45 years, I nevertheless encountered a couple of surprise walkways and was reacquainted with several other forgotten gems as I followed the delightful routes in this book. And being very well written, formatted and illustrated, it will entice even first-timers to our area to discover and enjoy the many diverse and inspiring jaunts presented.”
“I was thrilled to read this book of walks to find that I at once felt more deeply connected to the Santa Cruz I know so well and also excited to learn about the hidden gems of history, nature and secret paths that feel like new adventures awaiting me.”
