Autumnal (Fall) Equinox 2016 – September 22

The Dog Days of Summer are nearing the end! I know I’m happy about that, although I’m sure some of you are not. That means cooler weather, the holidays and gaining an hour of sleep.

This Thursday, September 22^nd,  is the Autumnal (or Fall) Equinox. The day of the year that “the Sun shines directly on the Equator and the length of day and night is nearly equal – but not exactly.” So, 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nightlife, give or take. 🙂

Unfortunately, we don’t get to “Fall Back” until the official end of Daylight Saving Time (United States) 2016 which ends at 2:00 AM on Sunday, November 6. (If you’re on our email list, we’ll send you a reminder a couple of days before so you’re sure to get your extra hour of sleep.) BTW, did you know that only the states of Hawaii and Arizona don’t have Daylight Saving Time? But I digress…

Anyway, with Autumn comes ‘Fall Foliage’, or brown leaves as we call them in Brentwood. So, perhaps our local area doesn’t have the best show of fall color, but you don’t have to go to New England to see some spectacular sights, there are plenty of places in California to visit for your Fall foliage fix.

According to John Poimirro, (californiafallcolor.com)

few Californians know our state has the longest, most diverse, and – I believe – the most spectacular show of fall color in the nation, perhaps the world.”

In our local area, head to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and stop by the Japanese Tea Garden for some tea and international color, or head to Hakone Gardens in Saratoga for a less populated display of  a traditional Japanese garden. Or take a drive through Danville, Palo Alto or San Rafael for a no frills tour of fabulous tree lined streets.

There’s also the Wine Country, the regular tourist destinations such as Napa and Sonoma, or try Sebastopol and Petaluma for a change. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the vines turning spectacular purples and reds, and fall wildflowers along the road. You may also want to enjoy a drive to nearby Lodi for a new experience. Even if you miss out on the fall color display, you can always drink wine, so there’s no downside there.

If you’re up for a weekend away, head for the Gold Country to Sonora, Angels Camp or a little farther up the road is Pinecrest and Sonora Pass. And don’t discount the “big” parks such as Lassen, Yosemite, and Sequoia National Park. There’s is plenty to see in the Sierra Foothills all up and down the state. Then, of course, there’s the high country. Lake Tahoe and the eastern Sierra Nevada range are just starting to turn, so plan ahead and check the California Fall Color website for more information.

If you prefer to head up north, check out Ukiah. Sunset Magazine ranks them in the Top 18 spots for fall color in the West, with “with foliage that rivals Vermont’s”.

If you do take advantage of the fall color in California over the next few month’s, we invite you to share your photos with us on our Guthrie Group Homes Facebook page. We look forward to sharing your adventures!