For months I had seen people in a local hiking group post about a quaint hiking location in Livermore. Sycamore Grove looked to have a little bit of everything for any skill level and I was dying to try it out. I am not an avid hiker, I am more of an avid scenery finder and have to hike to get there kind of girl. So Sycamore Grove was perfect for me The park offers several hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult and gorgeous foothill scenery all around. Plenty of places to sit and read while enjoying the wildlife and birds, or enjoy a quick picnic lunch. With its location not far from home it’s perfect when you wind up with a free afternoon or morning and just want to kill an hour or two. I am waiting for the weather to cool down so that we can explore more of this gem of a location, I and heat are not friends. There are historic buildings, cows, and plenty of untapped potentials there just waiting for me to explore. Sycamore Grove is open 7 days a week from 7:00 am- dusk and there is a small parking fee of $5, however, if you think you are going to visit often you may want to buy the yearly parking pass. There is no shortage of activities on the weekends so make sure to check out the website prior to your trip to make the most of it.
Downtown Livermore has plenty of incredible places to grab a quick bite after your hike. But on this particular day, we were short on time so we opted to stop at Banta Inn on our way back into town for a quick cocktail and an appetizer. I highly recommend the fried ravioli they are so delicious! Internet is sparse in that area so make sure you have cash on you just in case the credit card reader is down, that happened to us and we had to find an ATM. If you have never been to the Banta Inn it is a quirky place that is rumored to be haunted and has a rich history.
Photographers there is no shortage of locations ready to be shot, but if you are bringing clients you do have to pay the photography fee.
