Crystal Cove Cottages and hiking ｔrails

Looking here, it looks like Crystal Cove Cottages are pretty popular.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=ja&geocode=&q=crystal+cove+cottages+ca&vps=1&jsv=163d&sll=37.370157,-95.712891&sspn=29.666549,56.25&ie=UTF8&latlng=33555572,-117818745,1381390163728984769&ei=Mw88Svy-HoOujQOjhsTMAw&cd=1

so, now I understand why it is in the list of "open units", as "funded by self generated revenues". That means it will be pretty hard to make reservation there.

We go hike in local Santa Monica Mountains quite often about 15 minutes away from our home near Marina del Rey. Our favorite trail is Los Liones trail:

http://www.redtrails.com/id/Z2866L4/base.asp

after 20 minutes or so, we get a great view of Pacific Ocean.

We also like Temescal Canyon, but it is sukoshi more challenging, and exponsed to sun longer...
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/TemescalCanyon_4472.asp

Yes, there are a lot of rattle snakes on these trails, so you have to be careful not step on them sleeping on the trail. We recommend wear hiking boots, not sandals. One of our friend almost stepped on one, but he was lucky.

They (LA Times?) said that there ia one single puma (mountain lion) still living in Santa Monica Mountains. We have not seen him (her?), off course, but there ia a sign to stay on the trail because of him (her?).

In Bay Area, yes, Muir Woods, Big Basin are nice, but we like Mt Diablo as well, but we haven't done it in years.

At Grand Canyon, we ususally walks around the South Rim, not done down too far down into the canyon. We have a friend who has gone down, but he didn't like it too much, but we would like to try that some days. But we haven't gone there for awhile either.

We just came back from Japan and we went up to Nagano, and had a one day hiking in Togakushi area (奥社　鏡湖　中社）, and we had a great time.