Off the Beaten Path: Port Costa and Crockett

We ventured out on a muggy East Bay day to two towns that are close to everything, but can be missed if you don't do some digging - Port Costa and Crockett.

We headed West along Highway 4, jumped off the Mcewen Road exit heading North, and sauntered along a winding road that led to Port Costa - a funky, sleepy hamlet nestled on the banks of the Carquinez Straits.  You would never find this place unless you were looking, or completely lost on your way to Highway 80.

It was an eerie, quiet morning as we strolled around 'downtown', which consists of a block of buildings trapped happily in time.

Here are a few pictures of our first stop.

The new hot spot in town, the Bull Valley Road House, named after the area's nickname over the years.

The corner Post Office.

Artwork outside the Warehouse Cafe.

Unique potted plants in front of the rustic Burlington Hotel. Not quite sure if it's even open for business anymore. 

Brenna spotted a 'heart puddle' in the parking lot near the train tracks along the water.  She's getting pretty good about spotting hearts in the landscape!

We left Port Costa, travelling west towards Crockett, but stopped at the Carquinez Straits Regional Shoreline for an 'adventure hike'.  This quiet spot provides some of the best views overlooking the Straits and the Carquinez Bridge.

Colin sets a swift pace along the trail.

Don't worry, that's not a cliff they are approaching.  This spot provides a perfectly soft, speedy play area - no artificial turf!

This bench was placed here in honor of Don Morgan, who "Loved the view from this hillside." The kids concur, it's an amazing spot.

We left the Straits, and kept heading west into the town of Crockett, home of the C&H Sugar Factory, seen below.

When travelling East on Highway 80, just as your car hits the Carquinez Bridge, glance safely to the right, and you can spot the top of this old-school factory.

After a couple of hours, hunger kicked in, so we stopped at one of our favorite restaurants in the East Bay, The Dead Fish.

Here are a few pics from lunch:

Old toy cars, bikes, boats, planes, and buses adorn the ceiling of the bar area.  Like a huge toy-chest the kids couldn't reach.

View of the Carquinez Bridge from the back patio at the Dead Fish.

After lunch, we headed home, but made a quick drive down a tiny road at the base of the Carquinez Bridge, and stumbled upon CREEC, the Carquinez Regional Environmental Education Center. No one was around the day we drove by, but it looks like they have a couple of greenhouses, and some neat-looking garden beds.