Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center — Attraction in Palo Alto

When I think of a nature preserve, I imagine a serene haven, a sacred escape from the maddening chaos of daily life, a place where one can actually embrace the beauty of nature. But what I stumbled upon at this so-called nature preserve was nothing more than an absolute mockery, a grave insult to the very essence of natural beauty! First and foremost, let’s delve into the aesthetics—oh wait, let’s be real, the glaring absence of any aesthetic appeal! The very instant I stepped foot into this so-called haven, I was confronted with a sight so utterly pitiful, so uninspired, that it teetered on the edge of laughable! POWER LINES, people! Yes, you read that right! Power lines slicing through this so-called nature preserve like grotesque industrial scars marring a landscape that should be nothing short of pristine! HOW can anyone even fantasize about feeling a connection with nature when bombarded by glaring reminders of human invasion and technological devastation? It's like trying to savor the finest gourmet meal while someone relentless honks a car horn in your ear—absolutely infuriating! And as if the power lines weren't enough to ruin any semblance of peace, oh no! There's an actual AIRPORT right next door! Can you even begin to fathom this? Imagine trying to immerse yourself in nature's tranquility, only to be assaulted repeatedly by the obnoxious, deafening ROAR of planes taking off and landing. The sheer gall of placing a nature preserve right next to an airport is utterly unfathomable—a cruel, relentless joke, a brutal slap in the face to anyone seeking solace and quiet! And let’s not ignore the nearby interstate, with its barrage of traffic noise. The supposed symphony of nature? More like a cacophony of engine roars and incessant honking! But wait, there’s MORE! The smells! Oh, do we even need to discuss the smells? A nature preserve should be a sanctuary where you breathe in pure, clean air and the lovely scent of pine and wildflowers wafts through the breeze. But NO! Not here! Here, the air is a thick cloud of offensive odors. In some areas, it smells like a poorly managed landfill! In others, the noxious waft of industrial pollution clings like a suffocating blanket. It’s as if someone took the very essence of urban decay, bottled it up, and generously sprayed it throughout the preserve! It’s an appalling olfactory assault, and it’s simply inescapable! Now, let’s dissect the so-called highlights of this place. Supposedly, bird lovers will find it a paradise—only because the rest of us are left scratching our heads at this total flop! Sure, some bird species might dart in and out, but who can appreciate their beauty when you’re constantly distracted by the omnipresent power lines, the relentless airplanes, and the never-ending interstate traffic? Let’s be brutally honest: even the birds seem fed up! I spotted more than one pigeon casting me a look that screamed, “Can you even believe this ridiculous place?”But the most outrageous aspect of this so-called nature preserve is its absolute lack of hiking trails! Any place that dares to call itself a nature preserve should offer at least a handful of decent paths for desperate visitors to explore! But no! Not here! We couldn't find a single worthwhile hike! The existing trails? Oh please, they’re just shoddy, underwhelming paths that lead nowhere of interest. It’s as if the people responsible for this disaster deliberately set out to provide the most mind-numbingly mediocre experience possible! And don’t even get me started on the view of the bay! Ah yes, the bay, that shimmering body of water that should elevate any visit! But lo and behold, even the bay is a jarring letdown! The view is bland, at best, nowhere near the breathtaking vistas one might hope for! Instead of a panoramic spectacle to uplift the soul, you’re sadly presented with a dull, uninspiring scene that does nothing to elevate your spirits! It’s almost as if the bay itself has given up, resigned to its fate as yet another disappointment in a long...

Great fresh water and salt water marshlands for bird watchers and photographers. Numerous nesting areas for Avocets, Stilts, Pelicans, Night Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Clapper Rails (including the rarer California Clapper Rails), Brandt's Cormorants, Pelagic Cormorants, American White Pelicans, Canadian Geese, Mallard Ducks (many other species of ducks visit the duck pond during the year), Snipes, Harriers, Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers, Gulls, and many other species. Follow the Bay Trail to the south watching the taller trees near the Skunk Works to see nesting Harriers. Great place to photograph birds in flight. Visit several times a year to see various migratory birds. I photograph birds all over the country, but the Bay Trail encircling from the central penninsula around the bay to Hayward offers one of the best wildlife photography experiences in the country. Great place for bicycle day trips if you have a rear bike rack and a set of foam padded panniers for...

A relatively peaceful place to have your evening (or morning) walk. One can start at the corner parking lot and walk all the way to the Byxbee Park and round to complete an hour walk. Or you can go the other way keeping the airport on your left, following the bay on you right for another hour long walk. Trails are flat and much less crowded than few other close by places. At times, the sunsets are really gorgeous, but always carry a jacket as it can get windy and chilly any time...