Garland Ranch Regional Park
700 W. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley
372-3196, www.mprpd.org
There’s a little bit of every Monterey County ecosystem contained here: vegetated Carmel River banks studded with cottonwoods and willows, expansive oak savannahs, 2,000-foot peaks of Santa Lucia foothills, maple-studded shady canyons and redwood-shaded unicorn habitat. Yes, the county’s first park offers 4,500 acres of inspiration for scientists and mystics alike. It has trails fit for casual strolls, steep hikes and strenuous runs. The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District offers lots of educational programs, by daylight and starlight, to help interpret the natural wonders here – but we’re still waiting for a class on unicorn spotting.