You can "get away from it all" by hopping in the car for a 20-mile trip to nature at the Cosumnes River Preserve. There are easy hiking trails, allowing for viewing wildlife in the trees and water - Amphibians & Reptiles, Birds, Butterflies Fish, Mammals, Plants and Virtual Herbarium. According to its website there are more than 250 bird species, more than 40 fish species, and some 230 plant species have been identified on the Preserve. It's available 7-days a week, weekends being the busiest. If you have them, take binoculars, a bird scope and a camera. I am not a pro at identifying exact species. I just  like to watch and photo them. I spent about an hour there yesterday, until sunse

Yesterday morning, in the fog, I drove to Cosumnes River Preserve, about 30 miles south of  where I live in Colonial Heights. I really had no idea what I would see. As I neared the preserve along Bruceville Rd I saw bodies of water and brush. If I hadn't been paying attention, I would've missed a huge gathering of Sandhill Cranes in a foggy field. I was practically the only person there. Here are some photos of what I saw:     The link to the preserve is HERE SacPress Photos | Kati Garner