FOLLOW ME

This church in Walnut Creek seems quite active. During my visit, the parking lot was full, with people coming and going, and the church calendar listed a plethora of events. There is a garden space and that's where I found this five-circuit dirt labyrinth. I especially appreciated the rose design in the center. This is at the Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church. The church's site indicates that the labyrinth came to be in 2013.

This is an incredibly large labyrinth at the Contra Costa United Methodist Church in Walnut Creek, California. The 11-circuit takes up much of a larger interior courtyard among the church's grounds and is a peaceful respite from the very busy nearby area. According to the church, it was built in 1999 although a plaque at the site credited a donor in 2012 so maybe that was when it was refurbished.. In any event, it seems to have withstood time with few issues. I walked it on a

This small church on a residential hillside has a compact labyrinth just off the street. It is notable in part because it provides a terrific bay view - sweeping toward Suisun Bay and the Benicia-Martinez Bridge. That area of the north Bay Area of California has so many bridges, inlets, waterways and views that it's hard to go far at any measurable height and not see water somewhere. This seven-circuit dirt and gravel labyrinth was well-maintained. According to the church, th

Finding a labyrinth by a medical facility is commonplace. It is often a nice moment for patients, families and staff during difficult times. What is less rare is seeing it surrounded by cartoon characters. But that's kind of how it is in Santa Rosa, County, longtime home of Peanuts' creator Charles Schulz. The below labyrinth is at Kaiser Permanente's facility in northern Santa Rosa. It's between two of the medical buildings by a large parking lot on one side, and a very busy

Rohnert Park, CA, a suburb of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, has "Friendly City" as its official nickname. It was a planned community that is full of dense neighborhoods, small parks and close connections. It is known for its walkability, so it makes sense that a labyrinth would show up there. In one of those mini-parks, Dorotea Park, not far from Sonoma State University, I found a seven-circuit Chartres pattern painted on the ground and tucked near a semi-secluded grove of tre

As I walked this labyrinth, a much younger visitor turned to her parent and exclaimed, "Look, Dad, a fairy garden!" I guess that could be an accurate descriptor too. This terrific labyrinth sits dramatically on a coastal bluff near Shell Beach in Jenner, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean just feet away. Conveniently located near the Kortum Trail parking lot, it's easily accessible for hikers and beachgoers alike. What makes this labyrinth truly special is its w

Perched on a hillside within Oak Hill Park, this stone labyrinth offers a nice of the rolling parkland below. The elevated position gave me a nice viewpoint, both literally and generally, as I walked it. Constructed with stones, the labyrinth fits naturally into the hillside landscape, making it feel like an organic part of the park's topography. Oak Hill Park is nestled in a residential area of Petaluma, just a few minutes from one of the best small-town experiences anywhere