Sources and original illustrations

Primary references and the limits of this educational collection.

Primary references

• NPS: Point Reyes Lighthouse — Parking, visitor-centre approach, 313 stairs and wind-related closure; current facility status must be checked.
• NPS: Cabrillo basic information — Tidepool road management, parking limits and absent cellular service in the lower area.
• NPS: Cabrillo rocky intertidal — High, middle and low intertidal zones and exposure-related ecology; no species or access guarantee.
• NPS: Anacapa landing — Boat-to-dock steel-rung ladder, 157 stairs and the history of lighthouse-service landing engineering.
• California State Parks: Point Lobos — The reserve’s ecology and former coastal industries, alongside current park visitor information.
• California Office of Historic Preservation: Whalers Cabin — Archaeological finds beneath Whalers Cabin, evidence of Chinese residency and unresolved occupation questions.
• California State Parks: Fort Ross — Kashia Pomo, Russian colonial, ranching and park histories; multiple communities in the coastal landscape.
• California State Parks: Fort Ross reconstruction — The surviving Rotchev House, reconstructed compound structures and their conservation history.
• California State Parks: Ano Nuevo — Season-dependent viewing permits, winter guided walks, early-December closure and Equal Access options; checked 20 October 2026.
• Oregon Parks: Devils Punchbowl fact sheet — Likely collapsed sea caves, energetic water, neighbouring shore uses, erosion and crowding; historical fact sheet, not live access status.
• US Forest Service: Cape Perpetua — Temperate rainforest and rocky shore, Alsea/Halaqaik history, CCC connections and interpretation; current operation requires a separate check.
• Oregon State Parks: Fort Stevens — Columbia River defence, historic military sites, the shipwreck and distinct recreational features.
• Oregon State Parks: Fort Stevens map — Map distinguishes the military area from Peter Iredale shipwreck access; a 2023 map does not establish current opening.
• USFWS: Dungeness refuge — The spit’s sheltering role, bay, tideflats, eelgrass habitats, wildlife and refuge access protections.
• USFWS: Dungeness activities — Forest overlook versus the longer spit outing, designated routes, closed areas and wildlife interpretation.
• NPS: Ebeys Landing — A working rural community, Native and Euro-American histories, partner lands and Ferry House interpretation.
• NPS: Ebeys Landing FAQ — Patchwork ownership, private working fields and scenic easements; protection does not create universal public access.
• Washington State Parks: Fort Worden history — Concealed concrete batteries, community buildings and later reuse. Legacy management arrangements are not used for current booking claims.
• NPS: Glen Haven Historic Village — Changing cordwood, farming, canning and tourism economy; general store, blacksmith and lifesaving interpretation with seasonal staffing.
• NPS: Indiana Dunes fees and passes — National and state parks have separate ownership, fees and passes; checked 20 October 2026 without reproducing fixed prices.
• NPS: Pictured Rocks cliffs — Groundwater mineral stains on sandstone cliffs, differing land and water views and the need to stay back from cliff edges.
• NPS: Pictured Rocks visit planning — Miners Castle views and commercial water-view options; route and operator availability need current checks.
• NPS: Fire Island directions — Distinct approaches for the lighthouse, wilderness visitor centre and mid-island ferry destinations.
• NPS: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge — West Pond and East Pond are different visitor environments within a coastal habitat and migration setting.
• NPS: Canaveral directions — Apollo Beach northern access through New Smyrna Beach, Playalinda southern access through Titusville and separate Seminole Rest.
• NPS: Canaveral compendium — The connecting Sand Road is closed to public motorised and foot traffic; current official notices govern the actual visit.
• NPS: Naval Live Oaks area — Wooded sound-side area, administrative headquarters and visitor-service distinctions; some services are directed to Fort Pickens.
• NPS: Fort Pickens area map — Fort Pickens area map identifies the fort, batteries, beaches and facilities; it does not prove current interior opening.
• NPS: Malaquite Visitor Center — Corpus Christi approach, exhibits, deck, beach ramp and beach-wheelchair arrangements; availability requires confirmation.
• NPS: Mansfield Channel — Mansfield Channel separates Padre Island and South Padre Island, with no vehicle crossing; no remote driving route is provided.
• NPS: Channel Islands basic information — Ventura mainland visitor centre versus island transport, and Anacapa interpretation including its original Fresnel lens.
• NPS: Fire Island Sunken Forest — Maritime holly forest behind dunes and its ecological importance; not proof of current boardwalk opening.
• NPS: Jamaica Bay stewardship — Nature study and passive recreation alongside sensitive pond and saltmarsh areas with restricted public access.
• NPS: Gulf Islands compendium — Fort and battery interiors depend on official opening arrangements; operational areas remain separate from public space.
• California State Parks: Metini-Fort Ross interpretation 2026 — State Parks’ announced co-created interpretation and Kashia Tribal consultation broaden a Russian-colony-only narrative.
• California State Parks: viewing elephant seals — Winter guided walks, self-guided permit arrangements, terrain and Equal Access guidance; recheck the actual date.
• NPS: Point Reyes lighthouse history — Historic lighthouse construction and navigation purpose, followed by replacement with an automated light in 1975.

Original visual material

The diagrams in this edition are original SVG illustrations explaining the sequence or decisions in each guide. They do not show a laboratory experiment, a personal trip or a tested product result. No photographs from the linked sources are reproduced.

Check the source in context

References were consulted during preparation of this edition. A source may cover a broader or narrower question than a particular guide; the support notes above explain why it is listed. Read the original for methodology, exceptions and updates.