The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is huge and spans three counties.  These are the thirteen things I love about this area in just Marin County (north of Golden Gate Bridge) and only about 30 minutes from the city.  Most of the time, I don’t think of these as part of a national park, but a destination in and of themselves.

1. Bolinas Ridge-a beautiful ridge for hiking or riding that offers views of the shoreline 200 feet below.
2. Fort Baker–beautiful little park for picnics and has the Bay Area Discovery Musuem
3. Fort Cronkhite-a dog friendly ocean beach, good sand castle opportunities, and the crashing waves are not too overwhelming for kids
4. Kirby Cove-just over the Golden Gate, this beach is usually only frequented by locals, not too many tourists are willing to make the mile long hike to get to the beach
5. Marin Headlands–good bird watching and great for road and mountain biking
6. Muir Woods National Monument–I love the trees, but really think this is overrated, if I was a tourist, I would just take a hike on Mt. Tam starting at Pan Toll and walk to Stinson Beach, lots of redwoods and not too many tourists
7. Muir Beach-close to Muir Woods and the Pelican Inn, an English pub, offers all sorts of beers to cool off after a hike on Mt. Tam
8. Muir Beach Overlook–spectacular vistas of the Pacific and of the valley, it feels as if you could fall into the fog sometimes
9. Nike Missile Site-described as an educational cold war museum by the parks dept. it offers tours Wednesday through Friday and on the first Saturday of every month.  Take the elevator to down to the missile area.  A nice break from hiking and a bit of history, to.
10. Olema Valley–bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and access to Pt. Reyes National Seashore
11. Point Bonita Lighthouse–built in 1855, this lighthouse is reached by crossing two bridges, tours are currently closed, but it is worth checking back with the park service to find out if it is going to re-open, still a beautiful drive, hike and picnic area
12. Stinson Beach–my favorite beach for swimming, surfing and sea kayaking, the southern end of the beach offers fun little pools and crab catching
13. Tennessee Valley–a flat ride of only 2 miles will place you in the protected cove, you can hike up to an old missile site on either side of the beach

Golden National Recreation Area is the best part of the bay area.  It offers a respite from the concrete, a glimpse into the past and serves up the crashing waves of the Pacific next to the peacefulness of  a redwood forest.  Highly recommend you visit any of these places if you live or visit the bay area.

I have a fear of small confined spaces. When in this kind of situation my heart starts to race and I am filled with a deep primal panic that dismisses all rational thought. So, why I ever decided to go caving in Yosemite recently is a mystery. I often commit to daring or unique adventures before considering what it is I am actually involving myself in. I owe this tendency to the fact that I am an “experience junky”. I love to try new things, to see the world from a new perspective, to get outside my comfort zone. It makes life interesting…and usually makes for a great story too!

So, last weekend my husband and I accompanied a co-worker (and avid caver) to the Stanislaus National Forest located on Yosemite’s doorstep. The objective of the weekend was to find remote areas with promising topography (in which caves were likely to be found) and bush-wack off trail in search of these “said” caves. Then, upon discovery, crawl inside and explore or start digging if the opening is too small. I came prepared with my headlamp, bug repellent, some old clothes, and tons of enthusiasm.

It was a lot of fun. But, I did learn a thing or two that I feel I should pass on to all you adventurous travelers out there. If you are thinking of going on a wild caving expedition in the near future, here are some tips: Read More »

It’s winter, a perfect time to go to the beach at Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Point Reyes is about an hour’s drive north of San Francisco and filled with natural, wild beauty of the Pacific Ocean and Tomales Bay. The winter months offer the some of the most beautiful days of the year. The weather is usually clear, in the summer it can be foggy and cold, and all you need to stay warm is a sweater and a pair of jeans.

Our favorite family activity in Pt. Reyes is an easy mountain bike starting at the Pt. Reyes Hostel. The trail head is across the road from the hostel and about a two mile ride down a gently sloping fire road to the beach. (You can shorten the ride if you wish to about one mile each way by stopping at the many footpaths to the beach.) The road offers plenty of room for the kids to maneuver, winds through a small forest, past a bubbling stream and then along the low-lying bluffs above the ocean. I suggest you ride to the camp ground, park your bikes and take the short (100 ft.) little trail to the beach. Shed the shoes, spread the blanket and have a picnic lunch on the beach. If you walk south a hundred yards or so, you will see a cave like area carved out of the bluffs, it is completely protected from the wind and I have seen people sunbathing in this sheltered spot in January. Continue down the beach for tide pools and be sure to look for seals in the water. The beach usually only has one or two other people. If you are looking for a winter escape, this is the place to go.

Once your ride is complete, you may want to visit the Tomales Bay Oyster Company for an early dinner. This beautiful spot is located right on Tomales Bay and is California’s oldest continuously run shellfish farm. It is only 5 miles north of Pt. Reyes Station and well worth the drive. The farm is open to the public every day of the year from 8 am to 6 pm. They sell just picked oysters, mussels, clams, and various sundry items. The bayshore picnic area offers BBQ’s to enjoy the farm fresh oysters. The kids can walk on the beach or literally climb a tree while you prepare the food. They have a soda machine if you need beverages. We bring hot dogs for the kids and sometimes a salad. It is really a magical spot with the freshest seafood around. It is a beautiful place to linger by the bay.