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.