Nice beach with a hiking trails as well. It's a pretty clean beach, and when we were there some…read morepeople were walking around looking for trash to pick up, so it's nice that there seems to be locals looking out for the well-being of the environment. Free parking lot. Empty when I arrived in the morning, but no spaces by the afternoon. It is a pretty peaceful beach. It doesn't really have a tourist feel that some beach areas have since it's just the beach itself (no shops/food or anything like that). It's not a huge area, but we came during low tide and walked around the more rocky area before the tide started rising. They do have restrooms at the parking lot. Although, the restrooms were disgusting when I was there, so I'd avoid it if possible. (Not flushing toilets.)

Muir Beach feels like the California people imagine, but quieter and more honest…read more Instead of a crowded boardwalk or lines of shops, you come down a winding road through coastal hills and suddenly the land just opens up. The ocean isn't bright blue like postcards, it's deep gray-green, powerful, and constantly moving. The waves don't gently roll in... they crash. You feel it in your chest before you even step on the sand. The sand is darker and softer than most beaches, almost cool even in the sun. Behind you are tall grasses and weathered driftwood, not hotels. In front of you is nothing but horizon. There's a small creek cutting through the beach and a wooden bridge crossing it, which somehow makes the whole place feel more like a nature preserve than a tourist stop. People aren't blasting music or playing volleyball, they're walking, breathing, taking pictures, or just sitting quietly watching the water. If you want a loud beach day, this isn't it. If you want to slow down and actually feel the ocean, this is one of the most peaceful places near San Francisco.

caught my first ever leopard shark at the lagoon mouth maybe 4-5lbs and more than 24 in…read more amazing place to fish for leopards, hali, bat eagle rays, and basically anything in the surf. first time coming. only got that one leopard but hali and rays love the mud flats in the lagoon. I can't wait to go back probably in the summer.

Great place to visit, good motorcycle parking. You also get a beautiful coast view on the way.read more

I had forgotten just how gorgeous this hike is--the scenery is incredible the entire way. Be…read moreprepared for a steady climb through most of the route, with plenty of wooden stairs, gnarly roots, and rock steps, but the stunning views make every bit of effort worth it. There are many great spots to stop for photos, take a break, or enjoy a picnic--we did all three. Thanks to the recent rain, there was still plenty of water flowing, which made the trail even more beautiful. The picnic area at Laurel Dell is especially serene, with a babbling brook nearby. There's even an outhouse, which is always a welcome sight. I actually found climbing up much easier than descending as one has to really pay attention to their footing. We were happy seeing Alpine Lake again knowing we were close to end of hike.

Went here with a friend and her dog and had such a great time. Such a beautiful, peaceful hike and…read moredefinitely one of my favorites on Mount Tam. The drive in was beautiful too, the views of Alpine Lake along the way made the whole trip feel extra special before we even got to the trail. Be prepared for a lot of stairs, so it can definitely get your legs working, but the waterfalls make it completely worth it. Hearing the water and being surrounded by all the greenery made the whole hike feel so calm and relaxing. The views throughout the hike are gorgeous, and it's such a nice escape if you're looking for something peaceful and scenic. Definitely recommend checking out Cataract Falls if you're up for a little workout with a really rewarding payoff. Definitely will be coming back :)

Beautiful spot along the coast. There is a short walk on a path to the lookout point. It's…read moreconnected to a couple of trails you can walk along. There is a bathroom that has no sink or water. The parking lot has a good amount of spaces. Note that this is federal and the parking lot is closed during shutdowns. You can park nearby and walk in there is no entrance or fee. If you are in the area and driving by I recommend stopping by for a few minutes.

We stopped by Good Earth Natural Foods Market for to go from the hot deli first, picked up some…read morefresh baguette, cheese, and hot sandwich before picking a spot at Muir Beach outlooks for light hiking and picnic. There is plenty of parking and the scenery is simply beautiful. California coast at its best.

Just past SF this park has so many different trail options perfect for all hiking levels. The…read moredownside is this place gets PACKED! My sister and I arrived before 8am at the Watershed parking lot and barely found a space. We did the trail that took us to the West Point Inn for the pancake breakfast and round trip was close to 5 miles so it was a great workout. There's gorgeous views and well! On the way back to the 101 however it's a mess. The road on the way down is crowded with parked cars, which makes driving through challenging. That's the only thing about this park, other than that I'd love to come back in spring when everything is green and vibrant!

My first association of Mt Tam is from Cowgirl Creamery's best seller, Mt Tam Triple Cream with…read moreHeart cheese. Ever since then, I've wanted to hike this peak, today I have achieved my wish. Early June with mild coastal temp, 50s-60s. Started up Matt Davis Trail in the foggy forest, to Pantoll Campground, to West Point Inn where we can look down to the top of the fog layer, to the Fire Lookout building at the Peak. Then we came down reverse but split off to Steep Ravine and Dip Sea trail after the campground. I've also always wanted to climb that ladder. This hike provided views of the Pacific ocean on the West as well as views of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the East side. I thoroughly enjoyed the cool lush forest, but actually my favorite section was the single track along the slope of the open area after the Mt Tam State Park sign.

This was our first visit here. My daughter is obsessed with all things beaches and oceans. This…read morebeach is very easy access from the parking lot. I checked the time of low tide so we could arrive when she would get a chance to see all that is the tide pools. She had an absolute blast and I was so happy to just watch her go about her way exploring and creating more memories.

Bolinas is a strange little town. The downtown, what there is of it, looks like it hasn't been…read moreupdated in 80 years, except for a few newer buildings on Brighton. Go west, young man, and it has the feeling of Carmel with smaller trees. Its history is what makes it strange: in the late 1960s, the hippies moved in, the water supply got maxed out so no more new water permits have been granted since then, and residents started tearing down the signs on Highway 1 that pointed to this town. I've been told that, as the hippies are dying off, families and wealthy people are moving in, so it's slowly becoming more normal. But Bolinas is still a world apart, and intends to stay that way. It does have one unusual feature, though: Agate Beach Park. "Beach" is almost false advertising. The sand is a longish walk north. You don't come here to laze in the sun or barbecue some weenies. You come here to explore the tide pools, gaze in wonder at the cliffs, notice that you can see San Francisco from here, and enjoy the remoteness of the place. Marin County takes care of the place, but when you get to the bottom of the stairs, there is NO development at all. Any development would take away from the natural features. And, in a way, the unique flavor of Bolinas add to the charm. No signs point the way, just as no signs tell you to turn here to get to Bolinas. Agate Beach Park is the edge of town, as far away from tourists as you can get. Driving here is like getting immersed in Bolinas counter-culture. There are no crowds here, and not likely to ever be any. If that interest you, then you'll like this park a lot. By the way, you can also climb to the top of the bluff and get some good views and photos. Basically, Agate Beach Park is where you can explore another place where the Great Eternal Artist did some of His best handiwork, and not fight the crowds to do so.

This is one of the best trails to do post Pineapple Express storms. Part muddy part slippery but…read morekeeping amazing views in distance throughout. I would suggest start mid day and when you are back you are ready soak in early dinner and wine! The best part was it is not continuous incline but you still end up gaining ~900 ft elevation. I will definitely revisit to do more in marine headlands. Weather is perfect to explore beautiful Bay Area on feet!

Way before Johnny Depp, I recall my favorite ride at Disneyland was the Pirates of the Caribbean…read more The politically incorrect sea chantey they had on autoplay was drilled in my subconscious: "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and loot Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot Drink up me 'earties, yo ho" I didn't sing it out loud, but I was thinking it as I was scaling this rugged coastal trail. At not quite two miles, it wasn't that challenging except for the last 350 feet. At that point, you don't see a trail anymore but a lot of rocks. I was puzzled until I saw a couple of young girls pass me and repel themselves forward. This was a pivotal point that separated prematurely mature men from fearless youth. As I was listening to the high tide coming in, I did an about-face and didn't look back. Well, actually I could see the cove from the trail and noticed the waves lapping up the shore almost completely. Redemption. There were plenty of inclines to work out my thighs, and the windswept scenery was nice in a Perfect Storm sort of way - though I think the Owl Trail on the other side of Muir Beach Outlook was more picturesque. RELATED - Exploring north of San Francisco? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2tIHlkV

This place was definitely hard to find. We had to drive past the fire station on the right side and…read moreshortly after passing the fire station, you turn "left" into a residential street. The street signs aren't your traditional signs. It is small and creatively marked with colorful paint. It's not a paved road to get to the reef. There were ample parking at the lot. There are porta potties. Easy access to the reef for a 2 year old. There are some steps and then you are there. I personally think the wildlife is more interesting at Bean Hollow in Pescadero.

This isn't easy to find but well worth a stop if you've got some extra time near Point Reyes. We…read morecame by after spending most of the day in other areas of the park and didn't check on the tides before visiting. Sadly, we missed the minus tide which is necessary for any tide pool adventures. Still, it's a lovely spot and on a clear day, had some wonderful views. I could tell from the rocks that this would be a marvelous spot for spending more time, when the tide is right. Dramatic cliffs, unique rocks along the beach and just all around lovely. Now that I've scouted it out, I'll plan accordingly for my next visit.