I had been listening to Pema Chodron cds and reading her books for years. Although, when I tried…read moremeditation, it was extremely difficult for me. I enrolled in a Level 1 class (called The Art of Being Human) at Tamalpais Shambhala, after moving to Marin. The kindness and warmth of the teacher and volunteer staff was a breath of fresh air. The people were so genuine and real. It inspired me to take a book class and I found I loved hearing what others had to say about the teachings and applying them to their lives. Although it was hard for me at first, because I am not the most comfortable in groups, I found that I could make the teachings more real for me by studying them with others. I began to see life in a different way. Finding this community was such a gift and a relief. I wish that for others - that they could connect with people from the heart and have these precious teachings - this precious wisdom - in their life. That they, like me, could be taught about this "discipline of gentleness" to oneself (so important) and to others. Meditation is now a different exercise for me, since now I realize that meditation is a time to practice this "discipline of gentleness" - a time of non-judgement, warmth, and kindness - so that these may be carried on to the rest of life. -Erinn

So... would you like an update? It's worse. I am not knocking all the amazing teachers that come…read morethrough there, or Kornfield etc... just the elitism in the way its run. I mean, they say in their mission statement they're grounded in Buddha's teachings. I'm sorry, I still don't see it in action. I suppose I have to admit that this exclusiveness approach is serving some people in the community, and so I up my stars to two, but my heart knows this is anything but Buddha like. I don't wish to be negative, but I do feel, especially in times like these, that it's important to be honest and authentic. Small "elitisms" (if you will), are part of a larger dynamic. Its time we started looking at little closer at the reasons behind our choices. Thanks for reading. May all beings know peace.

First I'd like to say, Spirit Rock founding Teachers: Thank You for having created this wonderful,…read moremagical space for people to learn more about how to go deeply into ourselves. Learning how to focus is so important in the chaos of our world and I believe this is a path for Peace. Second I'd like to say: If you are planning to attend a retreat for more than just a few days, prepare yourself. It's important to know there are a people who don't know how to sneeze into their elbow or just stay in their room when they are ill. Wear a mask if at all possible to prevent getting a cold. There are no open windows in the meditation hall so make sure you protect yourself. I didn't and now I have a raging cold. If food is important to you, bring your own extra food. If you are just a little bit late to the food line for breakfast, lunch or dinner, you will find most of it has been eaten. To be fair, they keep boiled eggs and dates for folks in the refrigerator. But, I was sorry I didn't bring my own extra food and was hungry most of the time. The coffee is wonderful, which made is bearable. I also had the misfortune of having an upstairs neighbor just over my head in the dormitory who kept late hours and dropped all kinds of mysterious objects during the night just as I was going to sleep, so I didn't get much sleep. The Manager of the retreat was helpful and created a sign for the door letting everyone know to maintain noble silence even in their room. Unfortunately, the neighbor didn't read the note on the door. The teachers were fine and the instructions were helpful, so it was worth it for me to go there. I wish I would've felt more protected, but maybe that's my job. That's why I'm writing to you so if you are planning to go you will be advised of what you might need to know to protect yourself. I've been to Spirit Rock many times and realize that maybe this is what happens when a business even a spiritual business grows and becomes more like a production line. Hope this is taken in a good spirit. That is my intention. Namaste

This is a cute little stop :) Take 20-30 Minutes to walk up and down the tunnel and take a few…read morepics. If you love cypress trees like me it's worth it - this tunnel is magically & hauntingly gorgeous. It's free too. Park along the road.

Instagram picture place that's a free thing to do on the way to the lighthouse. You have to park…read morealong the road and there are no facilities in the area.

What a somewhat hidden gem! Definitely lesser traveled than a lot of other NPS places. When we…read morewent, in the beginning of July, it was cold and windy - about 55F but with windchill. I ended up buying a sweater at the visitor's center and used it during the entire trip! Our itinerary included the Bear Valley Visitors Center, Chimney Rock, Elephant Seal Overlook, Lighthouse, Drakes Beach, Cypress Tree Tunnel, then back to the Bear Valley Visitors Center. The entire trip took about 6.5 hours - it was great! The visitors center was clean, well-stocked, and informative. Bathrooms on the outside, plenty of parking. Inside there's a shop with lots of goodies including clothing, totes, stickers/pins, first aid supplies, and more typical goodies. Rangers were very friendly and informative. Lots of interactive displays as well. Chimney Rock was a quick hike. There's a bathroom and a bench or two at the trailhead. We thought the hike was pretty easy. Lots to see including wildflowers, bugs, birds, and deer! Plus, the view at the end is gorgeous, and there's a geological stamp there too. No elephant seals at the overlook, but it's not peak season, so we weren't expecting any. The lighthouse was a nice surprise! According to the website, it should have been closed on a Tuesday, but the ranger told us that summer hours are different, and it was open! We went to the small visitors center, then walked the 313 steps down to see the lighthouse. It was super windy. There are several rest points along the staircase in case folks need it. While we couldn't climb into the lighthouse, we could go inside and peak around, which was pretty cool. There was a ranger there who answered questions, and we saw some people looking for whales. Drakes Beach was gorgeous. We ended up staying for about 1.5 hours because the kids had so much fun digging in the sand and watching crabs scurry along the beach. There was barely anyone else there, so we had a huge part to ourselves. And there are a bunch of sand dollars! That was so cool to see. Most of them were cracked, but occasionally we saw some whole ones. The visitors center here was closed, but looked like it was well-stocked with unique goodies. Bathrooms were open, big, and clean. Cypress Tree Tunnel was every bit as beautiful as I've seen in photos. Quite a few people there walking the tunnel and taking photos. The boys earned their Junior Ranger badge at the end of the visit. And we got our stamps! Fun times - we'll definitely be back!

How fortunate we are to have Point Reyes National Seashore. The headquarters is fantastic- maps,…read morerecommendations, nice restrooms & plenty of free parking. Today we chose the Bear Valley hike trail. The path is wide and mostly flat and even includes a bathroom midway. As you walk you are able to hear the beautiful sounds of the babbling brook along the route. Being late Spring we were able to spot a good amount of wildflowers- buttercups, poppies, bleeding heart, foxglove and more. We encountered several equestrian's throughout our hike.

This was my third attempt hiking this trail but I still didn't finish it. Next time! The first time…read moreI went (like 10 years ago!) there was a sign about mountain lion sightings so I didn't hike. I was there very early and alone. The second time John was with me but we didn't go very far. This time we planned on hiking half way because it was an unplanned trip and we didn't have our normal hiking equipment (the right shoes, clothes, water bladder, etc). However, just two miles in is enough to show how amazing this trail is! The views are out of this world. Like heaven on earth. We encountered tons of wildflowers and Tule Elk. They were so close to us that we had to wait for them to move so that we could continue on the trail. When we got to our planned two mile mark, we both wanted to keep going. Despite the steep inclines in a few parts, the trail is quite easy--at least for the first two miles in. But we decided to turn around and promised we would return and finally complete this amazing trail. Now I know why this trail is one of the top most popular trails in the Bay Area.

This is my first time doing this hike. But my second time to Point Reyes. I went with the group of…read morepeople that I've hiked with a few times. I would say overall the hike is moderate level only because of the distance and there are times that you're walking through sand, which makes it a little harder. There are some inclines so you do go up and down a couple times, but those are doable especially if you've ever hiked in the mountains with steep inclines. Out and back trail that took us 9.8 miles with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, which was incredible. We got there early so parking was a non-issue. However, when we were leaving the lot was full, and people were parking along the roadway.

We just wandered into this public art exhibit. It's rather lovely, paying tribute to writers and…read moremusicians and linking Chinatown and North Beach. Look down at the ground to find words in Chinese, Italian, and English from the pages fallen from the books/birds above.

The first 'solar powered offset' public artwork in California. I suppose the art itself isn't…read moredirectly connected to solar panels but it comes from a solar paneled business nearby. The LED lights illuminate the books that sort of look like birds from the distance. There are different words that are on the sidewalk in various languages - I suppose with some imagination these words dropped from the books above. This neighborhood has it all: legendary pizza, the best bakeries, unique shopping, strip clubs - what more could you ask for? Still my favorite neighborhood in the city. That border of Chinatown and Northbeach. So much character - wouldn't it be great to live in a little apartment above one of the bars or stores? Try nearby Coolbrith park or Washington Square. Rinks and Sweets love Washington Square - best place to socialize and sniff. Parks that are well maintained and not so big that somebody could get lost or out of sight.... I'm a helicopter parent after all. Some public art is always welcomed. Even if some isn't my style I still appreciate it.

I first experienced Point Reyes in the mid 70s when we arrived from Chicago Illinois. We lived…read moretemporarily in my grandparents family home in Inverness while my dad was studying for the California bar. After he passed the bar exam and obtained a job and we moved away. We continued to spend weekends and summer vacations in Inverness and I spent a lot of time in Point Reyes and surrounding areas. Almost 50 years later it is still very familiar to me. A lot more hipster than hippie now but still laid back and nostalgic for me. Many of the original businesses are still here just with modern updates. Toby's, the gas station, the Presbyterian church, the elementary school are still around. This is a great place to come to after a day of hiking or spending time at one of the nearby beaches .

You have the nerve to call me and you refused to answer, thats a prank call, unacceptableread more

Marin Headlands is one of the best regional parks in Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA)…read more It is one of the best places to not only hike but to take pictures. This is also great for photographers. Pretty much the hills, grass, trails, rocks, and trails are amazing! This is also a great place for photographers. There are other places like those Battery ones and Hill 88, but my friend and I didn't really get a chance to go there since we pretty much missed the path and we didn't want to turn around. Honestly, it's really hot here and thank goodness that I bring water and snacks in case I'm thirsty or hungry. Most importantly, bring water! You'll need it if you're ever going to hike here. The trip is short in my opinion since I'm used to hiking for a long time. In the future, I am planning to come back here to revisit scenic spots that we missed. The hike might be longer since I enjoy hiking at regional parks.

Absolutely stunning. The Marin Headlands offer some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge,…read morethe Pacific Ocean, and San Francisco. The hiking trails are beautiful and well worth exploring, whether you're going for a short walk or a longer hike. It's peaceful, scenic, and feels like a total escape from the city even though it's so close. Bring a camera -- every overlook feels postcard-worthy. A must-visit if you're in the Bay Area. Magical!