Point Reyes National Seashore is a perfect hideaway spot that many San Francisco Bay Area locals try to keep to themselves, but not these loose lips! đ An easy destination, just a bit over an hour’s car drive north of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore invites you to unwind, recharge, and explore at leisure. During our first visit, we merely scratched the surface of it and are already planning a return trip over the weekend. And here’s why: Tomales Bay We started to explore Point Reyes National Seashore from Tomales Bay. Tomales Bay is worth spending at least a full day at, especially if you enjoy water activities. Swimming,…
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Land of Medicine Buddha: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
In the Santa Cruz Mountains, near the town of Soquel, there lies a magical place, Land of Medicine Buddha. Where life simplifies, and everything seems to make more sense. Youâll find yourself whisked away to a place where all is quiet and calm, just under an hour from San Jose. Weâve heard about Land of Medicine Buddha from another SF Bay Area travel blogger, Joyce Zee, who runs the “Around the Bay And Away” blog, and finally got a chance to visit it ourselves. Follow us on this unique hiking escape, and we hope itâll inspire you to check it out as well. What is Land of Medicine Buddha? Land of Medicine…
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Foothills Park: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Foothills Park has been accessible solely to residents of Palo Alto, a posh town in the San Francisco Bay Area. Actually, you could earn yourself a fine of $1,000 if caught on the property without an accompanying resident of Palo Alto. No kidding! But in December of 2020, after half a century of exclusivity, Foothills Park finally opened its gates to the general public (non-residents of Palo Alto). Recently, our local news has been reporting about the park and its history. Naturally, we had to see what all the hoopla was about. Is Foothills Park worth visiting? And what is so special about this once-private park in the foothills of…
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Oddball Day Trip in Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains is not the direction most people think of while visiting this eccentric coastal town in California. Visitors flock to its famous Boardwalk to chill on the beach, soaking in the scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes it is forgotten that Santa Cruz also borders Big Basin and Henry Cowell Redwood State Parks. Two of the largest in the state! And, of course, the Pogonip Open Space where our Sunday trip started. Pogonip Open Space Our neighbor and former long-time Santa Cruz resident recommended checking out the old lime kilns and the rock garden in Pogonip. Now we understand why. After chatting with a couple of students…
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Baylands Nature Preserve: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Driving east on San Antonio Road in Mountain View, we discovered the isolated marshlands of the San Francisco South Bay, Baylands Nature Preserve. Not knowing what to expect, we were amazed by the vast variety of birds there! We were so taken by our discovery that we wanted to encourage you to put it on your outdoor activities list for Palo Alto or Mountain View in the San Francisco Bay Area. Weâve seen this marshland area many times from a plane as we approached San Francisco or San Jose International Airports. From above, the area appears as empty wilderness, islands of grass, and well⌠marshes⌠What could possibly be there?…
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Fun Things to Do on Pacific Coast Highway near SF Bay Area
Once you’ve found âthe way to San Joseâ, there are so many different options for things to do and see, both in and out of town. This post is for those of you who love hopping in the car and taking casual day-trips just to see what’s out there. On this local adventure, we drove west out of San Jose to Santa Cruz, then up the coast on Hwy 1 or the “PCH”. And now we will share our tips on the fun things to do on the Pacific Coast Highway near the San Francisco Bay Area. Seymour Marine Discovery Center Our first stop was at Seymour Marine Discovery Center.…
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Alum Rock Park: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Alum Rock Park in San Jose, California is one of our recent outdoor adventures weâd love to share with you. Canât believe we’ve lived in the SF Bay Area for years, and this was our first visit! Donât make our mistake. If you are near San Jose and looking for a beautiful hike in a historical setting, Alum Rock Park is a great place to start. Alum Rock Park History and Curiosities Founded in 1872, Alum Rock Park is the oldest municipal park in the entire state of California! Modeled after European spa retreats, the park boasted close to 30 mineral hot springs, baths, pavilions, Tea House, and even a…
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San Jose Rose Garden: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, voted âAmericaâs Best Rose Gardenâ, is one of the most popular urban outdoor places for visitors and residents alike. Nestled on the corner of Naglee and Dana avenues, itâs just a couple of minutes away from the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. There, now you have a whole day planned! đ We love visiting the garden, whether it’s for a relaxing stroll along the rows of rose bushes (over 3,500 of them with 189 varieties!), have a picnic or kick off the ol’ shoes and enjoy a book on the lush grass lawns. If you’re lucky, you might even get a chance to observe a wedding by…
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Ulistac Natural Area: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Ulistac Natural Area is the LAST 40-acres of undeveloped land in the City of Santa Clara. It is a phenomenal environmental walk that lets you experience how the San Francisco Bay Area looked long before the first settlers moved in. We are so fortunate to have an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the seasons bring to the Bay Area, and Ulistac is definitely a place to enjoy all year round. Like many locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Ulistac was inhabited by the Ohlone Tribe, who occupied the Northern California coast. They founded a village in this area, called âUlistacâ. âUlisâ means basket, and âtacâ means place â…
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Rancho San Antonio: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
In the heart of the fast-paced Silicon Valley, Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve offers a refreshing escape from the daily grind. With its lush green meadows, scenic rolling hills, and dense wooded forests, Rancho San Antonio is perfect for anyone who enjoys just âgetting awayâ now and then, without having to travel very far. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountain range, this park is a local favorite destination for hiking, biking, and even horseback riding. Rancho San Antonio is easily accessible from anywhere in the Bay Area, and is quite extensive. The 165-acre Park combined with the 3,988-acre Preserve, has plenty of hiking…
