Originally
christened Isla de los Angeles by Spanish explorer Juan Manuel
de Ayala in 1775, Angel Island has seen a host
of inhabitants and claimants in the intervening centuries -- Indian,
Spanish, British, Mexican, and American. Ironic that it should
eventually serve as the U.S. point of detention for immigrants
entering California from Asia -- especially China and Japan --
earning it the nickname "Ellis Island of the West"
Angel Island also
features military fortifications from the Civil War (Camp Reynolds)
and both World Wars (Fort McDowell).
Angel Island is a
great place for hiking, camping, picnicking, and taking in views of
the bay -- and learning about the wildlife and history of the
island. Ferries deposit visitors at China cove, and
trams take visitors to the other side of the island.
Treasure Island is actually a man-made island. Originally intended to be San Francisco's
first airport, the "island" was created by WPA work crews in the
1930s from mud dredged from the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento
Delta and laid down on the shoals of neighboring Yerba Buena Island.
Created to house much of the 1939-40 World's Fair (Golden Gate
International Exposition), Treasure Island was slated to be turned
into an international airport following the exhibition's end.
But with the onset of U.S.
involvement in WWII, the 403 acre island was leased to the Navy, and
a larger plot of land, much further south, was eventually pressed
into service for the S.F.O. airport. When the Naval base
closed in September of 1997, the land was returned to the city of
San Francisco. Although serious concerns remain about the
stability of the island during future earthquakes (the island has
already subsided about 30% since construction -- i.e. from 14" to 9"
above sea level), the are has been opened to redevelopment,
including housing.
The island features a nice view of
the city of San Francisco, especially at night.
This rocky, steeply sloped island
first received its name in 1775 when Spanish explorers found it
growing with wild mint, hence the name "good herb".
Later, the island was referred to as "bird island", "wood island",
and "goat island" -- for the goats farmed there. In 1931 the
name was changed back to the more eloquent Yerba Buena.
The island currently has three
primary functions: as a natural support anchorage for the Bay
Bridge (from which it can be accessed), as an approach point for
Treasure Island (to which it connects by bridge), and home to a U.S.
Coastguard installation that occupies about half the island.
Not much to see on the island itself. Narrow winding roads
lead to and fro, but don't provide any access to get out and
explore.
A one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor
children's museum that offers a full range of programs for children,
parents, school groups and educators. Located on 7 and 1/2 acres in
the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at Fort Baker in Sausalito,
CA., the Museum's unique programs feature hands-on art, science,
environmental and media exhibitions, performances, special events
and ongoing educational curricula... all with a focus on fun!
Among our favorite exhibits are the
outdoor water play area and the indoor tot area with small-size
climbing rock and "water bed". The construction/architecture
room encourages budding young engineers. And train area draws
engineers of a different sort! A room devoted to
the bay itself encourages learning through dramatic play.
A small cafe provides sandwiches and beverages. Eat outdoors
and enjoy a spectacular view of the San Francisco Bay. Please
note that this museum is really geared toward children aged 2-6.
Check their website to find out about current exhibits.
If you have a toddler in addition to an older preschooler or
kindergartner, consider coming with a friend so that one adult can
stay with the older children on their rounds, while another hangs
out in the tot areas.
Founded in 1975, The Marine
Mammal Center is a non-profit organization that rescues,
rehabilitates and releases injured, sick and orphaned marine
mammals (seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, whales and sea
otters) along a six hundred mile stretch of the California
coast, from Mendocino through San Luis Obispo counties.
The Center operates
from five locations: our hospital site in the Marin Headlands,
just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco; our field
offices in
Anchor Bay,
Monterey,
and
San Luis Obispo;
and our gift store and interpretive center at San Francisco's
PIER 39. The hospital site in the Marin Headlands is open
to visitors every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
To see what animals they're
taking care of now,
click here.
After visiting the Marin Marine
Mammal Center, you'll want to talk a walk at adjoining Stinson
Beach and Lagoon. Bring a picnic, and don't forget your
sweaters in case the wind, or the fog, sneaks in.
Located
on the Marin Headlands, the lighthouse is accessed by a
half-mile trail which is steep in places. Both the
drive and walk to access the lighthouse affords incredible
views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the passage from the
San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. The setting
is remarkably wild and rugged, given the nearness of one of
America's most famous metropolises. The lighthouse is
open to the public Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 12:30 p.m.
to 3:30 p.m.
Read about the history of the lighthouse.
Directions: From San Francisco,
cross the Golden Gate Bridge and take the first exit. From
101 South, take the last exit before the Golden Gate Bridge.
Travel west, and take Conzelman Road. Drive carefully - the
narrow road lies along a cliff and is a haven for cyclists.
Follow signs to the lighthouse. The station is open on
weekends. Full Moon tours are also available, and well worth
the trip. Call (415) 331-1540. The fog cannon is on display
at Coast Guard Island, Alameda. (June 2000)
An
incredibly scenic drive leads to a hidden treasure of natural beauty
known as Rodeo Beach. In addition to the views enjoyed on the
way to and from Rodeo, you'll enjoy a bird studded lagoon, amazing
views of the occasional passing super size freighter ship,
beachcombing for sand dollars and limpet shells. Bring your
binoculars and your bird watching guide, a sweater in case the
breeze picks up, and don't forget your picnic. Please note
that parking may be tight during peak hours.
This working
hydraulic model of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San
Joaquin River Delta System is the only one of its kind in the
world! The Model provides scientists, educators and
citizens interested in San Francisco Bay and the Bay-Delta Model
a unique opportunity to view the complete bay-delta system at a
glance. The Center gives an introduction and provides an
overview of the system. Tours are available for groups with
advanced reservations. These tours can be tailored to the
technical level of the group. The wonderful educational
resource is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Tide
pools, beach combing. Please
note that collecting is not permitted as the beach is
located within the Duxbury Reef State Marine Sanctuary.
So bring your camera and a guide to tide pool creatures.
The Marin County Civic Center, designed by
Frank Lloyd Wright, serves as a backdrop to this 20 acre
informal park. The park offers picnic areas, children's play
structures and fishing. Non-motorized boating is also permitted
in the 11 acre lagoon. In the summer, much of the park becomes
the site of the Marin County Fair. The park also hosts pony
rides in the summer months, and on Thursday and Sunday
mornings there is a farmer's market.
Directions: Take the North San Pedro Exit from HWY 101
in San Rafael, CA. Proceed to the traffic lights at the
intersection of North San Pedro and Civic Center Drive. Go
left on Civic Center Drive to the Jury Parking Lot. The
Civic Center Lagoon Park is located along the north side of
the Jury Parking lot, and along the east side of Civic
Center Drive.
This 54 acre park provides picnic areas and nature trails in a natural,
wooded setting. Located off Porteous Avenue in Fairfax,
it's one of the most popular starting points for serious
hikers.
A
picturesque combination of history and wildlife grace this
scenic 1,640 acre state park. China Camp
contains the remains of an actual Chinese shrimp fishing
village from the 1880s. In addition, the park features
include an extensive intertidal salt marsh, meadow and oak
habitats, that are home to a variety of wildlife, including
deer, squirrels and numerous birds.
Visitor's enjoy swimming, boating, and windsurfing as well
as hiking and camping. Please note that the 15 miles
of trails are well traveled on weekends in spring and summer
months, so try visiting on a week day if your prefer
solitude. Located 4 miles east of San Rafael on the
shore of San Pablo Bay. From Highway 101, go east on North
San Pedro Road for five miles until it enters the park.
Marin Museum of the American
Indian & Miwok Park
2200 Novato
Boulevard / PO Box 864
Novato, CA 94948
415-897-4064
office@marinindian.com
Located in
Miwok Park , this is the only museum in the Bay Area
devoted entirely to Native American culture. It
includes petroglyphs and photos of Rock Art as well as
samples of basketry and hand tools. Collection
includes local tribes as well as those from areas of Nevada
and Baja. A gift shop is included as is a reference
library.
Be sure to call or check
their website before planning a visit as the museum is
sometimes closed while setting up new exhibits.Regular
Hours: Tues - Fri, 10 am to 3 pm Sat & Sun, 12 pm to 4 pm
(please call ahead on weekends to be certain volunteer staff
are onsite).
The 35-acre Miwok Park
features hiking trails and fishing, as well as a playground,
picnic areas, BBQ grills, and a lawn area. Let
the kids out for some play time, then visit the Marin Museum
of the American Indian, and top it all off with a picnic or
BBQ.
This 117 acre preserve features a
picturesque and historic church and breathtaking views of the
San Francisco Bay, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Angel
Island. The preserve is also the only place to see
the extremely rare Tiburon jewelflower.
Located on a
hillside just above Tiburon, Old St. Hilary's offers a 1 mile
hike loop trail through rolling hill country.
Accessible by taking US 101 and
exiting at Tiburon Boulevard. Drive east about 3.5 miles,
and turn left on Lyford Drive. Drive about 0.8 mile uphill, and
bear left on Sugarloaf (Lyford ends to the right, and another
access gate to the preserve is visible). Drive 0.1 mile more,
and turn right onto Heathcliff. Continue a short distance to the
end of the road.
Located on the east shoreline of the
Tiburon Peninsula. Nineteen acres with a variety of picnic
facilities with barbecues, lawn areas, fishing pier and one
hundred yards of sandy beach.
A listing of great local
parks in San Rafael, Tiburon, Mill Valley, Terra Linda, and
other Marin Cities. Includes photos and information
about each park, detailing play structures, restrooms, etc.
Check out the ratings for each park and add your own
comments.
A great
resource for planning some out of the car, run wild time for
your little travelers.
Hiking,
sandcastles on the beach, camping, kayaking, learning about
local Ohlone life ways, and basking in the natural beauty
-- Point Reyes offers all this and more. Stunning
Point Reyes National Seashore is home to nearly forty species of
land mammals, and at least a dozen species of marine mammals.
Nearly half the bird species of North America have been spotted
here. The park is home to one of the largest populations of tule
elk and a thriving breeding ground for the once nearly extinct
elephant seals. Jutting 10 miles into the Pacific Ocean, Point
Reyes offers one of the best spots for viewing the migrations of
the California gray whale.
The
park is open daily (with overnight camping available by permit
only) from sunrise to sunset throughout the year. Visitor center
hours are as follows: Bear Valley Visitor Center, weekdays, 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekends and holidays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;
Lighthouse Visitor Center, Thursday through Monday, 10:00 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Lighthouse stairs and exhibits (weather
permitting), 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Lens Room open as weather
& staffing permit, all Lighthouse facilities closed Tuesdays and
Wednesdays; Ken Patrick Visitor Center, weekends and holidays,
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All visitor centers are closed December
25.
In late summer, as you approach through
beautiful rolling hills of gold, Stafford Lake Park, with its
lake, graceful trees, and verdant lawns, appears like a
lush gem. With 139 acres, the
park offers hiking, biking, and fishing. Facilities
include picnic areas, BBQs, restrooms, and softball playfields.
From
Highway 101, take San Marin Drive to Novato Boulevard, to Novato
Boulevard / Hicks Valley Road, then go west past the Stafford
Lake Dam.
With 3.5 miles of sand for
play, shell hunting, and sun bathing, this is also a popular
beach with surfers, kayakers, and even swimmers, despite the
occasional visit by... er... great white sharks!? But even
if you're not brave enough to test the waters past your ankles,
this beach and 51 acre park are well worth your visit.
A snack bar is open April through September with limited hours.
The park itself is open until sunset. Lifeguards are on
duty May through October.
View a
printable map &
brochure.
Please note
that the beach will be closed to all water activities for
five days after a confirmed shark sighting. For more
information on swimming conditions, fishing requirements, or
about the facilities, please call the Stinson Beach Weather and
Information Line at (415)868-1922.
Additional Stinson information can be had at the
official Stinson
Beach Website or at
the
site maintained by the National Park Service.
The
preserve offers 24 acres of wooded Tiburon Uplands and a
0.7 mile trail for hiking. Unpaved trail winds through
gentle hill country, affording views of local plants and
wildlife. Scenic views of the bay available along the way.
Adjoins
Old St. Hilary's Open Space Preserve
(see above).
Please note there is no restroom or other facilities.
Located
on Paradise Drive, one mile south of Paradise Beach Park.
(From 101, exit at Paradise Drive.) Parking is available
at the pull out near the trailhead sign.
Although this is high priced
canned entertainment, it's still worth visiting at least
every other year -- or more often if the drive is short.
The
animal shows are entertaining and educational for
kids and there's
plenty of
ridesto keep them happy. Try
to come during the week to avoid long lines.
Note that staff will try to prevent you from bringing in
your own food, so plan your meal times accordingly.
Don't forget the hat & sunscreen
and the sweaters -- the weather is highly changeable.
Also, don't forget to keep some bottled water and snacks in
the car as you will likely be quite tired and dehydrated by
the time the shuttle returns you to the parking lot.
If you have a limited diet (vegetarian, low-carb,
etc.), plan ahead by browsing this list of
Marine World Eateries.
