Ahhh...a long weekend. Make the most of your three days of play on any of these fresh air escapes.

Wildflowers and Wine: Catch the tail end of the wildflowers on a 5.5-mile panoramic loop hike in Sunol Regional Wilderness.


Bag a Local Peak: At 2,800 feet, Black Mountain stands watch over the Peninsula. Hike to the top of it for a 360-degree view of the South Bay.




Whale of a Time: Get onboard the first trip of the season to the Farallon Islands. The Oceanic Society's marquee whale-watching trip launches this weekend.

Slough Motion: You haven't seen cute until you've spotted a sea otter up close from a kayak. Rent a kayak at Monterey's Elkhorn Slough and paddle the protected waters.



One-track Mind: Learn the ropes of cycling's version of NASCAR—track bicycling. The Saturday morning beginner's session at San Jose's Hellyer Park Velodrome has rental bikes and volunteer coaches.

Cheese Wheel: Road bike 34 miles along the rolling green hills of Marin and Point Reyes. Finish up at the sprawling picnic ground of the Marin French Cheese Factory.



Egret Explosion: These giant graceful birds are still making the redwood trees of Audubon Canyon Ranch their home base for the next few weeks. Walk .5 mile up to the Henderson Overlook for a bird's-eye view of these beauties.



Black Gold: Beat cheeks over to Marin's Black Sand Beach overlooking the Golden Gate. It's roughly the size of Baker Beach with a fraction of the crowds.




Rock that View: 26,000 square feet of pure rock climbing bliss await at the Presidio's Planet Granite. Practice on their top-out boulders or rent a harness and climb 45 feet high (views of Alcatraz included).

Haight Hike: Make a short and sweet urban hike that connects two of San Francisco's classic hilltop parks: Buena Vista and Corona Heights Park.

                                 

Living in the Bay Area, you may think you know Tahoe. But have you seen the lineup at the South Shore this summer?

Here's a sample itinerary ready-made for your next vacation:

Start things off: Hike 2 miles, passing a waterfall, to Eagle Lake, a high alpine oasis surrounded by granite peaks. (Find more hikes here.)

Cool down: Rent a kayak, try parasailing, or just lounge at the beach.

Be entertained: Much Ado About Something! See a Shakespeare play in the great outdoors—the lake is the backdrop (July 11 – August 23).


Tahoe Treasure Hunt: It's a geocaching extravaganza! Bring your own GPS or rent one for the 4th annual South Shore Lake Tahoe Geocaching High Tech Treasure Hunt on June 13 – 14. 100 caches are up for grabs. Cach-ing!

Where should you stay? Check out accommodations (including dog-friendly options) ranging from plush condos, to cozy cabins, to charming hotels. Don't miss the Cool Deals; they book fast!

Head to BlueLakeTahoe.com and plan everything you need for your summer vacation!