All Stories from "North Bay"

All Stories from North Bay

Secret Booty
It’s hard to say what’s better: the hike to Pirate’s Cove, or Pirate’s Cove itself. Tucked between Tennessee Beach and Muir Beach on the Marin coast, Pirate’s Cove is a rugged little beach with a colorful past. And it’s only accessible by hiking in.
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Goat for It!
Behold the glorious Sonoma Coast, underrated sibling to Big Sur. Dozens of accessible pocket beaches pop up all along this dramatic stretch of northern California that's perfect fo
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Two Wheel Beach Hop
Sublime and under the radar, Santa Maria Beach is a south-facing sanctuary with a secret: After biking to it, a short stroll south also leads to one of the best intertidal zones in
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Sunset Cruiser
Point Reyes Peninsula just has that magic touch. Resembling a huge hand, five bays of commingling salt and freshwater make up Drakes Estero, an estuary megaplex offering expansive
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Bike & Hike Classic
The popular Bear Valley Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore is one of the best places to enjoy a good bike-and-hike trail, with a peaceful ride and ramble that leads to beautifu
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Pedal to Petals
Victory looks and smells so sweet atop a 1,500-foot peak swimming in wildflowers! Go on a gut-busting flower-power mountain bike ride to North Marin’s highest summit, Mount Burdell
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Haulin’ Oat!
No offense to hot air balloons, but we have a better way to get a bird’s-eye view of Napa Valley. The Oat Hill Mine Trail out of Calistoga climbs up into the Palisades on an old stage coach route. And in spring, wildflowers come out in flying colors!
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Bedazzled Ridge
Glitter, sparkles, bright paint … there are all kinds of ways to add a little color to your life. Nature’s version? Wildflowers! And they pop up all over the East Slope Sonoma Moun
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Has Anyone Ever Said You Look Like ...
UPDATE NOVEMBER 2021: Much of this area burned during the August 2020 Walbridge Fire, and while the park recently re-opened the valley floor, the two main trails of East Ridge and
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The Occidental Tourist
The Grove of Old Trees in Occidental is 33 hidden acres of towering redwoods and the only privately owned preserve in Sonoma County that's free to the public. Hike one of two flat loop trails shaped like an upside-down peace sign.
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Dawn Ho!
Tucked at the end of a sleepy residential street in Larkspur, it's easy to miss the narrow path that drops into Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, where serene redwoods resemble
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McClures Marks the Spot
With over 80 miles of preserved shoreline, Point Reyes National Seashore has plenty of sandy stretches for strolling. Those who like wandering in near solitude should head to the northernmost accessible coastline here, McClures Beach.
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Winter Rush
Where do the wild things go? Well, if you're a bird, you might head to Rush Creek Open Space in Novato. This 522-acre preserve just east of Highway 101 has one of the densest bird
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Secret Summit
Marin's Mount Tam is one of the Bay Area's most traveled mountains, yet even this icon of the North Bay holds some secrets … including a summit! The less-traversed West Peak is act
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Owl Be the One!
The Owl Trail, Marin's swooping seashore tramp, offers bonuses in winter: the chance to see the moody waves of the Pacific during unsettled weather, and an opportunity to spy migra
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Taylor Made Summit
Regional parks tend to be mostly frequented by locals living near the park. Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve near Santa Rosa is worth a visit for anyone in the
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Battery Charged
Some of the Bay Area's best viewpoints are easy to point out: Just find an old military battery, strategically placed all around the Golden Gate. For sunset viewing without the crowds, you need to choose the right battery!
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You Walk, Miwok
So close, yet far enough to get swept up in iconic coastal scenery ... that pretty much defines this classic hike in the Marin Headlands. Just over the north side of the Golden Gat
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Seal the Deal
Contrary to popular belief, San Francisco's Pier 39 is not the best place to visit seals and sea lions. Upgrade your mammal encounter with a visit to the Marine Mammal Center (entr
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Howl of a Good Night Hike
One of the many reasons people love the Bay Area is that great hikes in the great outdoors are accessed close to home. Take hiking the spectacular coastal Marin Headlands, just 30
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