All Stories from North Bay

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  You Know Kehoe?

  Hiking with your dog in a national park? Almost unheard of! But Point Reyes National Seashore has an easy and short hiking trail to a stunning beach that’s dog-friendly on its north side. Kehoe Beach is a beautiful place to hang out even if you don’t have a dog.

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  Make It McInnis

  The old adage that good things come in small packages fits well when you visit San Rafael’s 450-acre McInnis Park. Mini-golf, tennis courts (for pickleball, of course!), and a stellar skate park all feature into the activities here.

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  The Bounties of Bouverie

  Wildlife, wildflowers, and a hidden waterfall! The Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen is a protected sanctuary of diverse ecosystems, plentiful wildlife, and—in spring—wildflowers. The only way to see it all is on guided walks.

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  Rush and Tumble

  Mount Tam’s Cataract Falls is the bobsled course of waterfalls: over a mile of twisting, turning, tumbling water—gushing, rushing, and making a splash! The real joy is hiking right beside Cataract Creek as it’s chugging on all cylinders.

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  Waterfall Milestone

  Where can you find a nearly mile-long series of waterfalls right here in the Bay Area? The north flank of Mount Tam. Every winter, Cataract Falls transforms into a long stretch of fast-charging flows.

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  Sweet as Sugarloaf

  Right in the heart of wine country there’s plenty more than wine flowing right now, with an oft unheralded waterfall that surges to an exuberant spectacle from all the recent rain.

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  Loma Alta's Hidden Labyrinth

  Oak Manor Labyrinth in Marin’s Loma Alta Open Space is a hidden gem with huge views. The 2-mile out-and-back hike to reach it is a bit steep in parts, but the payoff is a 360-degree joy to the wild (with a bit of cityscape).

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  Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

  One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

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  Morning Sun and a Mimosa

  Maybe you’ve strolled the Sausalito waterfront, but have you ventured up the forested stairway trail to beautiful bay views and the headlands? Get an early start (parking fills quickly!) and hike the Morning Sun Trail, which switchbacks for half a mile up through an oak forest with peek-a-boo views of the bay.

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  True Star Power

  Here's a truly enlightening way to spend an evening: head to Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park for a "star party." At dusk, the observatory opens, giving the public access to celestial viewing via three powerful telescopes.

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  Light the Way 2024

  Point Bonita Lighthouse is remotely perched on the western tip of the Marin Headlands and the entrance to the Golden Gate, 124 feet above the ocean. And lucky for all of us, the National Park Service hosts seasonal sunset tours of the lighthouse.

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  Picnic at Sunset, on the Sea

  Watching a sunset over the Bay is magical; so, where’s the ideal spot for catching this show while enjoying dinner and drinks, too? Bring a home-packed meal for a 90-minute floating feast on the Angel Island Sunset Cruise.

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  Best of the Summer Fests!

  Outdoor winery events featuring films, food, wine, live music, and Sonoma’s cinematic scenery in the background: now that’s a blockbuster summer weekend!

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  Where There's a Willow, There's a Way

  Set in a narrow grassy meadow among the rolling spring-green hills of the Sonoma Coast, Willow Creek Environmental Campground has 11 walk-in campsites that are first-come, first-served. And the setting ain’t too shabby: it’s the only state park campground on the Russian River!

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  Strong and Steady

  If Muir Woods has a doppelganger, it’s Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve near Sonoma County’s Russian River. This 805-acre park is home to some seriously old (1,400+ years!) and impressively tall (310 feet!) coast redwoods, the tallest living things on earth.

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  Hidden Wilds of Healdsburg

  When you arrive at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve, you may wonder what could possibly be tucked behind a subdivision. But within minutes of hiking in this 155-acre preserve, the beauty reveals itself: majestic oak trees, wetland, spring wildflowers, and wowing views of the Mayacama Mountains and Russian River.

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  Disc-go!

  Big views and one of the most scenic disc golf courses in Northern California: Crane Creek Regional Park in Sonoma County packs a lot into its 128 acres!

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  Muiraculous Beauty

  Ready to make your non-California friends jealous? Have a bonfire at Muir Beach while watching the sunset. This is Northern California living at its most braggadocious.

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  Samuel's Place

  Samuel P. Taylor State Park has all the fixings for a beautiful picnic combined with a hike or bike ride: redwood forest, babbling Lagunitas Creek, barbecue grills, and beautiful trails.

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  BBQ by the Bay

  Picnic spots don't get more "on the Bay" than at China Camp State Park. This sprawling state park in Marin has several panoramic picnic spots (with BBQ grills) right on the shores of San Pablo Bay.

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