San Francisco Bay’s Angel Island served as a Native American hunting area, an Army Base, the West Coast Ellis Island, and a Nike Missile Base. Today, Angel Island is a California State Park. I recently backpacked ~2 miles with four…
Ano Nuevo Elephant Seal Tour: Hiking with Kids
Few things compare to watching ~1000 elephant seals cavort on a beach. Ano Nuevo State Preserves protects a large elephant seal rookery on the San Mateo County Coast. Docents host elephant seal walks from Dec 15 until March that can…
“The Parks are in Good Hands” – Interview with Marlene Finley, San Mateo County Parks Director
Marlene Finley led the San Mateo County Parks Department for the past three years after a long career with the US Forest Service. The parks flourished during her tenure with park expansion (Devil’s Slide Trail, Memorial Park, Pillar Point), record…
Best Big Sur Hiking After the Soberanes Fire
Spending time outdoors reminds me that I am usually not in control. The conditions dictate what is possible. I’m looking forward to hiking in the Big Sur over the holidays, but the Soberanes Fire burned over 132,127 acres this summer. …
Halloween Themed Hike: Caves, Crags, Spiders, & Bats at Pinnacles National Park
Outdoors California is a treasure trove with coastal mountains, redwoods, the Sierra/Cascades, and the desert. People often drive past the Central California on their way to somewhere else. Pinnacles National Park, about 30 miles South of Hollister, is an excellent…
We Love the Parks: San Mateo County Parks Foundation
Here’s my favorite hiking partner sharing his thoughts on the San Mateo County Parks. This Coyote Point Recreation Area video will be part of an upcoming campaign for the SMCP and the SMCP Foundation. In the meantime, enjoy the video…
Family Winter Backcountry Adventure: Loon Lake Chalet, a USFS Cabin
How can families safely explore the backcountry in winter when poor weather can transform an adventure into a survival situation? Visiting warm spots like the CA coast is one solution. Another approach is reserving a backcountry National Park or Forest…
Interview with Julia Bott: “Parks are my passion”
The Bay Area boasts the largest and most varied open space network in the United States. The network did not happen by accident. Conservation leaders like Julia Bott helped protect the Bay Area’s open spaces. Julia Bott is the retiring…
Quality Day Trip for Kids: Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve
When fog shrouds the Bay Area, Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve often stands as an island above the clouds. Russian Ridge is also an excellent trip for young families. The Audrey Rust & Mindego Gateway site offer one of the…
Best Bay Area Parks for Kids
Where can families explore redwood forests, coastal mountains, Pacific Ocean tidepools, & coastal marshes all within a short drive from home? Where can families spot seals, whales, banana slugs, herds of deer, and thousands of migrating birds? Why the Bay…