Memorial Park near Pescadero, CA offers some of the best family camping in the Bay Area. Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains along Pescadero Creek, visitors can camp next first growth redwoods. Memorial Park is also the oldest San Mateo…
Ladybugs & Redwoods in Redwood Regional Park – World Class Family Hike
Thousands of ladybugs descend upon Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland Hills in winter. The ladybugs spend their November to February in the warmest, moistest areas. In late December along with a few other families, we hiked ~3 miles roundtrip…
Cub Scout Car Camping – Logistics & Gear List
My outdoor adventure planning has evolved from solo backpacking, thru-hiking, mountaineering, family camping & backpacking, and now to Cub Scout Pack planning. I am Cubmaster and Den Leader for our local Cub Scout Pack 58 in Hillsborough, CA. Here’s a…
Backpacking with Kids to Camp Lake in Emigrant Wilderness
Granite peaks, cool mountain lakes, and a relatively easy permit system make the Emigrant Wilderness an excellent destination. The 113,000 acre Emigrant Wilderness borders Yosemite National Park to the north shares many of Yosemite’s features. In July I went backpacking…
Pinnacles National Park Family Camping
Pinnacles National Park is an excellent family camping destination for the spring & fall. The park is located ~100 miles south of San Francisco between the Central Valley & the Salinas Valley. Pinnacles protects volcanic peaks, accessible caves, interesting hikes,…
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…
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…
Backpacking with Kids on the PCT
The Pacific Crest Trail’s 2650 miles has segments for all levels of hikers. One of the most visited spots on the PCT is the Desolation Wilderness – for good reason. It features granite peaks, alpine lakes, and multiple trails including…
Family Adventure: Cowell-Purisima Trail
Some trails are hidden in plain sight. I’ve driven past Cowell-Purisima trailhead’s distinctive yellow gates on CA 1 multiple times. My family remedied our oversight this past weekend. Our two boys under five had an outstanding visit on the trail…