Strolling through Golden Gate Park today had so many fun activities and views but the absolute…read morestandout was NAGA the sea dragon at Rainbow Falls! This magical art installation BREATHES BUBBLES! And with the epic waterfall in the background just under prayerbook cross, it's like a scene out of a movie. Totally worth the visit!

This waterfall creates a lovely scene along the JFK promenade at Golden Gate Park, the water…read morecascading into the lake surrounded by beautiful greenery. There's a short concrete pathway, through the trees, leading to the Prayer Book Cross sculpture where the top of the waterfall is located. It's bordered by fencing for safety so there's no access to the water up there. But the view from below is far better anyway. Not a place to spend a lot of time (no seating nor grass for picnicking), but many cyclists, joggers, and pedestrians certainly pass by throughout the day. A nice stop if checking out the art along the Golden Mile on JFK. Tip for parking: if you park near the boathouse at Blue Heron Lake, there's a trail behind the restroom building that leads to the JFK promenade and is just a 5 minute walk to Rainbow Falls.

You can make this trail short or long depending where you park . Came for the views and it did not…read moredisappoint ! Perfect weather the day we went . Loved it and will be coming back .

Easy hike, away from the crowds at the Golden Gate bridge vista point. Parking was easy and there…read morewere no crowds despite it being a clear, sunny day with temps in the 60s. They have signs about raptor migration patterns and such but at the time we visited, we didn't spot any. There are steps to climb and a short hike, so I wouldn't recommend this for those with mobility challenges. For others, if you are looking for panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden gate bridge come here!

Sequoians is an inclusive body-positive space for all ages, genders, and body types (including…read morepost-surgery or modified bodies)! It's an overall pretty chill space with a clubhouse, bocce ball, hiking, and pool/hot tub. It's member-only, and the community is tight-knit and welcoming. We have been members for the last year, and my girls (9,7,5) love going. They are treated with incredible love and respect by all the members and there are currently several families with kids, ranging from 5-14 years old. Yes, it's naked. Yes, you will see naked people. Yes, you will be naked! Kids under 18 do not have to be naked if they don't want to, but adults are expected to be clothes-free most of the time. Let me tell you why Sequoians is walking the walk on inclusivity, and why it isn't creepy. 1) Creepiness is gross and bad for all ages; sexualizing kids is wrong, full stop. 2) Creepiness is bad for business! Getting accused of improper activities is bad for business! Sequoians, and nudists in general, have a vested interest in keeping their spaces safe for everyone. 3) Inclusivity is more fun! More people can be included and feel safe, and that feels good. Therefore: Sequoians makes a big deal of vetting potential members, and everyone is educated about body positivity and etiquette. You see consent engagements in real life, in terms of playing with the kids, hanging out in shared spaces, keeping spaces clean, and working together for the benefit of everyone. Everytime we do out there, my kids say "ohhhhh we love it here!" and I do too. If you are interested in learning more, please read the website. And come visit!

Perfect, relaxing, fun, members for 14 years. Come join us and will see why we love this place.read more

My friend that used to live in Sacramento turned me on to this hike. She said this is the hike the…read morelocals go to. So when we arrived from the airport, we dropped our luggages at our hotel and took a Waymo to the trail. This trail is magnificent! We had the perfect weather - 70 degrees and very clear. Great coastal views and views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Sutro Baths. Amazing!!! A must see in San Francisco.

Lands End, through Seacliff and to the Golden Gate Bridge through the Presidio did not disappoint!…read moreAlways a soulful traverse.... never disappoints even this forever-my-hometown native San Franciscan. Easy trail with some well etched steps. Many opportunities for more challenging descents (and later ascents) to beach acccess points. Beware the traditionally nudist section of North Baker beach!

So this was our second trip this summer to the campsite and it was great again. The camp host named…read moreMarshal and Mindy are the best. The water was great and the whole family had a great time. The hot showers are a added bonus when you are camping for a couple of days.

Very nice place to walk my dogs,was a bit of dog shit,why can't people pick up after there pet?read more

Just past SF this park has so many different trail options perfect for all hiking levels. The…read moredownside is this place gets PACKED! My sister and I arrived before 8am at the Watershed parking lot and barely found a space. We did the trail that took us to the West Point Inn for the pancake breakfast and round trip was close to 5 miles so it was a great workout. There's gorgeous views and well! On the way back to the 101 however it's a mess. The road on the way down is crowded with parked cars, which makes driving through challenging. That's the only thing about this park, other than that I'd love to come back in spring when everything is green and vibrant!

My first association of Mt Tam is from Cowgirl Creamery's best seller, Mt Tam Triple Cream with…read moreHeart cheese. Ever since then, I've wanted to hike this peak, today I have achieved my wish. Early June with mild coastal temp, 50s-60s. Started up Matt Davis Trail in the foggy forest, to Pantoll Campground, to West Point Inn where we can look down to the top of the fog layer, to the Fire Lookout building at the Peak. Then we came down reverse but split off to Steep Ravine and Dip Sea trail after the campground. I've also always wanted to climb that ladder. This hike provided views of the Pacific ocean on the West as well as views of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the East side. I thoroughly enjoyed the cool lush forest, but actually my favorite section was the single track along the slope of the open area after the Mt Tam State Park sign.

This hiking trail is located within Cache Creek Regional Park which offers hiking, camping, and…read morerafting. Their website has great information in regards to the above activities, including parking and directions to trailheads: http://www.yolocounty.org/general-government/general-government-departments/parks/parks-information/cache-creek-regional-park. It's a beautiful trek, albeit challenging. The views at the peak are magnificent. BLUE RIDGE TRAIL TO FISKE PEAK: DIRECTIONS: From Woodland CA, take Route 16 West (Main St). Cache Creek Regional Park is on Route 16, approximately 40 miles from Woodland. After passing the casino, it's about 15 miles to the park's Lower Day Use Park Site. There will be a small sign on your left and you will see the parking area (bathrooms available). From there, take the dirt road on your left down to the bridge. Cross over the bridge and go left. Shortly, on the right side, you'll see the trail marker. BASIC INFO: The Blue Ridge Trail to Fiske Peak is 8 miles, out and back. About 4 hours to complete. It's a pretty steep climb with a total of 2100+ ft. elevation gain. The way up was almost entirely uphill. The hike is listed as moderate but I'd say it's a pretty challenging moderate. I did not know this at the time but after doing some research later, I learned that the trail continues as a 16-mile loop. TIPS: - Access. Since you have to walk across a bridge to get to the trailhead, you are at the mercy of water levels. I saw a review or two on AllTrails where someone said that the bridge was underwater and they couldn't get across. Not sure if there is anywhere you can obtain updates. FYI: We came on April 1st and the weather was perfect. - Register. Apparently, there is a register up at Fiske Peak but I did not learn about it until later. Make sure to sign it! - Sunblock. Bring it and use it. There were multiple areas in open sun and my boyfriend got burned. - Walking stick. Could be helpful because you've got such an incline/decline here. My boyfriend has a knee issue and the way down was particularly brutal for him. - Water. Bring as much as you can. Between the exertion and sun, you will need a lot. - Bring snacks/lunch. It'll take a lot out of you. - BUGSPRAY. Bring it or use it beforehand. Lots of bugs on this trail. Also, saw a woman who warned us about ticks because her dog had a ton on him. - WILDLIFE. This is mountain lion territory. I didn't see any warning signs but at the peak, I saw a lot of scat. Fresh and old (the desiccated, hairy stuff). We followed the path at the peak for a bit (not knowing about the loop initially) and walked right into a large swarm of insects. We got really nervous because it was very close to the poop and if I know cats, I know they like to go to the bathroom after a meal. So we thought, bugs = carcass. Either way, our cue to turn back. I was pretty paranoid the whole time because in 4 hours, we only encountered 2 other hikers. This was probably because it was Easter, haha. Saw a few small caves which seemed like perfect cat real estate. The entire walk back, I kept jingling keys and clapping. You also have a lot of large rocks on the path. Make sure to look before you step to avoid rattlesnakes. Good luck!

I had forgotten just how gorgeous this hike is--the scenery is incredible the entire way. Be…read moreprepared for a steady climb through most of the route, with plenty of wooden stairs, gnarly roots, and rock steps, but the stunning views make every bit of effort worth it. There are many great spots to stop for photos, take a break, or enjoy a picnic--we did all three. Thanks to the recent rain, there was still plenty of water flowing, which made the trail even more beautiful. The picnic area at Laurel Dell is especially serene, with a babbling brook nearby. There's even an outhouse, which is always a welcome sight. I actually found climbing up much easier than descending as one has to really pay attention to their footing. We were happy seeing Alpine Lake again knowing we were close to end of hike.

Went here with a friend and her dog and had such a great time. Such a beautiful, peaceful hike and…read moredefinitely one of my favorites on Mount Tam. The drive in was beautiful too, the views of Alpine Lake along the way made the whole trip feel extra special before we even got to the trail. Be prepared for a lot of stairs, so it can definitely get your legs working, but the waterfalls make it completely worth it. Hearing the water and being surrounded by all the greenery made the whole hike feel so calm and relaxing. The views throughout the hike are gorgeous, and it's such a nice escape if you're looking for something peaceful and scenic. Definitely recommend checking out Cataract Falls if you're up for a little workout with a really rewarding payoff. Definitely will be coming back :)

Strawberry Hill is an island in the middle of Blue Heron Lake, with bridge access from the…read moresurrounding trails. Its peak features a spacious lookout point with giant logs, greenery, a few picnic tables, and views of the city and landscape partially blocked by trees but still lovely. There were just a couple visitors up there with their dogs during my recent midweek hike up this hill. The incline from ground level is minimal with multiple paths and staircases available for convenience, and it's just a couple minutes walk from the top of Huntington Falls. Combined with the entirety of what this place has to offer (waterfalls, picturesque lake, adorable waterbirds, trails allowing for a peaceful stroll with loved ones, pedal boat rentals on the lake), it's a pretty great spot, one of many awesome landmarks at Golden Gate Park.

Why is Golden Gate Park so beautiful…read more I chanced onto Strawberry Hills while looking for GG Park waterfall(s). Strawberry Hills gives a nice overview of the lake beneath as you walk up the hill. At the top, you get a pretty overlook of SF city. Image attached below. Definitely check out Strawberry Hills when you're in GG Park. And, if also chasing for waterfalls, definitely check out "Rainbow Falls". It is very beautiful as well.

People who have never been to Oregon will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls (a…read morewaterfall that flows into the ocean) on the entire West Coast. People who believe AllTrails will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls in California. (If you use Alltrails, you aren't allowed to hike with me, by the way.) Neither of these statements are anywhere close to true. As a matter of fact, there are at least two tidefalls on this one beach, and there are many more in areas that are not easily accessible to the public. Tidefalls are common along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and Canada. There are several tall tidefalls in Cape Perpetua alone. That being said, Alamere Falls might be the biggest, prettiest publicly accessible tidefall in Northern California. I recently hiked Alamere Falls for the first time in nearly ten years, and I couldn't believe how much had seemed to change. First of all, the road to the Palomarin trail was hell in a compact vehicle. Even going like two miles per hour, I got a little motion sickness from the thousands of deep potholes. The road is so bad that it almost seems beyond repair. At this point, it's probably only suitable for high clearance vehicles, although I did not notice any signs warning of such. Secondly, I'm pretty sure I was the only sober person on the trail. The vibes were so, so weird. Consider packing your (legal) weapon of choice. Thirdly, I was certainly the only person to take the 'legal' trail down, although I gained some new perspective on this. While the trail that I took is ostensibly the trail recommended by NPS, one does have to wonder why it is so overgrown. It feels like, "Obviously, no one ever really hikes this trail," because it's nowhere near clear or well-trodden. Certain areas of the trail were so overgrown that it was impossible to see my feet, and difficult to find my footing. These areas were chalk full of poison oak, stinging nettle, poison hemlock, and a wide variety of (harmless) snakes. By contrast, much of the "social" trail was four feet wide, flat, and clear. Which made me wonder-- which trail is really safer? The cliffs at the end of the social trail are constantly crumbling. The risk of falling, breaking a leg, or at least spraining an ankle, seems high. But by contrast, the risk of spraining an ankle on the recommended trail seems high, too. And the stinging nettle hurt a lot, but only for a few hours. My personal recommendation is to take the recommended trail, but wear solid boots, long pants, and tall, colorful socks. Tuck your pants into your socks, or wear gaiters. Use permethrin or your tick repellant of choice. While the official Palomarin Trail may be very long and difficult, it's also worth the trouble. The ocean views and wildlife were unbelievable. I actually saw a mother deer nursing two spotted fawns in the middle of the trail. On the beach, I found agates, fossils, shells, giant bull kelp, snowy plovers, and lots of by-the-wind-sailors jellyfish in multiple stages of life and decomposition. The waterfall itself is pretty-- but make sure to check the tide!! I never do, and I almost always get stranded. The first time I ever hiked this trail, I actually had to climb up a cliff in terror and wait 3 hours for the tide to recede. But that doesn't need to happen to you if you remember to check the tide before you come out, while you still have service.

Wow--absolutely spectacular, magical, and truly epic!…read more Alamere Falls is one of the most breathtaking hidden gems along the California coast, tucked inside Point Reyes National Seashore. What makes it so special is that it's a rare "tidefall," where the waterfall flows directly into the ocean--something you can only see in a couple of places in California, including McWay Falls. Watching the water cascade over the rugged shale cliffs onto the beach below is simply unforgettable. The surrounding landscape feels wild and untouched, adding to the sense of adventure. Upstream, the smaller cascades create a beautiful lead-up to the main falls, making the entire hike feel like a journey through nature's artwork. This spot is not just a destination--it's an experience. From the scenic hike to the dramatic ocean views, every moment feels rewarding. If you're looking for something unique, peaceful, and awe-inspiring, Alamere Falls absolutely delivers.