Friday, February 5, 2010

A few points on Point Reyes

Taking an extended vacation gives you opportunities for a few far flung day trips. Point Reyes National Seashore is about 3 hours by car from Santa Cruz, the epitome of far flung, but it does have its good points. (ouch) Check out the seasonal attractions of area parks for the time period you're visiting to help you decide on long road trips. In this case, late February is kind almost off season for whale watching and elephant seals, but there's still tule elks, raptors, and deer. The weather could be dicey. Fog is practically guaranteed, but storm lashed beaches on this dramatic finger of land are also quite likely.

Things to know about if visiting Point Reyes (from Sunset Magazine, January 2010):

Bear Valley Visitor Center -- Catch shuttle bus from here on weekends; get maps of hiking trails (over 150 miles of them)

Drakes Beach -- must take shuttle bus to the lighthouse on weekends for whale-watching

Chimney Rock -- best place to see elephant seals from overlook

Tomales Point Trail -- best place to spot tule elk

Restaurants -- Nick's Cove (water view; expensive); Osteria Stellina (upscale Italian); Tomales Bakery (great pastries; open Thursday-Sunday); Tomales Bay Foods (sells picnic goodies)

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