Point Reyes National Seashore Beach - California

Address:Point Reyes, California

Just north of San Francisco lies the lovely Point Reyes National Seashore Beach, a peninsula in Marin County. A national seashore maintained by the National Park Service since 1962, this 70,000 acre beach/park contains a wide coastal beach, beautiful places to hike, and an important nature preservation.

Bring your hiking boots and some water and traverse a shaded canyon at Bear Valley Trail. You'll reach Arch Rock where you'll be rewarded with stunning ocean views and then can continue on toward Mt. Wittenberg. There is wildlife aplenty at Point Reyes, including the majestic tule elk, raptors, and shorebirds. Guests can also visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse (on the western end of the peninsula) in mid-January and mid-March, from which gray whales can be spotted during their migration. Camping is available by reservation at four different campgrounds.

Pop culture buzz: 1980s horror film, The Fog, was partially filmed at Point Reyes. But we promise – there's nothing scary about Point Reyes in real life. Bring the whole family, camp out a while, and see for yourself some of Northern California's natural beauty on the coast!