The Great Escape: Day Trip to Point Reyes

It has been so hot this past week.  Any mom of little kids knows how well kids do in the heat, even if they get to spend all day at a pool – terribly. So if you can get a break from crying fits and sun stroke, take a day trip to a place that is colder.

Point Reyes National Shoreline is consistently 20 degrees cooler than it is in the sweatier parts of the East Bay.

Point Reyes is a drive, but its scenery is well worth the trip. In three short hours there, visitors can get in quite a bit of the park.

The website for Point Reyes recommends a visit to the Lighthouse as a day trip, which is about a 45-minute drive from the main center, the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

Another beautiful drive from the Visitor Center, about 35 minutes past it, is the Pierce Point Ranch and Tule Elk Reserve.

The best time to watch the elk is during the fall rutting season, but they can be seen year-round.

One of the fascinating things to do at Point Reyes is to explore tidepools. To minimize travel time, try Duxbury Reef, which is a 25 minute drive from the Visitor Center and just a five-minute walk.

If you enjoy looking for creatures such as sea lettuce and purple urchin, get out to the tidepools. Just make sure to check the tide tables before you leave, dress for wind and cold water (yay!) and wear shoes with a lot of traction that can get wet. Bring an extra pair of socks just in case, too.

Don’t forget to walk gently among the life in the tidepools. Don’t pry animals off rocks or disturb their living environment. Always replace what you move, and remember, take pictures!