Destinations Outside San Francisco

North of the City

San Francisco is surrounded by natural wonders and destinations of scientific interest for visitors of all ages. Just across the Golden Gate Bridge is the Marin Headlands — coastal bluffs, rugged hiking trails, vast wetlands, protected valleys, historic landmarks. It’s a major stopover on the Pacific Flyway and, from the second week in September to the first week in December, a premier spot to see a medley of raptors wheeling overhead: golden eagles, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, peregrine falcons, osprey and many more. At the Bay Model Visitors Center (2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito; 332-3871), the Army Corps of Engineers operates a working scale model of the Bay. The Marin Mammal Center (Bunker Rd. at Rodeo Lagoon; 289-7325) cares for injured, sick or orphaned seals and sea lions stranded along the coast. Marin Headlands Visitors Center (331-1540), which has maps of hiking trails, is a favorite resting place for brown pelicans, blue herons and egrets. Also just across the Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Baker in Sausalito is the Bay Area Discovery Museum, an indoor-outdoor science mecca for kids — even toddlers (557 McReynolds Rd.; 289-7266).

Twelve miles north of San Francisco is Muir Woods, a stunning old-growth redwood forest with more than 30 miles of trails on eight separate routes, the shortest one mile, the longest six. The forest, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2008, was designated a National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt, and its Coast Redwood tree — with a life span of more than 2,000 years — was the country’s first living species preserved under the 1906 Antiquities Act.

Point Reyes National Seashore (25 miles northwest of S.F.; 464-5100), a Northern California treasure, boasts 30 miles of coastline, 140 miles of trails, majestic vistas, herds of tule elk, acres of wildflowers. A haven for rare birds, it is a paradise for birdwatchers.

East Bay

The 3,849-foot Mt. Diablo State Park (925-837-2525) beckons hikers with 100 miles of trails and a museum at the summit. Lindsay Wildlife Museum (1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek; 925-935-1978) features up-close encounters with live, native California animals. U.C. Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science (Centennial Drive near Grizzly Peak Blvd., Berkeley; 510-642-5132) is a public science museum and a center for teacher education, research and curriculum development. Oakland Museum of California (1000 Oak St., Oakland; 510-238-2200) has the state’s most detailed exhibition of California natural history. The largest refractor in the Western United States regularly open to the public is at Chabot Space & Science Center (10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland (510-336-7300).

South Bay and Peninsula

On Hwy. 1, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and Pillar Point tide pool offer a beautiful beach that is safe and interesting for children. Be sure to check newspapers for low tide times. Mammoth elephant seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals come ashore at Año Nuevo State Reserve to rest, battle for mates, and give birth in the sand dunes or on the beaches (Hwy. 1, 13 miles south of Pescadero; 650-879-0227). Reservations are recommended during the winter breeding season. At the Children’s Discovery Museum (180 Woz Way, San Jose; 408-298-5437), 150 exhibits and programs help youth understand our complex world. Tech Museum of Innovation (201 S. Market St., San Jose; 408-294-8324) provides interactive exhibits highlighting advanced technology.

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