New Marshall in Town: For that postcard perfect view of the Golden Gate Bridge, walk along a dirt path and down wooden stairs to San Francisco's newest beach: Marshall's Beach.

Picnic at Sea: The Angel Island Ferry's sunset cruise has just a few more outings for the season. Bring your food and favorite adult beverage: $20 gets you access to one of the best picnic spots "on the bay."

Half Moon Hideaway: Trek half a mile through an artichoke field to Half Moon Bay's rugged Cowell Ranch Beach. The surrounding steep cliffs make a crescent shaped sandy hideaway.

Owl's Eye View: Few people know about Marin's Owl Trail. Leaving from the Muir Beach lookout, traverse a sweeping bluffside trail for 1 mile, arriving at Slide Ranch and its two secluded beaches.

Farallon Frenzy: The largest American seabird rookery outside of Alaska is in full swing with a marquee attraction: great white sharks, which are most abundant in the fall at the Farallon Islands.

Santa Maria Solitude: It's easy to spend a day relaxing at tranquil Santa Maria Beach in Point Reyes. Access it via a 2-mile hike on the Laguna Trail. Campers can try to grab a coveted Coast Campground site, right next to the beach.


Pirate's Stash: Hike 1.5 miles (one-way) along a coast-hugging trail with bountiful vistas to Marin's Pirate's Cove. This old bootleggers staging area has treasure in the form of soft white sand bookended by tall, craggy cliffs.

Fitzgerald Field Trip: Visit Fitzgerald Marine Reserve—just north of Half Moon Bay—at low tide and explore a water world of sea stars, crabs, sponges, and sea anemones.

Learn the Ropes: Feel the wind zip you across the Bay on a 32-foot Catalina with OCSC's two-hour intro to sailing course; it's a budget-friendly and hands-on way to take the helm on the Bay.

Coastal Roll: Ride bike the San Mateo Coast, with wide-open views for the first 13 miles along Highway 1, before heading inland on country roads to make a breezy 30-mile loop.

Paddle to the People

From the seat of a kayak you can do things landlubbers only imagine: glide through estuaries filled with hidden birdlife, take in views of mountain peaks from the middle of the Bay, sneak in a quiet morning workout on the lake, or just play around paddling with the kids. But getting the right kayak is essential. That's where the experts at REI Outdoor School come in. Whether you're a novice paddler seeking calm lakes and rivers, a long distance open water adventurer relying on stability in rough conditions, or a parent who wants an alternative to the Xbox, REI is your port of call. For the full scoop, check out REI.com's video, How to Choose a Kayak. Even better, get to an REI store and talk to an expert. Paddle powwow!

Visit REI.com or one of the 10 Bay Area REI stores.