With Halloween behind us, the hectic holiday season is coming. Make sure to mix in a little me-time over the next several weeks with any of these accessible outings.
Overnights
Quick Camp: November offers pockets of great weather along the coast. Take advantage by grabbing a first-come first-served campsite at one of the best destinations in the state: Big Sur.
SLO Cal: Between Nor Cal and So Cal, there's SLO Cal. San Luis Obispo's vibrant college-town atmosphere and multitude of outdoor activities—like hiking up to Bishop Peak—make it a perfect weekend escape.
Hike
Sonoma Knows Jack: The colors in Sonoma's vineyards are always a hit in the fall and now's the time to add a little literature to the mix: Get acquainted with the life and times of famous adventure writer Jack London by visiting his historic ranch and hiking to the Wolf House ruins.
Ridgetop Lake Hop: Two tiny lakes in the Santa Cruz Mountains' Skyline Ridge Open Space are connected by 1.5 miles of trail (one-way); hike it for an autumn afternoon respite.
Water
Sea Stew: Take a tour to the Bay Area's Galapagos—the Farallon Islands. With the most abundant sea and bird life on the California coast, you're bound to see animals aplenty. The last tour of the season is at the end of November.
A Capitola Idea: Head to Capitola, Santa Cruz's colorful little neighbor. Watch surfers south of the pier, or rent a board and join the action. After, warm up at the seaside Paradise Beach Grille.
Bike
Taylor's Automatic Refresher: Take a relaxing and flat 4.5-mile (one-way) bike ride along Lagunitas Creek in Marin's Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Redwood trees and big-leaf maples canopy the trail.
Ride for All: All levels of mountain bikers will enjoy the weaving singletrack at China Camp, where paths dart through oak woodlands and rise to views of San Pablo Bay.
Relax
Rockin' View: Wind back into the tree-lined residential streets of Berkeley to a rock climbing training ground—Indian Rock. Watch climbers practice their dyno moves, or take the stairs to the top for a view of the Bay.
Fore Play: Start a friendly game of disc golf on the well-maintained 18-hole course in Golden Gate Park. Bring your own discs; tee time not required.
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