Hike-Inn Breakfast

Ah yes, the good old-fashioned pancake breakfast: more mom-and-pop than IHOP, and a whole lot tastier. Summer pancake breakfasts are back in the mix at Mount Tam's rustic West Point Inn. The twist: You've got to hike to get to them—but the multiple trail options are short and sweet, just enough to work up an appetite. And once you get there, at 1,785 feet on Mt. Tam, the southern views of the Marin Headlands, the Bay, and the Pacific will make your mouth water even more. Pony up $10 for some fresh flapjacks and grab a spot on the sprawling picnic ground. Admire the views and get your fingers sticky with maple syrup. West Point Inn's pancake breakfasts happen just a few times throughout the summer, so mark your calendar. The next one is this Sunday, Father's Day. Lucky guy.

There are many trails to the West Point Inn. Click here to see them. Check the schedule of upcoming pancake breakfasts. They go from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Ole Sweet Olallieberry

Vintage Trails

Sometimes hikes are more fun when you know there's wine at the end of the trail. Or at the beginning. At Picchetti Ranch and Winery in the hills above Cupertino, hiking trails weave through their 300 oak-studded and chaparral-covered acres. The Zinfandel Trail is a short and easy (3.4 miles roundtrip) out-and-back hike. Within minutes of starting, a shallow pond surrounded by tall mint-colored blades of grass shines in the sun; as the hike continues, the exposed fire road narrows to a shaded trail with one open section showing the sweeping golden valley below. The path eventually crosses a quietly flowing creek by way of a wooden bridge and ascends to a final stretch of tree canopies before the turnaround point. After the hike, step into the brick-walled Picchetti tasting room (one of the oldest wineries in California, Picchetti dates back to the 1890s) and sample a variety of wines, from award-winning red fusions to crisp white dessert ports. Look out for the unabashed peacocks that roam the grounds—they just might flash some serious plumage your way.

TIP: Bring your own lunch, or buy a deli-ready sandwich at the winery, then kick back in the shade at one of Picchetti's outdoor picnic tables. Later, continue up Montebello Road another 3 miles to Ridge Vineyards for some great views and varietals.

Picchetti Winery, 13100 Montebello Rd., Cupertino; 408-741-1310. The winery is open everyday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tastings cost $5. The Zinfandel Trail leaves from the winery. Follow it all the way to the Steven Creek County Park entrance. Turn around and retrace your steps back. For more info on the trails at Picchetti Ranch and directions click here.

Voice Your Choice!

You've heard of Rock the Vote. How about Voice Your Choice? Environmental groups across California are making a big difference without getting a lot of props. Now's your chance to recognize them—and it's quick and easy. Each of the three Bay Area Patagonia stores has pledged to give $4,000 to a group that has done something extraordinary to help restore and protect the local environment. And you decide where the money goes! "Voice Your Choice" by visiting your local Patagonia retail locations. Click on the links below to see the nominees from each store. Brought to you by the company that has made fleece from post-consumer recycled plastic soda bottles since 1993: Patagonia.

Voting ends July 19. Participants can cast one vote per store visit, no purchase necessary. Click the store links below to see the nominees. Voting is done only at the store.

Patagonia San Francisco, 770 North Point St., San Francisco; 415-771-2050.
Patagonia Palo Alto, 525 Alma St., Palo Alto; 650-329-8556.
Patagonia Outlet Santa Cruz, 415 River St. #C, Santa Cruz; 831-423-1776.