Cirque du Point Reyes

Not since Cirque du Soleil came to town has there been so much vibrant variety squeezed into such a small space. For your own seasonal circus of color, visit Point Reyes' Chimney Rock—a tiny spit of land that gets carpeted in wildflowers each April. With over 50 species, variety is the spice of wildflower life here: radiant Douglas iris mingles with Indian paintbrush and checker blooms; buttercups speckle the landscape. In a twist of spring magic, wildlife happily share this compact space, too. From the flat Chimney Rock Trail, spot elephant seals frolicking, yelping, and bathing in the beach coves below. There's no shortage of views either: after about a mile, the trail ends at a precipice with dramatic panoramas of brown-green bluffs, crashing white waves, and blue ocean. What a show!

BONUS: Top off your visit with a stop at the lively Station House Cafe in Point Reyes Station. If the weather's nice, grab a table on the outdoor garden patio.

From Sir Francis Drake Hwy. in Point Reyes, take the left turnoff for Chimney Rock, just before the lighthouse. From the parking lot it's a 1.5-mile (round-trip) hike to Chimney Rock. No dogs.