Bay-utiful

The San Francisco Bay Trail is on a roll. With over 340 out of 500 miles complete, one day this multi-use path will encircle the entire Bay shoreline. Here are a few ways to explore what's new, and what's classic, on this impressive trail.

Week: 08.25.2015
Regions: Northern CA

Wetland Makeover

Walk Hamilton Wetlands in Novato

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With egrets mingling in the maze of marshes, and unobstructed views of Mount Burdell to the north and Mount Diablo to the east, it's hard to imagine that just over a year ago Novato's serene Hamilton Wetlands were the concrete remains of a former military runway. Now they're your
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Eyes Wild Open

2015 Wine Country Optics and Nature Festival

You've got eyes like a hawk when it comes to spotting an owl of a good time. So mark your calendar and get up to wine country for the 4th Annual Wine Country Optics and Nature Festival on the Sonoma Plaza. It's free and it's a sight to see! When: Sunday, September 20, 10:00 a.m.
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Strait Talk

Cycle Carquinez Strait New Trail

Cyclists rejoice: You're getting the hook-up you've always wanted on the Carquinez Shore's newest section of the Bay Trail. It provides the 1.7-mile missing link from Martinez to Crockett and Port Costa, and it's well worth the ride. Etched into the cliffside with spectacular vie
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First Place

Walk Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge

First national park? Yellowstone. First state park? Big Basin. First urban national wildlife refuge? You'll have to be a bird nerd to know the answer to this one. So spread your wings and impress a date or your friends by knowing Fremont's 30,000-acre Don Edwards San Francisco Ba
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Perles Beach Angel Island San Francisco Bay

    Secret Beach

    A hidden beach and a killer view? Those are hard to come by, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Perles Beach on Angel Island. Bike or hike to this beautiful pocket cove.

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  2. Cinematic Sonoma

    Longer days. Golden light. Wildflowers in bloom. It’s the perfect moment to plan your spring escape to Sonoma for the Sonoma International Film Festival, March 25–29. No fuss. No sprawl. Just films, friends, fresh air, and that unmistakable Sonoma glow.

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  3. Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve

    Mellow in the Marsh

    Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.

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  4. A man is looking through his binoculars at sunrise at the Bayland Nature Preserve in Palo Alto

    Baylands Bird & Art Loop

    Combine an outdoor art walk and wildlife sightings at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This 5-mile loop through Byxbee Park and the Emily Renzel Wetlands features striking installations by artists Peter Richards and Michael Oppenheimer—where the landscape itself becomes part of the canvas.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Tree Town

    Home to an estimated 21,000 trees and 100 acres of parkland, South Pasadena has earned its nickname: the City of Trees. This 2.5-mile neighborhood walk lets you experience its leafy canopy up close, winding through charming streets and three of the city’s beloved parks.

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  2. A Better Way to Baldwin

    The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City is one of West L.A.’s most popular hiking spots, but most visitors miss the bigger picture. This 3.5-mile out-and-back along a section of the Park to Playa Trail offers a fuller experience of this gorgeous nature park with sweeping urban views and a few artistic surprises along the way.

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  3. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

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  4. A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.

    Urban Oasis Loop

    Home to the city’s Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs' 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here. Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing.

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