9 Great National Parks | california national park
JuttingdramaticallyoutintothebluePacific,theover70,000-acre/28,732-hectarePointReyesNationalSeashorealmostseemstobreakawayfromtheNorthernCaliforniacoast.Thecoastalpreserve,some30miles/48kilometersnorthofSanFrancisco,protectsmorethan1,500animalandplantspeciesand80miles/130kilometersofshoreline.Here,breakerspoundremotebeaches,wispsoffogwashovercoastalhills,andtuleelkroaminwildmeadows.Thepark’smainvisitorcenteratBearValleyisagreatplacetostartexploring—andkidsloveitsinteractivedisplays.Getupdate...
Jutting dramatically out into the blue Pacific, the over 70,000-acre/28,732-hectare Point Reyes National Seashore almost seems to break away from the Northern California coast. The coastal preserve, some 30 miles/48 kilometers north of San Francisco, protects more than 1,500 animal and plant species and 80 miles/130 kilometers of shoreline. Here, breakers pound remote beaches, wisps of fog wash over coastal hills, and tule elk roam in wild meadows.
The park’s main visitor center at Bear Valley is a great place to start exploring—and kids love its interactive displays. Get updates on whale watching (typically January to mid-April), wildflower displays (best in early- to late-spring) and trail conditions. For wildlife watching, head to Tomales Point to see the tule elk, especially during the fall rutting season. Then move on to 200-acre/81-hectare Abbotts Lagoon to view rich bird life (more than 45 percent of North America’s bird species have been spotted at Point Reyes). For b...