Point Reyes
Point Reyes is located in Marin County, north of San Francisco.
From Stanford, it is most convenient to make the trip by car, so if you have never crossed the famous Golden Gate Bridge, here’s your chance.
There is a stop-free bridge toll that uses cameras to document who is crossing, which may be easy to miss. If you have not paid in advance, or if you do not use FasTrak, then you have 48 hours to pay the fee.
For more information on how the payment works, visit here.
Point Reyes National Seashore is a coastal preserve that offers impressive cliffs, incredible ocean views, and an abundance of wildlife.
You will definitely encounter sea lions, and if you are lucky, you may even see a whale breach.
There are numerous trails that vary from short to daylong hikes.
Point Reyes is generally quite chilly, so make sure to dress appropriately.
For the seafood lovers, this is the perfect place to eat fresh oysters.
They are a bit expensive, but you are paying for quality, fresh out of the ocean seafood.
I am sure there are other great restaurants in the area, but I went to Nick’s Cove.
It is located right on the shore and is nicely decorated giving it a charming atmosphere. The restaurant even has a small pier with outdoor seating, so you can have your meal while enjoying the ocean breeze.
Nick's Cove
A little south of Nick’s Cove is the Old Western Saloon.
This establishment is a snapshot of the past as it truly is an old American saloon, and it is a great place to go for a drink.
Bioluminescence Kayaking
In Point Reyes, you can see something that only a few places in the world have to offer: bioluminescence in the water!
There are small organisms in Tomales Bay called dinoflagellates, and these emit light when disturbed. So, when you move the water on a dark night, they can put on an illuminating show.
You can go hiking around the bay in search of this bioluminescence, but it may be difficult to find or see. A more surefire way to see the bioluminescence up close is to go kayaking at night with a guide. There are multiple companies that offer this amazing experience (around $100), but you must book far in advance not only due to its popularity, but because the ocean, weather, and nighttime conditions have to be just right to ensure a safe and worthwhile outing. It takes about two months for spots to open up. Unfortunately, my tour was canceled twice due to poor conditions and I had to wait at least six months before I was finally able to go.
BUT don’t let this discourage you because it was well worth the wait.
Kayaking at night is fun but when you arrive at the right spot and you see the water around you illuminated, it is just incredible.
You feel like you are in the middle of a fairy tale with magic happening under your kayak.
I 100% recommend it.