Marquez Five Adventures
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Posts by tag

Volcano

A Guide to the Big Island with Kids

  • April 2, 2018
  • by Carrie
  • 3 comments
Hapuna Beach, Big Island, Hawaii
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Volcanoes National Park with Kids

  • December 11, 2017
  • by Carrie
  • 2 comments
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Doors Off Helicopter Tour Over Kilauea

  • October 25, 2017
  • by Carrie
  • One comment
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Costa Rica: Kid Friendly Peninsula Papagayo

  • October 13, 2017
  • by Carrie
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Hacienda Zuleta and the Andean Mountains with Kids

  • August 31, 2017
  • by Carrie
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Quito Day Trips with Kids – an Active Volcano and a Cloud Forest

  • August 3, 2017
  • by Carrie
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Recent Posts
  • 10 Amazing California Hikes
  • Batteries to Bluffs: A Stunning San Francisco Hike
  • Your Guide to an Epic Week in Charleston with Kids
  • 5 Stunning Coastal Winter Hikes (on the SF Peninsula)
  • Exploring Pigeon Point in Pescadero

marquezfiveadventures

Carrie | SF Bay Area
One of our favorite ways to get around on vacation One of our favorite ways to get around on vacation is riding bikes 🚲🚲🚲

We love it when hotels provide bikes to all guests - it’s such a fun way to get around and explore the property. Our @airbnb in Florida had everything except bikes so we rented a bunch of cruisers from a local company and we rode them everywhere!

There was a great bike path running from our house to Gulf Islands National Seashore. I loved admiring all the colorful beach houses in our neighborhood and then transitioning to a thin strip of white sand dunes with the gulf on one side and Santa Rosa Sound on the other.
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what shi "A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for." -William G.T. Shedd 

Are you a risk taker or risk averse? Since having kids I have become much more risk averse. I worry about ridiculous things that have a miniscule chance of happening - sometimes even on seemingly safe activities. 

Even though the water was super calm, he’s wearing a life jacket, and there were 4 adults watching him from shore, I was still worried about 🦈 and a current that might carry him away. I have to remind myself that there will always be some risk to everything we do. I think it’s hard too when you see your youngest kid out there being all independent. I’ve got one kid driving, another who would spend 100% of her time with friends if we allowed it, and now even my youngest doesn’t need our help much anymore. 

I guess that’s the point of being a parent though. You raise them, teach them, and show them how to make good choices and be safe and then you let them set sail and hope something sticks!
Hooray for Friday! 🎉 I had been wanting to che Hooray for Friday! 🎉

I had been wanting to check out Sweeney Ridge for awhile! We finally made it on an overcast & extra windy day in March - it did not disappoint! Even on an overcast day, the views were expansive - we could see the Marin Headlands, a tiny glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge 🌁, down the ridge to Pacifica & the ocean, and then out into the Bay, Crystal Springs, and SFO ✈️. We hiked from Skyline College in Pacifica to the San Bruno Gate where the trail dead ends into the SFPUC Watershed. If you are local and don’t know about this watershed, check out openthewatershed.org - it’s 23,000 acres of land in San Mateo County that you can’t use (though they do offer limited reservation-based docent led hikes that we’ve been trying to go on). If you want to rile up my husband - just mention this watershed! 

I don’t know what this old concrete building was - but I sure loved all the bright graffiti against the gray day. 🌈

Distance: 6.2 miles out & back
Elevation: 301’
Our rating: Easy
Dog Friendly
Parking: Free (the parking lot at Skyline College was closed, but we found nearby parking along the street)
Restrooms: Yes at top along the ridge where the trail intersects with Sneath Lane Trail

March 2021; Hike 8/52 #52hikechallenge2021
We were in Florida in early March - pretty much th We were in Florida in early March - pretty much the week before everyone started flocking to the beach for spring break 🏖With three kids on a traditional school schedule, we aren’t usually able to travel in the off-season. In fact, this trip fell right between their two breaks: President’s Week and Spring Break, which wasn’t ideal. At the time, Jack was in-person twice a week and Kate & Ben were doing remote-only classes (they are now both in-person part-time🎉🎉), but we still opted to pull them out of zoom classes for a week. It wasn’t a big deal for the younger kids, but Jack felt the effects of missing 6 days of high school. It was rough and not a situation I plan to put him in again anytime soon 😬

The plus side was that Pensacola Beach was pretty desolate. We basically had the entire beach to ourselves every day. We would set up our chairs, SUPs, boogie boards, and sand toys and hang out for the day and then take walks along the beach in the evening. Our @airbnb was a mile from the pier and beachside restaurants which made for great evening walks. I loved these lifeguard stations too! I still can’t get over the white sand and turquoise water - I had to keep reminding myself we weren’t in the Caribbean! 🌊
Kate and her littlest cousin are 11 years apart in Kate and her littlest cousin are 11 years apart in age, but they are kindred spirits. They are both younger sisters who are fiercely independent, determined, risk-takers, and march to the beat of their own drum. Even though we live only 30 minutes from each other at home, it’s not always easy to get everyone together. So it was fun traveling with my sister’s family to Florida and watching all the kids create deeper bonds. My sister has always been my best friend so to watch our kids create these memories & friendships makes my heart very happy! ❤️

PS - Florida has some amazing sunsets! 🌅
Are you thinking about traveling again? Last month Are you thinking about traveling again? Last month we traveled with my sister and her family to Florida for my brother’s wedding. I had really mixed feelings about going and I honestly kept the trip pretty quiet, telling very few people we were leaving. Coming from California, where things have been very strict, it seemed crazy that we were traveling to Florida...for a wedding. While there was no way I was going to miss my brother’s milestone event, I couldn’t help but wonder why they didn’t postpone it for a few months. What should have been a quick trip to was a 3-week commitment with isolating & testing on both ends. While isolating/testing wasn’t enforced (except by my son’s high school which required a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon return with no test-out option), we felt it was the responsible thing to do. And I’m happy to report that all our tests were negative.

Despite all my hesitation, the moment we arrived at SFO for our departure flight I felt completely at ease and it felt oddly normal to be back on a plane. We stayed in a house right on the beach - with white sugar sand and turquoise water. The kids could run out to the water in 30 seconds - and we had boogie boards, kayaks, and SUPs. It was pretty amazing! 🏖🌊

I am SO happy we decided to go. Yes, it was a pain to deal with all the extras that come with traveling these days, but being there for his special day was worth it. There were a lot of guests who decided not to come so the wedding was pretty small. Looking back on this trip years from now, I think the only thing we’ll remember is that we were all together celebrating my brother and his wife!
Last March I planned a spring break road trip for Last March I planned a spring break road trip for Kate, Ben & I. We were going to start out in Santa Cruz, wind our way down the coast, and because Ben had just finished the 4th book, end at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal in Hollywood. Our first stop was going to be the ropes course at @mounthermonadventures in Felton. Ben had just turned 10 (the minimum age to participate) and we were thrilled to check it out! And then we had to cancel it all 🦠

When Mount Hermon reopened again, I quickly booked the Sequoia Aerial Adventure tour for all 5 of us over the kids’ February break. The setting in the redwoods is absolutely gorgeous!🌲There are 3 different levels of the course and we worked our way from the easiest to the most challenging. We’ve done several ropes courses before - this one high in the redwoods gave me the most pause. While I felt completely safe tethered to the course, I do not like heights and this course was much higher than the others I had previously done. I stayed mostly along the edges of the course (where the obstacles were less challenging) - my kids powered through the course completing every obstacle, including one where they had to leap into the air and try to grab a hanging rope to swing across to another platform. It made me proud to see how brave they are - so much braver than I’ve ever been - even my most cautious child did every challenge without hesitation 💪🏼

And just one quick shout out to the folks at Mount Hermon: I booked a spot for all 5 of us, but earlier that week, Mike had tweaked his knee snowboarding and had to skip out. They have a no cancellation policy so I just told them when we checked in that it would only be 4 of us. When I got home, I received an email with a credit for Mike that said “come back when your knee feels better!” I was perfectly ready to eat the money so this was the nicest surprise and we appreciated it so much! We will absolutely go back! They just recently opened their Redwood Canopy tour - can’t wait to go back and try that course next!
Mike, Ben and I hiked Owl Trail in Marin back in F Mike, Ben and I hiked Owl Trail in Marin back in February. It’s a relatively easy trail, 2.1 miles out & back overlooking the coast. We started at Muir Beach Overlook and hiked to Slide Ranch where there were goats, ducks, chickens, and gardens. We hiked a little further down to the beach where you can find great tidepools, but we were there at high tide so we just sat and watched the waves crash 🌊Hiking down to the beach added a little bit of mileage, but I still think it was under 3 miles roundtrip. Older kids may not be impressed with Slide Ranch, but younger kids surely will be. 

The problem with raising kids in the Bay Area is that their bar for hikes and outdoor spaces is set very high. They may grow up thinking every place has gorgeous coastal views, iconic bridges 🌁, ancient redwoods🌲, and so much accessible open space. My kids roll their eyes every time I ask them to just look around and appreciate how lucky they are to live here 🙄

I make everyone rank each hike on a scale of 1-10 and give me a few reasons why they gave it that score. You’ve undoubtedly heard of @subparparks? I think my kids could come up with a similar account with their feedback on hikes. They are tough critics so you can bet that the hikes that they rank high are pretty good ones. Some of the reasons they’ve dinged hikes are because they were “too short”, “too long”, “too hilly”, “not dog friendly”, and even “too sunny” 😎🤷🏼‍♀️

Ben rated this hike 6/10 and told me “It was OK - Just a normal hike”. Then he quickly followed that up with “Yes, I know I’m lucky”. That made me feel slightly better. But I disagree...this was a spectacular hike!

February 2021; Hike 5/52 #52hikechallenge2021
Would you guess that this was taken in the middle Would you guess that this was taken in the middle of San Francisco? 🏙 Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park was originally created as a reservoir to provide water to the rest of the park. Now it’s a hidden gem with a paved walking trail around the perimeter, a boathouse with rowboat & paddle boat rentals 🛶, and has rustic bridges leading to an island (Strawberry Hill) in the middle of the lake. We paddled around the lake and then followed a 2-mile trail around the lake and onto the island. Strawberry Hill is named for the fruit that once grew around its shore. At 430 feet, it’s the highest point in the park! Don’t miss the waterfall, Chinese Pavilion, and views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the top! Stow Lake is also just a short walk from the Botanical Gardens, The Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum.

I’ve been to Golden Gate Park more times than I can remember, but I don’t think I had ever been to Stow Lake and I’m wondering how that’s possible. What’s your favorite thing to do in Golden Gate Park?
Having my family rank our 2020 hikes was a great e Having my family rank our 2020 hikes was a great exercise. Not only did I get to share our top 10 hikes here, but it also highlighted some things that are important to my kids and good to know when choosing hikes.

Here’s what I learned:
🌊WATER - Every single one of our top 10 hikes had some sort of water feature: views of the ocean, a beach, waterfall, creek, river, or swimming hole.
🌁A HOOK - Right now, my kids aren’t hiking because they enjoy the exercise, they need something that makes the hike unique or memorable - for us that was something like a swing, a swimming hole with a rope swing, rocks to climb, a telescope, a rock labyrinth, a beach, a ladder, a bridge, an old highway, or an interesting story. I research all our hikes beforehand and read a lot of reviews. Sometimes what I think will be a hit isn’t and other times we come across an unexpected treasure that they love. The key here is to keep trying!
❌HILLS - My kids don’t love hills or a lot of elevation gain. If I choose a hike with lots of hills then it needs to be worth their while. They’ve also told me they prefer elevation gain on the way out and downhill on the way back. I mean, I guess they know what they like!
🥾MILEAGE - My older kids don’t like a lot of mileage simply because it takes up a lot of their day. On the other hand, Kate dinged some hikes because they were “too short” 🤷🏼‍♀️As a family, our sweet spot is currently around 3 miles and I tend to save the longer more challenging hikes for when it’s just Mike, Ben & I. 
🐶DOG FRIENDLY - My kids love hiking with our dog. In general, it’s easier to get them out of the house and they tend to enjoy the hike more if she’s there. Ironically only about half of our top 10 hikes were dog friendly, but my youngest has been known to knock a few points off his rating if a hike is not dog friendly.
🍔🍦FOOD - My kids (and husband) are more motivated if they know there is brunch, lunch, or a treat waiting for them at the end of the hike. No one in our family is a big snacker when we hike so when possible I try to find somewhere to fuel up post-hike. 

In case you missed our top 10 hikes, I put a link to all of them in my bio!
Maple Falls in the Forest of Nisene Marks was @pos Maple Falls in the Forest of Nisene Marks was @postlandtrust ‘s February featured hike. It was the most challenging, but amazing hike I’d done in a while! Both Ben & I gave this hike a perfect 10! 

I heard this hike gets crowded and the parking area is limited so we chose to do this hike mid-week during his February break. We arrived at the trailhead around 9:30am - the small lot was full so we followed the lead of some other cars and parked on the side of the road. The trail starts along a wide fireroad under the canopy of redwoods and then just past the Porter Family Picnic area we veered onto the Loma Prieta Grade trail (Fun Fact: the epicenter for the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was in this park!). This narrow trail wound up & down through the dense second- and third-growth forest and over bridges. Besides redwoods, there were ferns, bright red mushrooms, and so much green! Eventually we took the Bridge Creek Trail which was the best part. Here we crossed the creek many times by hopping across rocks and shimmied along narrow ledges.

The trail did get confusing as we got closer to the falls. At one point we were essentially hiking through the creekbed when Ben found the trail leading up a steep hill which required some rock scrambling. From this point on, Ben called it his “parkour course” as we jumped from rock to rock and crossed over & under fallen redwood trees. 

The trail ends at Maple Falls which was flowing strongly. The area isn’t big so I can see how it would get crowded easily. When we arrived there was one other group. We stayed about 30 minutes to eat lunch and during that time two other groups arrived. Everyone spaced themselves out respectfully around the falls, but there wasn’t much room for anyone else.

The hike was 8 miles roundtrip and I’d rate it moderate due to the length and scrambling at the end. Hiking shoes are definitely a plus as there were some muddy parts of the trail and lots of creek crossings. There is no reception in the park so we downloaded the @alltrails map beforehand which helped keep us on track when the trail got confusing.

This trail is a MUST!

February 2021; Hike 6/52 #52hikechallenge2021
🍀Happy St. Patrick’s Day!🍀 🌈 Throwing 🍀Happy St. Patrick’s Day!🍀

🌈 Throwing it back to our amazing trip to Ireland in 2015. We spent two weeks traveling all around the country and it just wasn’t enough time! We hiked Diamond Hill Trail in Connemara National Park and it is one of our most memorable hikes ever! 

🌈 It was a difficult 4.5 mile figure-eight-loop trail that started out on a flat boardwalk through bogland and then climbed almost 1500 feet up the side of a craggy mountain with steep drop offs. At the time, our youngest was 5 years old and this was a challenging undertaking. Mike and Jack took off ahead of me and the younger two and the only reason we kept on was to try and catch them 🥵. I wasn’t sure we’d make it to the top and when we did it was STUNNING! 🤩 I was SO proud of the kids for persisting and the views were unbelievable - we could see for miles! 

🌈 We finally caught back up with Mike & Jack at the trailhead where there was a playground with sheep roaming through. I’m so happy we didn’t turn around when the trail got hard - I would have been bummed to miss out on the views, but mostly I’m glad the kids started learning at a young age that they can do hard things even when they doubt that they can.
**March 2020** Last March my friend & neighbor @co **March 2020**
Last March my friend & neighbor @conniebensonphoto offered to take family porch photos from a distance. We thought we’d be home for a few weeks, maybe a little longer, and it would be great to capture this moment in time. I secretly enjoyed the forced family down time doing puzzles, cooking meals at home, and taking the dog on lots of walks. As a family, I think we learned a lot about our priorities and that doing less can sometimes be more. Never did I think that a year later we’d still be here - all 5 of us - still zooming from home, social distancing, and not traveling. 

Although it has been a year, I feel positive about the direction we’re moving. Jack has been back at school in a hybrid model for a while and this month Kate & Ben take their first steps back on campus in more than a year 🍎Sports are starting back up and I’m so excited to watch my kids play again ⚽️⚾️🏀We’ve climbed a tough hill to get to this point. We’re not at the top, but I 🌟think🌟I can see it off in the distance.
One of my favorite hikes of 2021 so far is Batteri One of my favorite hikes of 2021 so far is Batteries to Bluffs along the Presidio Coastal Trail in San Francisco. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, you need to do this hike! The views of the Golden Gate Bridge 🌁 and the Marin Headlands in the distance just blew me away. I loved hiking through the batteries and the workout climbing 470 steps along the way. We started at Baker Beach and hiked all the way to the GG Bridge overlook. There are lots of places to stop and explore, including a handful of batteries you can climb and Marshall Beach tucked away halfway through the trail.

The Batteries to Bluffs portion of this trail was completed in 2007 and won a well-deserved beautification award in 2008 - if you hike this trail you’ll see why! Many more pictures and details from this hike on my blog - link in bio!

January 2021; Hike 4/52 #52hikechallenge2021
Hike Number 1! Big Rock Hole - Henry Cowell Redwoo Hike Number 1! Big Rock Hole - Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

This is a beautiful hike in Henry Cowell State Park with redwoods and river crossings. But that’s not why this hike came in tops - it was the beach and large swimming hole complete with a rope swing that we had to ourselves for a couple of hours on a hot summer day. ☀️💦🍩

One thing my kids kept asking for this summer was a swimming hole. Honestly, it was hard to find one that was open and relatively close to us. As I read about this hike, it sounded really confusing and people talked about losing the trail. My kids were interested only in the swimming hole so we hiked straight there, hung out for a couple of hours, and then turned around and hiked back. While the entire hike is a 5-mile loop (Big Rock Hole -> Redwood Grove -> Ox Trail Path), we hiked maybe about a mile and a half of that. 

We brought a picnic lunch, blankets, and floaties and it was one of our best summer days. This was Ben’s favorite hike of the year and he was thrilled it came in at number 1 overall! We went early on a weekday in an effort to avoid crowds - we saw groups heading down the trail with floaties as we were hiking out. We will definitely head back here this summer when it’s warm again!

Distance: 5 miles loop (or about 1.5 miles roundtrip to the swimming hole)
Elevation: 800’
Our rating: Easy 
No dogs
Parking: Free at the trailhead
Restrooms: Nowhere that I saw!
Hike Number 2! Wilbers Watch - Pescadero, CA If y Hike Number 2! Wilbers Watch - Pescadero, CA

If you’re looking for an under the radar easy hike that packs a big punch then this is it! Ben and I did this hike after visiting Pigeon Point Lighthouse one afternoon in November. We got to the trailhead right around 4pm and hiked a mile to the top of the trail. The elevation gain is minimal and the views of the Pacific at golden hour were stunning, especially on a clear day! At the top, there’s a great viewpoint with redwood benches and a telescope. We looked for whales, found the lighthouse in the distance and the moon too. By the time we got back to our car, it was almost dark. As we were pulling away, the sun was setting so we stopped to watch the sun sink below the horizon. 🔭🌅

Distance: 2 miles
Elevation: 260’
Our rating: Easy 
No dogs
Parking: Free at the trailhead
Restrooms: Yes at trailhead
Number 3 - Tahquitz Canyon Trail, Palm Springs Di Number 3 - Tahquitz Canyon Trail, Palm Springs

Distance: 1.7 miles
Elevation: 328’
Our rating: Easy trail overall, but Moderate due to the summer heat
No dogs
Parking: Free, but there is an entrance fee to hike ($12/adult; $6/child 6-12; under 6 Free)
Restrooms: Yes at trailhead

We visited Palm Springs during the summer and did this hike at the end of June. IT. WAS. HOT. 🔥🥵The trail is accessible beginning at 7:30am. We were there at 8am (which is an amazing feat with two teens!) and it was already 90 degrees. The ranger station monitors that every hiker is carrying at least 32 oz of water. If you go in the summer - go early! - not only to avoid the hottest part of the day but also this is a well-trafficked hike and by the time we got to the star 🌟 THE FALLS 🌟there was already a decent number of people there. The waterfall creates a large swimming hole with cold water and we immediately jumped in with our clothes on! We swam all around under the falls. It was amazing! We also saw a few bighorn sheep along the way! This was Kate’s favorite hike of the year! 🌵🐏💦

I don’t like crowded hikes, but I think this one is worth it. Even though it was hot, starting the hike early and getting to experience the refreshing swimming hole was so fun & memorable. We were lucky the waterfall was still flowing - my advice is to check @Alltrails and read the recent reviews to make sure it’s flowing before you go. There’s nothing worse than promising your kids a waterfall and then not being able to deliver. In winter/spring the weather is cooler and the waterfall has a better chance of flowing, but it would be too cold to swim. Tradeoffs!!
For the last year, Ben has been my sidekick. He ha For the last year, Ben has been my sidekick. He has gone on more runs, hikes, and adventures with me than I can count. While I’ve let the older kids opt out of some of some of these, he rarely gets that choice. And he always comes along (mostly) without complaining. 

Today he turns 11 🥳and the day is all about him. We have given all 3 kids the day off of school and Ben has planned quite an adventure for us. It’s basically his favorite thing to do and this ropes course we did high in the redwoods in Felton with @mounthermonadventures last month is a good clue! 

Last year I planned a very last minute birthday party for him on March 1st. We tried to squeeze it in before weekends got crazy with baseball & soccer games. Even at that point I had no idea what life would look like for the next year. I have patted myself on the back for that decision many times because it was one of the last times he hung out with his friends for months. Ben started out loving quarantine life actually. He loved being at home, doing zoom under a pile of blankets, and enjoying his downtime with all activities canceled. He had been stressed and I realized he had been extremely overscheduled. It wasn’t until the holidays that he started getting zoom fatigue and really missed life as he knew it before. 

Now things are looking up. He has a plan to return to school in a limited capacity this month and baseball & soccer games are starting up again. This year is off to a much brighter start. I am hopeful that he can return to a “normal” life full of school, friends, family, sports, travel, and just being a kid who doesn’t have to worry about covid. 

Happy 11th to the kid who completed our family! 🎈🎂🎉
Number 4 - Dipsea Trail, Mill Valley ⭐️Hands Number 4 - Dipsea Trail, Mill Valley

⭐️Hands down this has been my favorite Bay Area hike since I was a kid.⭐️ If it was up to me alone this would be our top 2020 hike, but it’s not so it came in at number 4!
There are many variations of this hike depending on the difficulty and mileage you want to take on (ranging from a few miles to 15+). This summer I took the boys on a Dipsea introduction hike. I chose one of the easiest routes, but it’s still a moderate hike with many stairs and drop dead gorgeous views. It was warm and clear and we had amazing views. A few days later we hiked nearby Tennessee Valley and it was cold, windy & foggy, meaning weather is variable so always come prepared with layers.

We began at the Pantoll parking area and hiked the Old Mine to Dipsea to Steep Ravine loop. I was not used to starting from this area so we actually hiked it backwards which works, but I recommend going in the order above. The Dipsea trail is exposed with little shade which makes it better for the downhill portion. This way you also hike facing the Pacific rather than with your back to it ☀️🌊Steep Ravine is like taking a step back into time with redwoods, ferns, and waterfalls 🌿💦There are a ton of steps, bridges and even a ladder to climb. As a kid, this ladder always stood out to me - I loved it and looked forward to it. When I had the kids rank our hikes, the boys asked “is that the hike with the ladder?” 

I’m looking forward to going back this year and hiking more - maybe starting from Stinson Beach and making a larger 6 mile loop. One day, I’ll conquer the Double Dipsea. Who’s with me? 😜

Distance: 3.6 miles
Elevation: 948’
Our rating: Moderate
No dogs
Parking: $10 at the Pantoll parking area
Restrooms: Yes at trailhead
Number 5 - Kehoe Beach Trail, Point Reyes Distanc Number 5 - Kehoe Beach Trail, Point Reyes

Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation: Flat
Our rating: Easy
Dogs on leash ✔️
Parking ✔️Free on side of road
Restrooms ✔️Yes at trailhead

Kate, Ben and I did this hike on a weekday in July. I had grand plans to hit several stops in Point Reyes (the cypress tree tunnel, the shipwreck), but in reality we only made it to this beach because I forgot what a trek it is to get here! We chose this one because the trail and the beach at the end are dog friendly. We picked up sandwiches at Whale of a Deli in Point Reyes Station and brought them to the beach. The trail was very easy - the hardest part was climbing over a sand dunes at the end to reach the beach. Kehoe Beach was huge and mostly deserted aside from 3-4 other groups. I love the beaches up here as they feel so rugged - we saw lots of kelp, seaweed, jellyfish and crabs all over the beach. The kids loved running around the beach and chasing waves with our dog. The trail was nice and we felt like we had it to ourselves, but the beach was the real winner here. I was a little surprised this hike ranked so high, but our kids have asked several times to come back here so I guess I shouldn’t have been! 🦀🐚🌊
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