Looking for a way to do that over Spring Break? Here are some suggestions:
1. Take a trip down the coast on highway 1. Stop at Pescadero for a bite to eat. Visit the many beautiful small beaches. Stop at Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Hostel. Look for whales at the point. Visit Swanton Berry Farms. Finish up at Santa Cruz. Do the Boardwalk or just enjoy the many beautiful beaches and West Cliff Drive.
2. Thrill to the amazing wildflower show this Spring. Check out these Peninsula hikes and best locations for flowers.
3. Lands End in San Francisco. Check out the beautiful trails, enjoy the views, stroll along Ocean Beach, visit the gift shop at the Cliff House, discover the Camera Obscura, eat great food with great views at the Cliff House (expensive) or eat great food with great views at Louis' (not expensive), explore the Sutro Bath ruins, and if the tide is out, climb on Seal Rock. Lands End is in San Francisco where Geary Boulevard ends and Great Highway begins.
4. Fort Funston. Enjoy trails, views, beaches. and lots of dogs. Fort Funston is a great place for dog walkers or dog lovers. It is also where many hang gliders take off from. If you are very brave, you can try hang gliding. If you are not so brave, you can watch other people soar above the ocean. Fort Funston is not far from Lands End. You can put both together for a great day outdoors. It is on Great Highway near where John Daly Blvd ends.
5. This year, Spring Break falls on the first week of the month, which means many museums will be free. For more info about free museum days, check out Free museum day SF.
6. Stay at a Youth Hostel - they are not just for young people! There are hostels at Pigeon Point and Montara on the Coast between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. They are cheaper than a motel and a good way to stay in a beautiful place and enjoy the surrounding area. In a hostel, you stay in a dorm room with other people of the same gender (all men or all women) and you share a bathroom. Hostels have a kitchen where you can cook food. This is a good way to save money also. Many hostels may already be booked over break. But it's always good to check and if you like what you see, you can make a reservation for a future visit.
7. Check out Goldstar for half price tickets to all kinds of places, events, concerts, theater, etc.
8. If you have kids and you want them to go to college, take them to Berkeley, Stanford, San Franicsco State or any of the other great college campuses around here. Walk around the campuses. Go in the libraries. Buy an ice cream or a frozen yogourt. Take about college life. Show your kids what college really looks and feels like. Visit the campus bookstore and ask someone for information about how to apply for college. Make college something real and good for your kids.
9. Also good for families: http://www.sfkids.org/. A great collection of information for families - things to do, places to visit, etc.
10. If you like airplanes, visit the Hiller Aviation Museum. Then get a bite to eat at the Sky Kitchen afterwards and watch the planes take off while you sip your tea or coffee.
11. Visit our wonderful national park at Pt. Reyes. Stay at the youth hostel at Pt. Reyes. Hike the trails. Take a kayak out onto Tomales Bay. Grab some food at the Palace Market in tiny town of Pt. Reyes Station and have a picnic out at Pierce Point with the tule elk.
12. Check out SCRAP or the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse and gather up good stuff for arts and crafts.
13. Spend an afternoon in our own wonderful Downtown San Mateo. Visit the library. Wander through Central Park. Enjoy the fish in the Japanese Garden. Finish with a snack or beverage from one of the marvelous neighborhood restaurants.
Enjoy!
