It all starts with the traverse over the ubiquitous icon of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge.  As you head north out of the city you feel your mood instantly lifted, almost in perfect unison with the fog that lifts from the road as you hit Highway 1 and begin to climb the steep twisty road that rises from the shoreline.  Dotted with steel colored mounds of serpentine and greywacke boulders balanced precariously above the sheer drop-offs to the public beaches and abandoned military barracks below, the views are breathtaking and it becomes obvious why this is often considered one of the most beautiful roads in the country.  The road continues to wind as it cuts inland towards Tomales Bay and your destination in Olema.  Pulling into Olema, only seconds from the Pt. Reyes National Seashore and the Bear Valley Visitor center, there are several small coffee shops, reminiscent of general stores with everything you need, from your second cup of morning coffee to any last minute supplies you left behind.  From your coffee shop of choice in Olema, head over to the Bear Valley Visitor center to grab a trail map and cherry-pick the best campsites for the weekend.  The campsites can be booked in advance by calling the visitor center and can fill up months in advance, however, as with a good number of National Parks, several spots in each campsite are left open for those seeking an impromptu weekend escape.  Show up early (7:30am!) and its not hard to grab a prime spot in one of the park's five campsites.  All of the sites have their benefits, from the beach-side digs at Wildcat Camp to panoramic vistas at the aptly named Sky Camp.  The best way to explore the park and enjoy the trails is to try and secure a different campsite for both nights of the trip, which is not always easy but definitely worth some sweet talking to the Rangers to acquire.   Wildcat camp (6.5 moderate miles from the trailhead) is a great place to spend that first night, a stone's throw from the coast where waterfalls cascade over the bluffs and carve their short path to the ocean.  Drop off your gear and camp and spend the afternoon exploring the trails that wind through the hills along the coast or disappear behind the ridges to small lakes, some complete with clandestine rope swings.  At night, hope for clear skies to take in the stars beside a driftwood bonfire on the beach.  The next day, spend your time on the trails using any number of different routes to the next nights campsite.  The Coastal Trail is a must and just a couple miles north of Wildcat camp is a surreal 200ft cliff that overlooks Arch Rock that serves as a perfect place for a lunch stop.  No matter what camp you choose for the second night you will be afforded a classic California sunset as you plan for your last day.  One of the best parts about the Point Reyes area is that it has so much to offer besides all those miles of perfectly maintained trails.  Spend your last day outside the park by hiking out early (6-8 miles depending on where you camp) and heading over to Tomales Bay for a kayak trip from Blue Waters Kayak rentals to one of the many oyster shacks along the Bay serving fresh oysters and cold beer.  Or, for those on the relax and revive plan, stay along the coast with a drive through Inverness up to Drake's Bay.  At the northern end of the park, Drake's Bay is the perfect spot where you can eat right on the beach at Drake's Bay Grill or grill your own fresh oysters and grass-fed beef from Drake's Bay Family Farms.  Serve both the ice cold beer and oysters with a twist of lemon, kick back on the beach and commence the planning for your next trip back to your new go-to weekend escape. 

For more information visit:
www.nps.org/pore
www.bwkayak.com
www.drakesbayfamilyfarms.com