Mount Tamalpais - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Muir Woods National Monument is a United States National Monument managed by the National Park Service, named after naturalist John Muir. It protects 554 acres, of which 240 acres are old growth coast redwood forests, one of a few such stands remaining in the San Francisco Bay Area. This attraction is a must-see for anyone looking to get up close and personal with some of California's most famous topography, not to mention a nice break from the bustle of the big city.

Mount Tamalpais State Park is a California state park, located in Marin County, California. The primary feature of the park is the 2,571 feet Mount Tamalpais. The park contains mostly redwood and oak forests. From the peak of the mountain, visitors can see up to 25 miles, in a view that encompasses San Francisco, most of the North and East Bay, and the Farallon Islands. Occasionally, the Sierra Nevada are visible, 125 miles away.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area is famous for its iconic structures, the largest collection of historic buildings in any national park and the 146 kilometers of San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean shoreline that gives a home to some of the 2,458 plants and animal species in the urban park. It is also one of the largest urban parks in the world, with a size two-and-a-half times that of the consolidated city and county of San Francisco.

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center Rescues, Rehabilitates And Releases Marine Mammals And Inspires Ocean Stewardship Through Research, Education And Collaboration.It also serves as a center for environmental research and education regarding marine mammals, namely cetaceans, pinnipeds, otters and sirenians.

Headlands Center for the Arts provides an unparalleled environment for the creative process and the development of new work and ideas. It hosts an internationally recognized artist-in-residence program, and interdisciplinary public programs. It is situated in a campus of artist-renovated military buildings in the Marin Headlands.

Point Bonita Lighthouse is out on the rocky point on the north side of the entrance to San Francisco Bay.The light is still actively used to warn approaching ships, but during the day the anyone can visit and walk around the outside of it. The lighthouse is accessible to the public during limited hours on Sundays and Mondays, as well as on ranger-led interpretive sunset hikes, which requires a sign-up. Access to the bridge is barred at other times by a metal door on the shore end of the tunnel.