Point Reyes Seashore
Elk, a clifftop lighthouse and the famous oysters. For families who like the outdoors.
1.5 hrs drive · 1–2 days · Best for little kids to teens · Oct–Apr
Day 1: Wildlife
- 9:30 Tule elk at Tomales Point (short out-and-back)
- 12:30 Picnic lunch from Point Reyes Station
- 3:00 Lighthouse steps and whale watching
Day 2: Beach & farm
- 10:00 Limantour Beach for tide pools & sand
- 1:00 Cheese and bakery stop in Point Reyes Station on the way home (Cowgirl Creamery's shop there closed in 2022)
From parents who have been
- Tomales Point is flat for about the first 30 minutes, then climbs, and there is no shade. Use a backpack carrier, not a jogging stroller. There is also little privacy for bathroom stops, so go before you start. Marin Mommies
- Get to the Tomales Point trailhead by about 11 am. If the lot is full, there is overflow parking down the road at McClures Beach. Elk are also often seen near McClures. Marin Mommies
- The lighthouse stairs are 300 plus steps, about the climb of a 25-story building, and you have to walk back up. With small kids, the observation deck at the top is the easier whale-watching spot. If the lighthouse is fogged in, Drakes Beach is sheltered and often sunny. Marin Mommies
- Limantour has gentler waves and is usually OK for wading. In Point Reyes Station, Bovine Bakery cookies are a pre-hike stop, but weekends are busy. Inverness Market is an easy place to pick up picnic food. Marin Mommies
- From November to April, kids can see elephant seals from the Chimney Rock area, close to the lighthouse. Marin Mommies
- Chinese-language traveler posts say the lighthouse is open only Friday through Monday and closes at 4 pm. Summer brings heavy fog and cold wind, and September and October are clearer. Their other advice is to download offline maps first and fill up on gas, since cell signal is weak. Note that these posts are not from parents. Trip.com Moments, Chinese-language posts
- The same posts say the grilled shrimp sandwich at The Marshall House on Tomales Bay is big enough to share. Trip.com Moments, Chinese-language posts
Good to know
- Weekend shuttle required to the lighthouse in whale season
- Cell service is spotty, so download maps
- Kid-friendly cabins book up fast
- With kids, turn around at Windy Gap (about 2 miles round trip). The full Tomales Point trail is 9.5 miles
- Point Reyes Lighthouse and its stairs open Friday to Monday only (10–4:30). On a weekday like Veterans Day (Wed Nov 11) they're closed, but you can walk to the overlook. No entrance fee anywhere in the park.
- For elk with kids, you do not need the whole Tomales Point trail. Windy Gap is about 2 miles round trip, and elk are likely there.