Family Weekender: San Francisco

Is your family ready to move beyond car camping and try something new? Pack your gear into waterproof bags and head to Tomales Bay. Tomales has the Bay Area's only kayaker campsites, tucked away on sheltered Marshall and Tomales beaches. Bring your own boats and put-in at Inverness or Marshall, or sign up with an outfitter.

Harbor seals, leopard sharks, pelicans, herons, and egrets make their home in and on the scenic bay. Tours emphasize birding, natural history, and paddling skills, and range from three-hour excursions to overnight journeys. Overnight rentals are available for families who want to plan their own kayak-camping trips. It takes about 2 3 hours to paddle to the campsites. Allow time to explore the peninsula on foot and look for the area's tule elk herd.