Who, What, & Where Age levels: 6 and up Activities: Sea kayaking, camping, day hiking, clam digging Hours from SF: 1

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.

Go Guide: Tomales Bay Getting there: At Point Reyes Station on California Highway 1, go west on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Inverness (about 5 miles). Drive north on Highway 1 to reach Marshall (9 miles). Reference: Guide to Sea Kayaking: Central and Northern California, by Roger Schumann and Jan Shriner. Globe Pequot, (888) 249-7586; www.globe-pequot.com. Added value: Get up early and go clamming on the bay at low tide. Horseneck clams and cockles have long been a staple of local shellfish prospectors (fishing license required). Contact: Point Reyes National Seashore, (415) 663-1092; campsite reservations, (415) 663-8054; www.nps.gov/pore. Kayak rentals: Tamal Saka, (415) 663-1743; www.tamalsaka.com; Blue Waters Kayaking, (415) 669-2600; www.bwkayak.com.

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