Samuel P. Taylor State Park

So many people. The campsites are wedged together and 90% are campers with families. It's good if you're In a jam and like neat little sites where you just roast marshmallows and have no privacy.

Only an hour from San Francisco but feels like a world of it's own. Come early for a picnic spot near the creek . Car camping available too.

The pioneer tree trail loop is a great hike : 4km loop, very shady, old growth, minor elevation gain.

While hiking explore all the park has to offer. You'll see a variety of flowers and trees , including oak, tanoak, madrone, live oak, laurel and Douglas fir. California native wildflowers include butte Read more

SF Weekly’s Best Of 2011 Winner – Editorial Pick – BEST BIKE RIDERide your bike across Golden Gate Bridge , through Fairfax, along St. Francis Drake Blvd & a bike trail bordering Papermill Creek ... Read more

Great camp ground by a little creek . Very family-friendly.

January is usually the best month to catch the Coho salmon spawning runs, usually a day or two after it rains.

Wild salmon runs in the creek every Nov-Feb., but especially after heavy rains in January.

It's June 19 and I'm wearing four layers. Come prepared. Bring quarters too for the showers .