Point Reyes National Seashore
Let us leave the “Gold Country” and drive out to Point Reyes National Seashore for some ocean breeze. It is located about 1 hour and 15 minutes drive northwest of San Francisco.
It was very cold and windy that day. In summer of 2016 when my Australian friend came to visit, I took her to see the historic lighthouse and it was just as cold and windy. That lead me to believe that it does not matter what time of the year you visit, it would still be cold and windy.
I read on one of the information display plaques that said “Point Reyes is the windiest place on the Pacific Coast and the second foggiest place on the North American continent. The Historic Point Reyes Lighthouse, first built in 1870, overlooks the Pacific Ocean from its perch 265 ft (80 m) above sea level.“ From the top of the stairs where the visitor center is, you would have to walk 313 steps down to get to the historic lighthouse building. A fence closes off the stairway during off hours. I am not sure about their specific business hours for the visitor center or the lighthouse because they closed both times when I visited. If entering in either building is your goal, I recommend confirming business hours with a staff and planning. At the visitor center, you can see the bone display of the “California Gray Whale Skull.”
This is a great place for people who like history, nature, science and photography. Be sure to pack a jacket for the cold weather and charge your camera battery, as there are so many things to photograph! Besides the lighthouse, you will have a spectacular view of the seashore. There were mosses and lycans that covered the trees and rocks. I have never seen orange furry mosses before, so that was an interesting find. You will also find various rock formations along the way. Other points of interests listed on the information display plaque are Elephant Seal Overlook, Historic KPH Building and Cypress Tree Tunnel, Chimney Rock Trail, and Estero Trail.
Some pictures in the gallery were taken at Point Reyes Station, which was maybe about a 40 minutes drive from the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Some pictures were taken in between the two areas during the car ride.
Trip Date: February 18, 2023
Location: Point Reyes, California
Instagram: @adventureswithlittletea
Merch Store: www.slowinkstudios.com
