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Five Brooks Ranch
Adam Hester/Getty Images

Five Brooks Ranch

Five Brooks Ranch
Ride horses on the pristine beaches of Point Reyes National Seashore

It doesn’t get more idyllic than horseback riding at Five Brooks Ranch at Point Reyes National Seashore. Imagine meandering along a gently snaking trail, soaking up panoramic views of lush forests and serene meadows, with ospreys soaring overhead. As the trail curves to reveal a wide stretch of pristine coastline, all you hear is the sound of waves crashing on the empty shore as you cruise down the white-sand beach.

About 30 miles north of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore is home to a 100-square-mile nature preserve, and its sandy shoreline is one of the few places in California where you can ride horses on the beach. Marin’s Five Brooks Ranch is the go-to spot for horseback tours around here, with access to more than 120 miles of spectacular trails and expert guides to lead you on trips that can last from an hour to an entire day.

Their most popular guided ride, the two-hour Fir Top Trail excursion, goes through towering tree groves and along a peaceful creek, offering glimpses of the cerulean waters of the Pacific. Whichever trails you decide to explore, bring your binoculars and keep your eyes peeled for the abundant wildlife. The seashore is a sanctuary for nearly 40 species of land mammals and at least a dozen types of marine mammals. Look for elk and deer, sea lions, otters, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (plus almost 500 bird varieties).

Visitors also have the rare opportunity to glimpse an array of threatened or endangered animals that call the area home, such as the Point Reyes Mountain Beaver and various types of turtles and seals. And talk about a super bloom—there are some 900 types of flowering plants here, as well as 120-plus tree species. (A ranch representative recommends visiting in the springtime—to bypass the summer crowds while enjoying views of the flowers beginning to open.)

Open daily and year-round, Five Brooks also offers pony rides for younger riders. These take place around a pond where kids can spot resident turtles, heron, and quail.

 

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Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing

Northern California

Discover the San Francisco Bay Area

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13
March
Average (°C)
Mar - May
23°
High
8°
Low
June - Aug
27°
High
14°
Low
Sept - Nov
26°
High
7°
Low
Mar - May
23°
High
8°
Low

A crimson bridge, cable cars, a sparkling bay, and streets lined with elegant Victorian homes—San Francisco is undeniably one of the world’s great cities. Located along the Northern California at the state’s distinctive bend in the coast, the region has an alluring magic that stretches beyond the bay to diverse cities with nightlife and trend-setting cuisine. 

"I left my heart in San Francisco, High on a hill, it calls to me."  –singer Tony Bennett

The Bay Area is also home to some of the world’s finest wine country, including Napa Valley and Sonoma, plus waterfront towns, dramatic beaches, and the tech-savvy southern end of the bay known as the Silicon Valley, where lunchtime ideas at Google, Facebook, and Apple, turn into the next brilliant innovation. 

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Thomas H. Story/ Sunset Publishing

Golden Gate Bridge

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It's simply a very romantic place. Just one look at any of those streets, and you couldn't be anywhere else -- it's so beautiful, and there's that location, and the sense of the free spirit. ... Who couldn't become ravenous in such a place?
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Sausalito

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Shopping is an art form in California. Whether you are in search of the perfect cocktail dress or an authentic Mexican piñata, you will find it here. Want to sample fresh fruits and...

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Ready for some “me time” amid decadent surroundings? Reserve your spot at one of these spectacular Wine Country resorts.

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Half Moon Bay

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