Tales for Scout: Day trip: Point Reyes and Tomales Bay

On Sunday Cam and I headed North to Point Reyes for a hike, and then on to Tomales Bay Oyster Company for a post-hike treat...

We headed to the Bear Valley Visitor Center, where there are several trailheads as well as the actual visitor center which has maps, an information desk, and a mini-museum with displays on the natural life in Point Reyes. We chose to do an 8 mile out-and-back and it was exactly what we were hoping for - shaded and flat (we were both slightly hungover) but long enough that I still felt like I got a solid workout.

The best part of the hike is the view at the end. You come out of the shade and onto a cliff that juts out over the ocean. The views were spectacular: cliffs and mountainside cowering over white sand and clear water - it felt like we were on a tropical vacation. There were also no houses or commercial development obstructing any of the views, which is a rare treat in the Bay Area. It seemed that everyone else had brought a picnic lunch to enjoy on the cliff, so as our stomachs grumbled we made a mental note to do the same next time.

The four miles back seemed a little long on empty stomachs, but we were so excited to head to Tomales Bay for oysters! Several friends have recommended Tomales Bay Oyster Company, and it's been on my to-do list for quite a while. We ordered some small oysters (the friendly lady behind the counter told us they were easiest to shuck) and a jar of cocktail sauce, and she provided us with a towel and shucking tool. After finishing the small oysters, we went back for some larger ones (Cam successfully shucked ALL of our oysters, even the big guys, while I was completely unsuccessful). They were delicious and it was so perfect ending our weekend right on the water with a fun, new activity and delicious food.

*One tip: Driving back on windy Highway 1, with a stomach full of salt water and raw fish, was NOT a good idea. Taking 101 takes a little longer but I will definitely do that next time to avoid any throw-up-in-a-bag situations (hypothetical, of course...).