This morning, we took advantage of this gorgeous weather and packed up the car - kids, bikes, and dog included - to hit one of our favorite Bay Area parks: Seal Point.
If you haven't been to Seal Point, here's the skinny: Located right on the San Francisco Bay in San Mateo, it's part of the Shoreline Park duo (combined with Ryder Park next door, which offers a fun, German-style playground and great water feature). Seal Point has paved trails and dirt trails that go up a hill to provide even more striking views, as well as a decent enclosed dog run.
The kids love to cruise along the wide, flat bike trails. There are signs spread out through the park with information on Bay Area ecology, and the kids enjoy stopping at each sign no matter how many times we've been there. Today we read about Harbor Seals, migratory birds, and the life that thrives in the mudflats. We also took full advantage of the binocular-style view finders, seeking out distant landmarks or boats floating in the water.
There are kinetic sculptures placed along the dirt trails that climb the hill. Such fun! They beckon from a distance, shimmering, whirling metal, sometimes appearing like fabric blowing in the wind. When you get up close, you realize that many of them have auditory elements, as well, ringing bells and singing with the movement of metal.A snowy egret hopped along with us for a while today. I stopped to watch a plane coming into SFO, and was able to tap into that feeling of arriving in a new place, seeing the view as the people in the plane are seeing it. A placard showed me the Bay Area landmarks visible from the park, further evoking this birds eye perspective.
To get to Seal Point, take Highway 101 to the 3rd Street exit in San Mateo. Follow 3rd Street east. You'll pass Ryder Park first, and then turn left into the parking lot for Seal Point.
May the egret be with you.
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| Sign explaining the view from Seal Point |
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