Point Reyes Weekend

You Mon Tsang December 1st, 2012

Winter is a great time to visit Point Reyes and one of the major reasons is whale watching. The gray whales migrate past and the elephant seals return to the Point Reyes Headlands. Check the video below for a terrific video of some lucky individuals who saw some whales. But please note that lots of visitors coming Point Reyes means that the Park Service will start their shuttle service.

From the NPS site.

Starting on Dec 29, 2012, bus service is provided Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Drakes Beach directly to the lighthouse parking lot. Visitors can disembark for whale watching and wildflowers, or they may continue on to Chimney Rock for hiking and seal watching.

• Whales , Winter
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You Mon Tsang September 25th, 2012

Terrific footage of the wilderness the Point Reyes National Seashore has to offer.

• Video , Wildlife
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You Mon Tsang August 29th, 2012

Want to be inspired by other people’s sand sculptures and sand castles?  Better yet, want to give it a try yourself?

Every year on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the National Park Service hosts at Drake Beach a Sand Sculpture Contest.  It is really fun.  If you want to give it a go, I would advise that you bring tools to (1) move sand, (2) move water and (3) finely tune sand.

Facts for 2012:

• Event occurs on Sunday, Sept 2, 2012.
• Anyone can enter.
• Prizes awarded in each of several age and group catagories.
• Free to participants and spectators.
• Registration begins at 9:00 am at the Ken Patrick Visitor Center.
• Judging begins at 12:00 pm.
• Prizes awarded at 3:30 pm.

Categories include: Children (14 and under), Families, Adult Individuals, and Adult Groups. Three prizes will be awarded in each of those categories, along with prizes for the sculpture with the most recycled plastic included.

Photos of past winners at the National Park Service web site:

• Beach , Kids , Summer
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You Mon Tsang May 25th, 2012

Originally posted on PRWeb 

The long, lazy days of summer are finally here, and Point Reyes is kicking off a season of outdoor fun and events. Less than an hour from San Francisco, Point Reyes is an ideal destination for nature lovers, families and anyone looking to get out and about this summer.

Summer starts on Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28, with the Point Reyes Open Studios semi-annual event. With over 20 artists planning to display and demonstrate their works, art lovers are invited to explore local studios and workshops and meet some of the finest painters, photographers, sculptors and other artists in the area. The free, self-guided tour allows visitors to explore the natural beauty of the area while enjoying unique and wonderful art.

Next, on June 4-5, Western Weekend celebrates the ranching roots of West Marin with 4-H exhibits and homecoming queens. Western Weekend is a great way to get to know Point Reyes, highlighting the quirky and eclectic mix of the area. It combines the area’s cowboy history with great local food and artists. Those planning to come for just the day shouldn’t miss the parade at noon on Sunday at Point Reyes Station. It’s real local fun.

Another local summer staple, the Point Reyes Farmers Market, will be out in full force again this year. Beginning on Saturday, June 23rd, the market will be open from 9 AM to 1 PM on Saturdays. This is the only all local, all certified organic produce market in the wider Bay Area and features the best of what the region has to offer. In addition to fresh, delicious local produce, the market also features guest musicians, book signings and cooking demonstrations from local chefs.

And as always, don’t forget about the wide range of outdoor activities available. 150 miles of trails greet hikers, bikers and horseback riders alike. Head over to the historic lighthouse or participate in one of the Ranger led programs. And with about 80 miles of shoreline, there’s no shortage of beaches to explore or coastline to kayak.

• Summer
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You Mon Tsang May 24th, 2012

Check out some photos from the 2012 event.

The Western Weekend celebrates the ranching roots of West Marin, with 4-H exhibits and homecoming queens.  If you are coming through for just the day, plan to watch the parade on Sunday at noon thru at Point Reyes Station.  The Western Weekend parade is the real electic mix of the area, combining the cowboy with the local food and the local artists.  It’s real local fun.

63nd Western Weekend (2012)

Saturday, June 2nd
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7pm – 10pm: Barn Dance & Queen Coronation at Toby’s (Family: $25, General $15, Seniors $10, Students: $5)

8pm: The Lone Star Retrobates, a boot-scootin’ dance band specializing in authentic West Coast Cowjazz (at the Dance Palace)

Sunday, June 3rd
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Noon Sharp: Western Weekend Parade, Main St., Pt. Reyes Station

1pm: Chicken Barbecue, Chili Cornbread, Pie Cookoff, Cow Flop Drop, Raffle, Music at Toby’s

4pm: Tea Dance with Albany Big Band at the Dance Palace

See photos of the 2006 Western Weekend,  the 2008 Western Weekend, 2010 and 2011.

Photo by artolog.

• Local Scene
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You Mon Tsang May 18th, 2012

Start the summer right by heading up to Point Reyes on Memorial Day weekend. Besides the usual outdoors fun, the Point Reyes Open Studios offers great works by local artists.  Check it out…

• Art , Summer
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You Mon Tsang November 3rd, 2011

After a big day of eating turkey and hanging out with the family, it’s time to flex your arms and legs and work off the second helping of stuffing! Head out to Point Reyes. Here are some great things to do:

• See if the fish are spawning; check for updates and tours at SPAWN (Salmon Protection And Watershed Network)
• Check out the terrific local artists at the semi-annnual Open Studios
• Maybe you can catch the very tail end of the Tule Elk Rut Season
• For bird watchers, it’s always worth a stroll to Abbotts Lagoon, where you may be able to find migrating birds.

• Art , Beach , Food
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You Mon Tsang October 16th, 2011

The long vistas of Point Reyes are a joy to drive, ride or bike.

• Photos
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You Mon Tsang September 12th, 2011

This area brings out the smiles!

• Photos
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You Mon Tsang August 21st, 2011

Update: Mid-August update 2011: The tule elk begin their annual rut season. Larger males sizing each another and establishing harems. On weekends, docents set up scopes at Tomales Point to get a closer look.

The tule elk is a subspecies of elk that is unique to California. Nearly hunted to extinction during the Gold Rush, the tule elk received federal protection in 1971. Pierce Point, the north point of the Point Reyes peninsula, is now a 2,600 acre reserve for the tule elk. In the fall, it is a warm, beautiful hike with the opportunity to see the elk rut season. You are likely to hear bull elks bugle, spar and try to form their harems of females.

Some facts from the National Park Service:

Female elk are sexually mature by two years of age, although they may be able to breed as yearlings. Nearly all female elk will reproduce during their lifetime. A female is likely to have six to ten calves in her lifetime. Males are sexually mature at age two, but usually aren?t able to breed until they are strong enough to compete with other bulls to defend a harem of cows. Half the male population will remain bachelors; most breeding is accomplished by ten percent of the male population.

Videos by the NPS:

This video was created by the National Park Service’s Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center as part of its 2004 “Science Behind the Scenery” DVD.

Tule Elk: California’s Legacy of Wildness chronicles the fascinating and inspirational story of the tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) which are native to California and can be viewed at the Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve. Since pre-historic times, large herds of tule elk roamed California’s central valley and coastal plains. Unfortunately, they were hunted to near-extinction by the late 19th century. Tule Elk examines how the dramatic rebound of the tule elk population at Point Reyes National Seashore and in California at large demonstrates the success of threatened species protections and conservation laws.
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• Nature , Tule Elk
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