Outdoor

Sitting between the cheerful bustle of Fisherman's Wharf and the peaceful greenery of Fort Mason is San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

If you don't think you can face another holiday weekend in a crowded shopping mall… then don't. Treat yourself to a more meaningful gift than a new toy: a day of wildlife watching in the beautiful Point Reyes National Seashore.

Hunted to the brink of extinction at the turn of the 20th century, the northern elephant seal has made a strong comeback in the past 100 years, thanks in part to both government restrictions on hunting and their own secluded, deep-sea lifestyle. For just a few months each year, these unique creatures come ashore, returning to various spots along the California coast to compete, mate, and give birth.

If your idea of a "one-horse open sleigh" is a ten-speed mountain bike, then San Diego may be the place for your winter holiday.

Stretching across five stages and three meadows in Golden Gate Park, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is a free, three-day concert unlike any other music festival in the world.

Sacramentans know that summer weather doesn't end until Halloween. That means while visiting Sacramento this fall there's still plenty of time to pretend it's July. One of the best ways to extend your holiday is to visit a favorite local spot -- Lake Natoma, where the Nimbus Dam helps with flood control and salmon come to spawn. On a hot summer day, the water is calm and cool, a perfect place for practicing your kayaking, rowing, or sailing skills.

It's no secret that San Francisco is a bicycle-friendly town. Numerous bike routes -- ranging from flat coastal stretches to leg-trembling hills -- wind through the city and out across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin, offering riders a variety of scenic trips.

Sacramento is a city rich in history, dating back to California's Gold Rush roots. Evidence of the city's influential past as an agricultural, commercial, and urban hub can still be found today in the modern downtown area, even beyond the noted landmarks.

One of the things that makes San Francisco such an amazing destination is just how close it is to some of California's natural treasures. Within only a few hours drive you can find yourself in Wine Country, Yosemite National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, or on the banks of the American River.

The Bay Area may be famous for its cool, foggy summers, but in Sacramento the sun shines bright -- and hot -- throughout the season. So, if you're missing the feel of a "real" summer, then pack your bag and head out to California's Gold Country. Even though Sacramento is far from the cold blue of the Pacific, it's a prime jumping-off point to one of California's most popular recreational waterways: the American River.