Kiddie Koncierge Resources

What is Kiddie Koncierge?

Kiddie Koncierge is the SF Bay
Area's premier resource for fun,
interesting, unique, and
creative kids activities.

We provide recommendations,
reviews, and resources on all
sorts of fun things to do in San
Francisco, Berkeley/Oakland,
San Jose, Marin, and beyond!

Kiddie Koncierge: Resources - Family Hikes

Resources: Family Hikes

The weather is getting nice again. Good for outdoor activities, bad
for our water situation. If you want some great resources for family
outings, here are two sets of terrific resources:

REI Family Hikes
REI has printable .pdf files with recommendations by
neighborhood for great trails as well as tips for increasing your
family's enjoyment.

* Berkeley
* Santa Rosa
* San Francisco/Marin
* Peninsula

For a list of other locations, visit their Family Page

Weekend Sherpa
www.weekendsherpa.com is a terrific website with ideas on
things to do outdoors. Many of these ideas may be beyond a
child's ability but keep this one tucked away for future reference as
they grow older. That being said, much of what they list IS suitable
for kids.

Favorite Bike Rides
In addition to the trails above (many of which are suitable for
biking (many aren't so make sure to check), the following are our
favorites for kids riding:

Crissy Field - Golden Gate Promenade (map), San
Francisco - This path can get crowded but the paths
between Mason and the Golden Gate Promenade are
great for teaching. The East Beach Parking lot and along
Mason Street are the best parking areas. Stopping at the
Sports Basement is worthwhile for drinks, equipment, and
a top off for your tires.
Golden Gate Park, John F. Kennedy Drive, (map) San
Francisco, JFK Drive is closed to vehicle traffic between
Stow Lake and Traverse Road and open to bikers and
skaters every Saturday from April through September.
While you are there make sure to visit the De Young for
kids' Viewing and Doing Art sessions and a visit to the
Koret Children's Quarter, arguably one of the best
playgrounds in the city.
Cross Marin Trail, off of Sir Francis Drake between
Lagunitas and Olema, Marin, This is one of our favorite
bike rides. Cool, shaded well-paved path. It is simply
beautiful and kid-friendly.
Iron Horse Regional Trail, Concord to Danville (More).
This beautiful trail snakes from Concord through Walnut
Creek, Alamo, and Danville. You can break off where ever
you like and stop in for a cool drink or snack (Danville has
a terrific downtown.
Lafayette Reservoir, Lafayette, Bikes and roller skates
are permitted only on the Lakeside Trail Tuesday and
Thursday from noon until closing and on Sunday until 11:
00 a.m. It is a 2.75 mile loop around the reservoir with
beautiful views. There are some steep grades, so make
sure that your child knows how to brake. If you like, you
can also rent boats to row or paddle around the lake.
There is also a great playground (at around 7 o'clock as
you go clockwise around the lake). For more information,
visit http://www.ebmud.
com/services/recreation/east_bay/lafayette/default.htm
East Bay Bike Trails, There are a ton of bike trails along
the Bay from Alameda to Richmond. For a complete list of
maps and trails, visit http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/maps.

Here are some of our favorites:

Point Isabel, Richmond, In addition to a great dog
park, you can pick up the bike trail and ride about
1.5 miles up to the Point Richmond marina with a
playground and water at the end. http://www.
ebparks.
org/files/EBRPD_files/brochure/pt_isabel_map.pdf
Point Pinole, http://www.ebparks.
org/parks/pt_pinole - riders go on paths through
the eucalyptus groves through a historic dynamite
plant
Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley. This park has
about a 1.5 mile loop which can be breezy but is
good for learning how to bike ride and fly a kite.
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.
aspx?id=12102
Inspiration Point, Tilden Park Berkeley. Tilden is
full of bike trails, not all suitable for children.
Inspiration point is hilly but for your intermediate
rider, it is pretty friendly. If you ride out to the
Eucalyptus grove it is about a 4 mile round trip. Map

Mill Valley - Sausalito Trail, Marin There are a number of
trails that can get busy. The Mill Valley to Sausalito trail is
flat, but beware the gigabikes on weekends and evenings.
You pick it up off of Shoreline Highway near the Park and
Ride or off of Miller in Mill Valley.
Joe Rodota Trail, Santa Rosa. This is about 2.8 miles of
paved path that heads west out of Santa Rosa. It is scenic
but bring water. Here is more information on the trail: http:
//www.sonoma-county.org/parks/pk_rodta.htm Here is a
complete map of bike trails in Sonoma County http://www.
sctainfo.org/Bike_Main_files/pdf/santa_rosa.pdf
Crystal Springs Reservoir, Woodside. The total loop is 22
miles, but you can always find shorter stretches for the
kids. http://www.weekendsherpa.com/story/bike-crystal-
springs-loop-peninsula/545
For more maps in the South Bay, visit http://www.sfbike.
org/?maps

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