Start at Point Reyes National Seashore Headquarters. Ask them to show you their brief introductory film. Try the short Earthquake Trail (see where the earth moved in 1906!), or walk up to the Morgan Horse Ranch or Kule Loklo, an authentic replica of a Coast Miwok Indian village.

Visit a Bay Beach: At Tomales Bay State Park, Heart's Desire Beach is perfect for swimming; the picnic area has tables and grills overlooking the bay. And if it's foggy on the ocean side, it's often sunny here. Hike the Johnstone Trail, along the bay from beach to beach.

Visit a Pacific Beach: Automobile sightseers, head out to the Lighthouse or Point Reyes Beaches North and South. Hikers, visit Kehoe Beach for drama and long miles of comfortable walking. Abbott's Lagoon is the place to hike on a foggy day; the waves seem to roll in from a cloud. Chimney Rock is perfect in whale and wildflower season in particular.

Hug a Redwood: Samuel P. Taylor State Park has plenty. Awesome. Hike Tomales Point Trail: Hike along the spine of Point Reyes with views to the Pacific on one side and to peaceful Tomales Bay on the other. This is the home of the Tule elk. Take a convenient detour from the trailhead down to McClure's Beach for tide pooling.

Bike Bear Valley Trail: Rent mountain bikes for the ride out along a forest stream to meadows and bluffs overlooking the ocean.

Ride Five Brooks Trail: Explore the seashore on horseback with a guide. Call 663-1570 for information.

Visit Drake's Bay Oyster Company: Follow the signs to Drake's Beach, and stop on the way at this authentic, unglamorous, hard-working oyster farm. Buy a cocktail, or oysters in the shell to barbecue on the beach.

Day Trip: Make Ten Inverness Way your base for exploring San Francisco or the Napa or Sonoma wine country, each about an hour away.

San Francisco Hang Gliding Center: Tandem Hang Gliding just 10 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge. Introductory aquagliding lessons take place over the San Francisco Bay. Look down on Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge, from up to 3000 feet!! Tel: 510 528 2300 http://www.sfhanggliding.com

Blue Waters Kayaking: Tomales Bay is the largest unspoiled bay along California's coastline. It has become a choice destination for sea kayakers.Our Tomales Bay site provides beginners or experienced paddlers easy access to the heart of the Pt. Reyes National Seashore. P.O. Box 983 12938 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Inverness, CA 94937 Phone: 1-415-669-2600 Fax: 1-415-669-7835 Website: http://www.bwkayak.com

Need more ideas? AUDUBON CANYON RANCH View the courtship, nesting and mating of egrets and herons, as well as the raising of their young. The birds return to the area every spring and can be viewed from the Preserve Overlook. Open SAT., SUN., and HOL.., 10 AM - 4 PM. Bolinas Lagoon Preserve, near Stinson Beach on Hwy 1. (415.868.9244). BAY MODEL VISITOR CENTER Working hydraulic model of San Francisco Bay. "Marinship 1942-1945" documents the Sausalito World War II shipyard, where ships were built. TUES.-SAT., 9 AM - 4 PM. Historic vessel tours every SAT. 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito. (415.332.3871). DOWNTOWN PETALUMA Tour historic downtown with guides dressed as characters from Petaluma's colorful past. Every SAT & SUN, 10:30 AM through October. Petaluma Historical Museum, 20 4th St., Petaluma. (707.778.4398) GALLERY ROUTE ONE 11101 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station. (415.663.1347) KULE LOKLO WALK A mile, ranger-led walk through the re-created Coast Miwok village. Sundays 2 PM Bear Valley Visitor's Center, Point Reyes National Seashore. (415.663.1092) MARIN COUNTY CIVIC CENTER Tour one of Frank Lloyd Wright's last design projects, a national and state historical landmark. Visit the Hall of Justice and courtrooms, the Board of Supervisors Chambers, the Civic Center Branch Library and other areas. Tours offered WED., 10:20 AM. Group tours by appointment. 3501 Civic Center Dr., San Rafael. (415.499.6646). MARIN HEADLANDS VISITORS CENTER Interactive exhibits on the human and natural history of the area. Learn about what there is to see and do in the Marin Headlands. Open daily, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Bunker and Field roads in the former Fort Barry Chapel. (415.331.1540). MARIN MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN "Coast Miwok Indians: The First People of Marin" is a permanent exhibition. Open TUES.-FRI., 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM; SAT.-SUN., Noon - 4:00 PM. 2200 Novato Blvd., Novato. (415.897.4064). MARINE MAMMAL CENTER Visit seal and sea lion patients at this hospital and conservation facility, 10 AM - 4 PM daily. Docent tours, weekends. Marin Headlands, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. (415.289.7325). MUIR WOODS VISITOR CENTER Displays of the natural history of Muir Woods, and ancient redwood forest. Hike nature trails; see salmon in Redwood Creek. Open 8 AM - Sunset dail. Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods exit off Hwy. 101. (415.388.2595). NEW MARIN MARKETPLACE Reminiscent of the old Marin City flea market. This roving market will set up shop at San Marin High School in Novato June 20 through summer. 9AM-4PM OCEANIC SOCIETY Visit whales, dolphins, birds, and seals on an 8 hour, 27 mile trip to the Farallon Islands. 8:30AM-4:30PM every Saturday and Sunday and select Fridays from June through November. $60-$65 (415.474.3385). POINT REYES VINEYARDS 12700 State Route 1, Point Reyes Station. (415.663.1011) POINT BONITA LIGHTHOUSE Historic lighthouse still in operation. The half-mile trail to the lighthouse is steep in places; wear sturdy shoes. Daytime and after-dark walks are offered; call for dates and times. Open every SAT. & SUN., 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM. End of Field Rd., Marin Headlands. (415.331.1540). POINT REYES FARMER'S MARKET (Toby's Food Barn) 11250 State, Route 1, Point Reyes Station. (415.663.9667) SHAKESPEARE AT THE BEACH Opens May 31. "Much ado about Nothing". FRI & SAT, 7PM; SUN 6PM; 2PM matinee on June 13. Playing through July 13. 15 Calle del Mar, Stinson Beach. (415.868.9500). WILDCARE Visit native birds and animals at this wildlife hospital and nature education center. Nature classes, family walks and field trips with Terwilliger Nature Guides available by reservation. Open daily, 9 AM - 5 PM Albert Park Ln., San Rafael. (415.453.1000). WILLIAM LESTER GALLERY 11101 State, Route 1, Point Reyes Station. (415.663.9365) How's the weather? Autumn is clear and warm. When the gray whales run off our coast December through February (you can see them from the Lighthouse), it's bright and clear between rainstorms. On spring days, you'll often spy a whale off the wildflower-covered hills of Tomales Point or Chimney Rock. In summer, plan to swim in Tomales Bay. And there's almost no day of the year when you can't enjoy a hike - even if it's raining. The pleasures of coming home wet and chilly to a warm fire and a good book at Ten Inverness Way make rain look downright attractive.