"It’s an escape from what’s going on out in the world," said Muir Woods visitor Barbi Martinez. "But it’s also a reminder that there’s beauty."

#8: San Francisco  Golden Gate National Recreation Area includes spectacular spots such as the Presidio (forests, a lake and dozens of miles for hiking and biking). Also check out national parks Crissy Field, and Lands End, which offers a windy cliff trail and stunning views of the shore and Golden Gate.

Predictions of a mental health crisis following on COVID-19’s heels present not only a challenge for the health care community, but an opportunity to explore seemingly less conventional options more fully. What role might public lands hold for a population looking to heal from social, financial and societal upheaval?

One in seven women in the US experiences postpartum depression, according to the National Perinatal Association. More than 400 studies demonstrate nature’s comprehensive health benefits. And in comparison to the $34,000 price tag on a new PPD-specific drug, a few doses of nature are a relatively affordable first-line option for many women. 

Although many trails and parks are currently inaccessible or impractical to visit due to social distancing guidelines, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy has a robust selection of Google Streetview virtual hikes available, ranging from Black Sands Beach to the Marin Headlands.

The egret has landed, thanks to the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, which offers eight landscapes, including two of the stately suspension bridge as options for Zoom backgrounds. Lose yourself in the great outdoors while not leaving the indoors.

An ode to the Sweeney Ridge hike which includes some steep climbs and remarkable views on the way to the San Francisco Bay Discovery Site. The site is where the Portola expedition discovered San Francisco Bay.

A dose of green can go a long way in a bustling metropolis: Better access to nature, even just your local park, helps people and the planet.

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is the most-visited site in the National Park System, with more than 23.5 million people visiting one of the Bay Area sites, including the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Point Reyes National Seashore and San Francisco Maritime National...

Our best public building this decade is easy to miss – a visitor’s center for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area perched on the bluff above Sutro Baths.

Officials on Thursday held a "groundmaking" ceremony for a park that will eventually connect the Presidio of San Francisco with Crissy Field.