Infamous for its maximum security prison, Alcatraz is also known for remnants of an 1850s military fort, the West Coast's first lighthouse, the birthplace of a Native American movement, an important bird-nesting locale, and the historic Alcatraz Gardens.

Gaze in wonder towards the Bridge and Marin Headlands from outside the Golden Gate at mile-long Baker Beach. It's nestled at the foot of rugged cliffs on the Presidio's western shore. An easy stroll from the parking lot, you'll find a picnic area with tables, grills, and restrooms.

Discover one of the parks' richest wetlands along the lush coast west of Mt. Tamalpais. Bolinas Lagoon is a 1,100-acre tidal estuary between the eccentric village of Bolinas, Highway 1, and the sandy arc of Stinson Beach. Its pristine, water-snaked marshes are home to a fascinating diversity of bird life.

You'll imagine you're in the English countryside while strolling the rolling hills of Bolinas Ridge, a 10.5 mile trail through pastoral farmlands in lovely western Marin. Before you stretches Olema Valley, the San Andreas Rift Zone, and to the north Tomales Bay, the entry to Point Reyes.

Locals consider China Beach a civic secret, tucked between Lands End and Baker Beach in the Sea Cliff neighborhood west of the Golden Gate.

Perched over the Pacific above rocks populated by lounging seals, this San Francisco landmark has had many lives since it first opened in 1863. It burned down and was even damaged by a dynamite laden schooner. Promenade nearby to the glorious ruins of Sutro Baths, then head out to the world-famous panoramas of Lands End.

See what a community can do when they are inspired to transform a site that was once an abandoned airfield. Today its restored tidal marsh is a vibrant environmental showcase, bordered by a popular promenade, expansive meadows, and a renowned education center.

Start at the charming 17th-century-style Pelican Inn at Muir Beach in Marin and head up the chaparral-covered Dias Ridge. The five-mile trail loops across former dairy ranches and rises 700 feet. At every turn there is another dazzling panorama of the Pacific and the Marin Headlands.