California nature:

Holidays in San Francisco are as perfect for nature lovers as they are for cosmopolitan tourists in search of the city’s anything-goes lifestyle. The Bay Area offers some of the country’s richest biodiversity, from golden eagles in the air and mountain lions on the ground to dolphins and humpback whales in the ocean. For those looking to explore California’s natural bounty, we’ve pinpointed some of the best places around the Bay Area for spotting wildlife. Book a flight to California and pack some binoculars too – you might just spy something exciting.

Mount Diablo State Park

Located just on the other side of the hills from San Francisco, Mount Diablo State Park is one of the Bay Area’s natural wonders. Surrounding Mt. Diablo’s rather impressive peak, the 20,000 acres of parkland are home to fields of poppies (California’s state flower), flocks of quails, and other wild critters. If you take the park’s Deer Flat hike, you’ll be in prime nature-watching territory. Just be cautious: the area’s wilder animals – from mountain lions to tarantulas and snakes – mean you’ll want to keep ears and eyes open.

Point Reyes National Seashore

About 50 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, Point Reyes National Seashore offers a vastly different range of wildlife from the species that inhabit the dry grasslands of Mount Diablo State Park. Abutting the ocean, the park affords visitors the opportunity to spy elephant seals, migrating whales, and sea lions, as well as a number of sea bird species. In addition to coastline, the park also includes some forested areas – look out for deer and even bobcats.

Redwood Regional Park

Located in the East Bay about 10 miles east of downtown Oakland, Redwood Regional Park is a way for visitors to catch a glimpse of the ancient trees without trekking out of the Bay Area. As a bonus, the tranquil area is also home to a number of interesting species. Golden eagles are known to call the grove home, as are Alameda striped racer snakes, also known as California whipsnakes (luckily not poisonous).

Heron’s Head Park

From beaches to grasslands to forests, the Bay Area is home to numerous ecosystems. Heron’s Head Park – located at Pier 98, close to San Francisco’s Bayview neighbourhood – rounds out the diversity with its wetland environment. What was once land cleared away for a shipping dock is now a green area home to over 100 species of migratory birds, including great blue herons, black oystercatchers and sandpipers.

Written by Claire Bullen