The visitor center for the Point Reyes National Seashore is about 1/2 mile away from Olema Cottages. Available there are maps, guidebooks and ranger advice Monday thru Friday, 9am to 5pm, weekends and holidays, 8am to 5pm. Many of the areas best hiking trails originate from the visitor center. (415) 464-5100
The Seashore offers diverse beach types. The rugged Pacific beaches to the west amaze us with their natural beauty. The vast expanse of Limantour just eight miles from Olema is a perfect place to see the sunset. For those taking the road to Abbott's Lagoon or the long dramatic beach at Kehoe there may be elk at the side of the road. The road to the Lighthouse winds past more magnificent beaches.
Walk the 300 steps down to the Point Reyes Lighthouse, which has a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean, a good lookout for gray whales during certain months. They are open (weather permitting) Thursday- Monday 10am to 5pm. (415) 669-1534
The Bay beaches are gentler with sunnier weather. At Tomales Bay State Park, Heart's Desire Beach is perfect for swimming. The beaches along the Bay have easy access for kayakers.
Point Reyes Field Seminars provides a wide range of adventure learning seminars in natural history, birding, art and photography for adults and families with children. (415) 663-1200
The Point Reyes Bird Observatory at Palomarin offers a chance to see birds ringed and fed. The PRBO's Palomarin Field Station and nature trails are open to the public dawn to dusk seven days a week. It is located at the southern end of the Park. (415) 868-0655
Alamere Falls is a dramatic waterfall dropping onto the rocky beach. It is reached from the Palomarin Trail on the southern part of the Park. Surf crashes up to meet the falls on this exposed western facing coast. The trail is a fire road for most of the walk and the terrain is gently hilly.
Samuel P. Taylor State Park is 7 miles east on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. The park features hillside trails for hikers, equestrians and bicyclists as well as charming picnic areas. There are also creeks, open grassland, and redwood canyons in the park. (415) 488-9897