We won’t be jetting off to foreign destinations anytime soon. Good thing, then, that we live in one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world — and right now, we’ve got it all to ourselves. Feel like day tripping this weekend? We’ve got a few ideas for outdoor fun and free (or nearly so) frolic around the bay.
Just remember to WAMAMS: Wear a mask and maintain social distance.
Alameda
Just a ferry ride or tunnel trek away, this island on San Francisco Bay offers plenty to do, from urban hikes and splashy fun to a World War II-era museum that might actually be haunted. Here are three ways to play — plus some virtual options, in case you’re not ready to venture out just yet.
Naval history: The USS Hornet Sea, Space & Air Museum, which reopened a few weeks ago, is a gem. The historic air craft carrier plied the Pacific during World War II and served the Apollo space program, too, recovering astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins after splashdown in 1969. As for those ghosts, the museum hopes to resume its three-hour history/mystery tours, which take you to all the paranormal hot spots, later this fall.
Right now, though, visitors can take self-guided tours ($5-$15) of the outdoor museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, or enjoy a guided virtual tour of the interior and exterior from home. Find details — and Apollo coloring pages for kids — at https://uss-hornet.org.
Splashy play: It’s not Hawaii or Florida, but you can’t beat Alameda’s Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach for delightful convenience. This park offers 2.5 miles of sandy beach, with rolling sand dunes, gentle surf and a bike trail, to boot. McKay parking lot is closed, but you can park on the street and walk in, beach blanket and sunscreen in hand. The park is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; www.parks.ca.gov
Suds and sails: With its picnic tables arrayed across a waterfront expanse, Faction Brewing boasts one of the Bay Area’s best views of sailboat-dotted bay, San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge. Enjoy the spectacle with a frosty pour — Hella Strata, anyone? — of one of Faction’s 20+ beers on tap (no samples or flights available right now) and tasty fare from the food truck parked nearby. Open from 2 to 8 p.m. Fridays, noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays at 2501 Monarch St. (To-go beer orders can be picked up Wednesday-Sunday.) www.factionbrewing.com
San Mateo
Sonic sculptures and sea views: You’d never recognize this as a former landfill mound. Today, Seal Point is a waterside park with stunning bay views, winding trails and public art pieces that invite visitors to join in some sonic fun. Stand between a pair of giant vertical saucers and make some noise. Listen to the wind organ and watch the shimmer of kinetic art. The park is open from dawn to dusk at 1901 J. Hart Clinton Drive; www.cityofsanmateo.org/3384/Seal-Point-Park.
Suds and sammies: Refuel after that hike at Fieldwork’s San Mateo taproom, which offers an outdoor dining and takeout menu that combines the brewery’s tastiest suds — Daydream Gulch, Atomic Age and more — with sandwiches, such as the pizza-inspired Delivery Boy or a vegetarian Banh Works. The taproom is open for outdoor dining (and curbside pickup) from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday at 3030 S. Delaware St.; https://fieldworkbrewing.com/san-mateo/.
Outdoor science fun: Got kids or grandkids in tow? The hands-on activities at San Mateo’s CuriOdyssey Science Playground and Zoo may be closed right now, but its zoo and outdoor exhibits ($13-$16) — including an Illusions exhibit, which explores perception and visual illusion — are welcoming visitors. September brings a special exhibit on The Nature of Patterns and in November, the illuminated IlluminOdyssey returns just in time for the winter holidays. CuriOdyssey is open with reservations from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday at 1651 Coyote Point Drive. Reserve tickets and check out the at-home science projects — is that a lava lamp?? — at curiodyssey.org.
Port Costa
You may not have even realized there’s a tiny Victorian town on the shores of the Carquinez Strait, between Martinez and Crockett. In the 1880s, Port Costa was a bustling city with a railyard, hotels, restaurants and a ferry to transport people and goods across the river. Today this tiny town appears at the end of a long country lane like a twinkle-lit mirage. It’s a special spot.
Glittery dreams: If you’ve ever shopped at Anthropologie or its BHLDN bridal boutique, you’ve likely seen Wendy Addison’s glittery art in all its Victorian whimsy and fantastical wirework that recalls a long-gone time. Port Costa’s Theatre of Dreams is where that magic happens. It’s open by appointment and on occasional Saturday afternoons at 11 Canyon Lake Drive, but you can also glimpse the Halloween-themed creations and order them via Instagram @thewendyaddison and https://wendyaddisonstudio.com.
Hike the Sky: Hiking trails wind their way through nearby Crockett Hills Regional Park offering glorious views of San Pablo Bay, the Carquinez Strait, Mount Diablo and Mount Tam. The Kestrel Trail starts its 5.8-mile loop just outside the town of Crockett, wending its way up to the well-named Sky Trail. Find hiking trail information at www.ebparks.org/parks/crockett_hills/.
Pre-Prohibition sips and comfort fare: When you’re done with all that fresh air and exercise, deliciousness awaits at the 1897 Bull Valley Roadhouse, where pre-Prohibition cocktails — hello, Bee’s Knees — are paired with reinvented American fare. Ranked as one of the Bay Area’s top 50 restaurants pre-pandemic, BVR has pivoted to takeout, meal kits and patio dining, with a menu that includes fried chicken with pepper jam, fried green tomatoes and summer market ratatouille. Open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and Monday, and until 6 p.m. on Sundays at 14 Canyon Lake Drive; www.instagram.com/bullvalleyroadhouse/ and https://bullvalleygeneralstore.square.site/