event
Pigeon Point Lighthouse 154th Anniversary Celebration
Anniversary celebration at Pigeon Point Light Station, 1pm-7pm.
- Dates
- Nov 14, 2026
County guide
Things to do in San Mateo County
28 outings for families, couples, seniors and groups, each linked to its source.
Outings near you
🌳17 picks
Family Outings
Tidepools, redwood parks, beaches and hands-on museums.
park
Año Nuevo State Park
Self-guided elephant seal viewing April-November, no tours or reservations needed. The round-trip hike takes about two and a half to three hours. A free seal-viewing permit is required and is issued at the park 8:30am-3:30pm.
- Hours
- 8:30am-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
eventFree
Bicycle Sunday on Cañada Road
On Sundays a 3.8-mile stretch of Cañada Road, between the Filoli entrance and Highway 92, closes to cars for cycling, walking, jogging and roller-skating.
- Hours
- Sundays 9am-3pm; canceled on holiday weekends
park
Coyote Point Recreation Area
Bayside park for picnicking, swimming, windsurfing, cycling, fishing and sailing, with a beach promenade, marina, saltwater marsh and views of SFO planes. The Magic Mountain Playground and the picnic area around it are closed for construction; the new playground is expected to open in spring 2027.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 1701 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, CA 94401
museum
CuriOdyssey
Science and wildlife center at Coyote Point where kids get up close to wild animals and hands-on science exhibits. Last entry 4:30pm.
- Note
- Closes 3pm on Oct 31 (Halloween).
- Hours
- Daily 10am-5pm
- Cost
- Adults $24.95; children (18 months-17), students and seniors 62+ $19.95; infants free; plus $6 Coyote Point vehicle entry
- Where
- 1701 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, CA 94401
parkFree
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
Rocky seashore tidepools with algae, crabs, sponges, seastars, mollusks and fish, inside the Montara State Marine Reserve.
- Where
- 200 Nevada Ave., Moss Beach, CA 94038
park
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Four miles of sandy beaches with gentle dunes and shore fishing, reached from three parking lots including Venice Beach and Dunes Beach.
- Hours
- 8am-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
museum
Hiller Aviation Museum
Aviation museum at the San Carlos Airport. Free parking in the museum lot.
- Hours
- Daily 10am-5pm; closed Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Adults $22; seniors 65+ and youths 5-17 $14; children 3 and under free with a paid adult
- Where
- 601 Skyway Rd., San Carlos, CA 94070
park
Huddart Park
Forested slopes and cool canyons with barbecue pits, a playground, meadows and redwood trails.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 1100 Kings Mountain Rd., Woodside, CA 94062
park
Junipero Serra Park
Hillside park behind Millbrae and San Bruno with views of San Bruno Mountain, SFO, the bay and Mount Diablo. The Meadow View Playground reopens Dec 31.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 1801 Crystal Springs Rd., San Bruno, CA 94066
park
Memorial Park
673 acres of old-growth redwoods with picnic areas, a nature center, a camp store, campfire programs and the Tan Oak and Mt. Ellen nature trails.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 9500 Pescadero Creek Rd., Loma Mar, CA 94021
event
Musical Storytime at San Pedro Valley Park
A song-and-dance storytime for all ages, every Tuesday morning.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 600 Oddstad Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044
park
Pescadero State Beach
Long sandy beach with a rocky tidal zone for tidepooling, next to Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, one of the region's richest wetland habitats.
- Hours
- 8am-sunset
- Cost
- Parking $8 per vehicle
museum
San Mateo County History Museum
Museum of the San Mateo County Historical Association, in Redwood City.
- Hours
- Tue-Sun 10am-4pm; closed Mon
- Where
- 2200 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
park
San Pedro Valley Park
1,052 acres in the Pacifica foothills with family picnic sites, a self-guiding nature trail, a visitor center and a seasonal waterfall.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 600 Oddstad Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044
museum
Sánchez Adobe
An 1842 adobe residence furnished with period pieces, on the site of a 1786 Mission Dolores outpost, with a new visitor center.
- Hours
- Tue-Thu 10am-4pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-4pm; closed Mon and Fri
- Where
- 1000 Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica, CA 94044
museum
Woodside Store
House museum in an 1850s general store, post office and dental office, stocked with goods a lumberman or blacksmith might have needed.
- Hours
- Tue-Thu 10am-4pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-4pm; closed Mon and Fri
- Where
- 3300 Tripp Road, Woodside, CA 94062
🌅9 picks
Date Ideas
Coastal bluffs, beaches, gardens and landmarks.
parkFree
Devil's Slide Trail
Paved multi-use trail on a former stretch of Highway 1, with benches, observation scopes and interpretive signs above the Pacific. Separate lanes for walkers and cyclists.
- Where
- Devil's Slide Trail, Pacifica, CA 94044
garden
Filoli
1917 Georgian Revival house with a 16-acre English-Renaissance style garden and more than 650 acres of natural lands with two hiking loops. Free parking with a ticket; Museums for All and Discover & Go passes accepted.
- Hours
- Daily 10am-5pm; some dates have extended evening hours (see calendar)
- Where
- 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA 94062
park
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Four miles of sandy beaches with gentle dunes and shore fishing, reached from three parking lots including Venice Beach and Dunes Beach.
- Hours
- 8am-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
park
Montara State Beach
Sandy beach framed by rocky outcrops, popular for beachcombing, strolling, shore fishing and surfing; reached by staircase.
- Hours
- 8am-sunset
parkFree
Mori Point
A 110-acre promontory in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area with views from Point Reyes to Pedro Point and the black sands of Sharp Park Beach. Parking on Mori Point Road or Bradford Way; windy on the bluffs.
Checked 2026-10-20parkFree
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
Historic light station on Highway 1, 20 miles south of Half Moon Bay. The lighthouse itself is closed for restoration. Free admission and parking.
- Hours
- 8am-sunset
- Cost
- Free
parkFree
Pillar Point Bluff
A 220-acre bluff top on the California Coastal Trail with views of Half Moon Bay, Pillar Point Harbor and the Mavericks surf break, best seen with binoculars. Small 10-car lot on Airport Street.
- Where
- Airport St, Moss Beach, CA 94038
landmarkFree
Pulgas Water Temple
Beaux Arts monument, designed by William Merchant, marking the 1934 arrival of Hetch Hetchy water. Grounds and lot open weekdays 9am-5pm; on weekends the lot is closed and walkers and cyclists enter by the pedestrian gate. Lot also closed on federal holidays; grounds closed during Saturday weddings.
Checked 2026-10-20parkFree
Windy Hill Preserve
1,414 acres of breezy grassland ridges and redwood, fir and oak forest, popular for hiking and kite flying, with picnic tables by the Spring Ridge parking area.
- Hours
- A half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset
🌷12 picks
Senior Outings
Historic sites, gardens, tidepools and shoreline walks.
event
Pigeon Point Lighthouse 154th Anniversary Celebration
Anniversary celebration at Pigeon Point Light Station, 1pm-7pm.
- Dates
- Nov 14, 2026
parkFree
Devil's Slide Trail
Paved multi-use trail on a former stretch of Highway 1, with benches, observation scopes and interpretive signs above the Pacific. Separate lanes for walkers and cyclists.
- Where
- Devil's Slide Trail, Pacifica, CA 94044
parkFree
Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve
467 acres of woodlands and serpentine grasslands, famous for spring wildflowers, just off I-280.
- Where
- 10 Old Stagecoach Rd., Redwood City, CA 94062
garden
Filoli
1917 Georgian Revival house with a 16-acre English-Renaissance style garden and more than 650 acres of natural lands with two hiking loops. Free parking with a ticket; Museums for All and Discover & Go passes accepted.
- Hours
- Daily 10am-5pm; some dates have extended evening hours (see calendar)
- Where
- 86 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA 94062
parkFree
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
Rocky seashore tidepools with algae, crabs, sponges, seastars, mollusks and fish, inside the Montara State Marine Reserve.
- Where
- 200 Nevada Ave., Moss Beach, CA 94038
park
Junipero Serra Park
Hillside park behind Millbrae and San Bruno with views of San Bruno Mountain, SFO, the bay and Mount Diablo. The Meadow View Playground reopens Dec 31.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 1801 Crystal Springs Rd., San Bruno, CA 94066
park
Pescadero State Beach
Long sandy beach with a rocky tidal zone for tidepooling, next to Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, one of the region's richest wetland habitats.
- Hours
- 8am-sunset
- Cost
- Parking $8 per vehicle
parkFree
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
Historic light station on Highway 1, 20 miles south of Half Moon Bay. The lighthouse itself is closed for restoration. Free admission and parking.
- Hours
- 8am-sunset
- Cost
- Free
landmarkFree
Pulgas Water Temple
Beaux Arts monument, designed by William Merchant, marking the 1934 arrival of Hetch Hetchy water. Grounds and lot open weekdays 9am-5pm; on weekends the lot is closed and walkers and cyclists enter by the pedestrian gate. Lot also closed on federal holidays; grounds closed during Saturday weddings.
Checked 2026-10-20museum
San Mateo County History Museum
Museum of the San Mateo County Historical Association, in Redwood City.
- Hours
- Tue-Sun 10am-4pm; closed Mon
- Where
- 2200 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
museum
Sánchez Adobe
An 1842 adobe residence furnished with period pieces, on the site of a 1786 Mission Dolores outpost, with a new visitor center.
- Hours
- Tue-Thu 10am-4pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-4pm; closed Mon and Fri
- Where
- 1000 Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica, CA 94044
museum
Woodside Store
House museum in an 1850s general store, post office and dental office, stocked with goods a lumberman or blacksmith might have needed.
- Hours
- Tue-Thu 10am-4pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-4pm; closed Mon and Fri
- Where
- 3300 Tripp Road, Woodside, CA 94062
🎳14 picks
Friends and Groups
Hikes, redwood parks, coastal trails and museums.
park
Año Nuevo State Park
Self-guided elephant seal viewing April-November, no tours or reservations needed. The round-trip hike takes about two and a half to three hours. A free seal-viewing permit is required and is issued at the park 8:30am-3:30pm.
- Hours
- 8:30am-sunset
- Cost
- Vehicle day use $10
eventFree
Bicycle Sunday on Cañada Road
On Sundays a 3.8-mile stretch of Cañada Road, between the Filoli entrance and Highway 92, closes to cars for cycling, walking, jogging and roller-skating.
- Hours
- Sundays 9am-3pm; canceled on holiday weekends
park
Coyote Point Recreation Area
Bayside park for picnicking, swimming, windsurfing, cycling, fishing and sailing, with a beach promenade, marina, saltwater marsh and views of SFO planes. The Magic Mountain Playground and the picnic area around it are closed for construction; the new playground is expected to open in spring 2027.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 1701 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, CA 94401
parkFree
Devil's Slide Trail
Paved multi-use trail on a former stretch of Highway 1, with benches, observation scopes and interpretive signs above the Pacific. Separate lanes for walkers and cyclists.
- Where
- Devil's Slide Trail, Pacifica, CA 94044
parkFree
Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve
467 acres of woodlands and serpentine grasslands, famous for spring wildflowers, just off I-280.
- Where
- 10 Old Stagecoach Rd., Redwood City, CA 94062
museum
Hiller Aviation Museum
Aviation museum at the San Carlos Airport. Free parking in the museum lot.
- Hours
- Daily 10am-5pm; closed Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Cost
- Adults $22; seniors 65+ and youths 5-17 $14; children 3 and under free with a paid adult
- Where
- 601 Skyway Rd., San Carlos, CA 94070
park
Huddart Park
Forested slopes and cool canyons with barbecue pits, a playground, meadows and redwood trails.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 1100 Kings Mountain Rd., Woodside, CA 94062
park
Memorial Park
673 acres of old-growth redwoods with picnic areas, a nature center, a camp store, campfire programs and the Tan Oak and Mt. Ellen nature trails.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 9500 Pescadero Creek Rd., Loma Mar, CA 94021
park
Montara State Beach
Sandy beach framed by rocky outcrops, popular for beachcombing, strolling, shore fishing and surfing; reached by staircase.
- Hours
- 8am-sunset
parkFree
Mori Point
A 110-acre promontory in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area with views from Point Reyes to Pedro Point and the black sands of Sharp Park Beach. Parking on Mori Point Road or Bradford Way; windy on the bluffs.
Checked 2026-10-20parkFree
Pillar Point Bluff
A 220-acre bluff top on the California Coastal Trail with views of Half Moon Bay, Pillar Point Harbor and the Mavericks surf break, best seen with binoculars. Small 10-car lot on Airport Street.
- Where
- Airport St, Moss Beach, CA 94038
parkFree
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve
Redwood forests with views of the San Mateo coast and Pacific Ocean. Parking at designated areas, including the Purisima Creek Road lot; pullouts on Tunitas Creek Road are limited.
- Hours
- A half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset
park
San Bruno Mountain State & County Park
2,416 acres of rugged open space rising to a 1,314-foot summit, with views of San Francisco and the Central Bay.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 555 Guadalupe Canyon Parkway, Brisbane, CA 94005
parkFree
Windy Hill Preserve
1,414 acres of breezy grassland ridges and redwood, fir and oak forest, popular for hiking and kite flying, with picnic tables by the Spring Ridge parking area.
- Hours
- A half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset
🎟️17 picks
Free and Cheap
Free entry, plus outings with a low parking or entry fee.
eventFree
Bicycle Sunday on Cañada Road
On Sundays a 3.8-mile stretch of Cañada Road, between the Filoli entrance and Highway 92, closes to cars for cycling, walking, jogging and roller-skating.
- Hours
- Sundays 9am-3pm; canceled on holiday weekends
park
Coyote Point Recreation Area
Bayside park for picnicking, swimming, windsurfing, cycling, fishing and sailing, with a beach promenade, marina, saltwater marsh and views of SFO planes. The Magic Mountain Playground and the picnic area around it are closed for construction; the new playground is expected to open in spring 2027.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 1701 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, CA 94401
parkFree
Devil's Slide Trail
Paved multi-use trail on a former stretch of Highway 1, with benches, observation scopes and interpretive signs above the Pacific. Separate lanes for walkers and cyclists.
- Where
- Devil's Slide Trail, Pacifica, CA 94044
parkFree
Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve
467 acres of woodlands and serpentine grasslands, famous for spring wildflowers, just off I-280.
- Where
- 10 Old Stagecoach Rd., Redwood City, CA 94062
parkFree
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
Rocky seashore tidepools with algae, crabs, sponges, seastars, mollusks and fish, inside the Montara State Marine Reserve.
- Where
- 200 Nevada Ave., Moss Beach, CA 94038
park
Huddart Park
Forested slopes and cool canyons with barbecue pits, a playground, meadows and redwood trails.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 1100 Kings Mountain Rd., Woodside, CA 94062
park
Junipero Serra Park
Hillside park behind Millbrae and San Bruno with views of San Bruno Mountain, SFO, the bay and Mount Diablo. The Meadow View Playground reopens Dec 31.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 1801 Crystal Springs Rd., San Bruno, CA 94066
park
Memorial Park
673 acres of old-growth redwoods with picnic areas, a nature center, a camp store, campfire programs and the Tan Oak and Mt. Ellen nature trails.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 9500 Pescadero Creek Rd., Loma Mar, CA 94021
parkFree
Mori Point
A 110-acre promontory in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area with views from Point Reyes to Pedro Point and the black sands of Sharp Park Beach. Parking on Mori Point Road or Bradford Way; windy on the bluffs.
Checked 2026-10-20event
Musical Storytime at San Pedro Valley Park
A song-and-dance storytime for all ages, every Tuesday morning.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 600 Oddstad Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044
parkFree
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
Historic light station on Highway 1, 20 miles south of Half Moon Bay. The lighthouse itself is closed for restoration. Free admission and parking.
- Hours
- 8am-sunset
- Cost
- Free
parkFree
Pillar Point Bluff
A 220-acre bluff top on the California Coastal Trail with views of Half Moon Bay, Pillar Point Harbor and the Mavericks surf break, best seen with binoculars. Small 10-car lot on Airport Street.
- Where
- Airport St, Moss Beach, CA 94038
landmarkFree
Pulgas Water Temple
Beaux Arts monument, designed by William Merchant, marking the 1934 arrival of Hetch Hetchy water. Grounds and lot open weekdays 9am-5pm; on weekends the lot is closed and walkers and cyclists enter by the pedestrian gate. Lot also closed on federal holidays; grounds closed during Saturday weddings.
Checked 2026-10-20parkFree
Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve
Redwood forests with views of the San Mateo coast and Pacific Ocean. Parking at designated areas, including the Purisima Creek Road lot; pullouts on Tunitas Creek Road are limited.
- Hours
- A half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset
park
San Bruno Mountain State & County Park
2,416 acres of rugged open space rising to a 1,314-foot summit, with views of San Francisco and the Central Bay.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 555 Guadalupe Canyon Parkway, Brisbane, CA 94005
park
San Pedro Valley Park
1,052 acres in the Pacifica foothills with family picnic sites, a self-guiding nature trail, a visitor center and a seasonal waterfall.
- Cost
- $6 vehicle entry. Vehicle entry fee waived for veterans and placard holders, and for seniors 62+ on non-holiday weekdays.
- Where
- 600 Oddstad Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044
parkFree
Windy Hill Preserve
1,414 acres of breezy grassland ridges and redwood, fir and oak forest, popular for hiking and kite flying, with picnic tables by the Spring Ridge parking area.
- Hours
- A half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset