5 Fabulous Picnic Spots
by Liz Hamill Scott
Spring at San Gregorio State Park south of Half Moon Bay, Calif. Photo courtesy of Sharon Worth, Worth Photography.
Aug. 1, 2010 — Summer’s in full bloom, which means kids out of school, the occasional stunning fogless day, and picnics. Picnics can be as simple as lemonade and sandwiches on paper plates or as majestic as a five-course gourmet feast served on white linen with silver and crystal. I like to think of picnics as celebrations mixed with self-care. Far less expensive than an afternoon at a spa, a picnic still takes me out of my day-to-day grind and lets me spend a couple of hours delighting my senses.
In the Coastside region, picnic grounds appear most prevalently in county parks and at state beaches. The beach picnic tables never sit on the sand — they’re up on a bluff near the parking lot and the pit toilets. If you can manage to eat without a table, it’s better carry your basket down onto the beach. Spread out a few blankets, anchor them with coolers to keep them from blowing away, bring out the food, and serve while sprawled comfortably, watching the surf pound up towards you.
County parks around here mean hills and hiking trails and redwood groves and designated picnic areas where the park operators strongly prefer you keep your food-based activities. Most of these forest-shaded picnic tables have accompanying grill pits, nearby running water and enough birds to make a plastic-coated tablecloth a blessing.
These five parks have some of the spiffiest picnic areas in the region.
Francis Beach. Staff photo.
Though it’s part of the Half Moon Bay State Beach system and it’s got a developed overnight campground, Francis Beach somehow feels more like picnicking at a charming small city park. It’s got shade trees and cropped lawns with picnic tables scattered at comfortable distances from one another. Barbecue boxes offer a hot food option, and the path down to the beach is smooth.
The paved, flat Coastside Trail runs through Francis Beach — an ambitious picnicker can get great views of the Coastal region while strolling the trail.
Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay.
At the intersection of Highway 84 and Highway 1, the perennially popular and ever-evolving San Gregorio State Beach lures locals and valley-dwellers alike to its windswept sands. Picnic tables perch on the bluff above the beach, but the best way to experience San Gregorio is to lug the coolers and the beach chairs down onto the sand. To get out of the worst of the wind, spread out the picnic blankets up next to the cliff walls. After the food is finished, burn off a few calories with a walk up the beach or an adventurous dip in the creek.
Always be aware of the ocean when you’re walking the beach or swimming in the creek or the surf. At high tide, parts of San Gregorio beach can become impassable as the ocean laps right up to the cliffs. Watch kids like a hawk at all times.
Memorial Park
For a break from the ceaseless ocean breeze, bring your basket into the woods of Memorial Park. This amazing 500-acre wooded wilderness doesn’t just look beautiful, it feels beautiful. With a meandering creek you can actually swim in, a sprawling day-use area, and ranger-guided nature walks, a picnic at Memorial Park can spin out to a mini-vacation.
Redwoods at Memorial Park. Staff photo.
This granddaddy of county parks has the standard issue find ’em and grab ’em picnic area, plus group sites and day camp areas that can be reserved in advance.
9500 Pescadero Creek Road, Loma Mar. 650-879-0238.
Huddart County Park
For groves of redwood trees and vistas of the valley below, it’s hard to beat Huddart Park. Perched atop the Santa Cruz Mountains off Kings Mountain Road, Huddart lures locals up from both sides of the hills. Huddart has several designated picnic areas, complete with tables and grill boxes, situated beneath the big trees. Several drop-in picnic areas are first-come first-served. But if you’re planning a bigger bash, you can reserve a group picnic area in advance. However large your party, bring game equipment — bocce on redwood needles is awesome, the sand volleyball courts only need a ball, and the sunny meadow begs for Frisbees. On too-sunny days, bring a trail map for a walk in the cool, dense woods.
1100 Kings Mountain Road, Woodside. 650-851-1210.
San Pedro Valley Park
In the hills above Pacifica, San Pedro Valley Park’s lush parklands welcome picnickers looking to escape the heat of the interior valleys in the summertime. Expect cool temperatures and perhaps a layer of summer fog pressing down toward your picnic table. But on the sunny days, the trickling waters of three creeks and the spreading foliage of the shade trees make this park a family picnic favorite.
600 Oddstad Boulevard, Pacifica. 650-355-8289.
