Would you like some nature with your Sunday brunch?

My favorite road trips are the ones that I can take after brunch on a Saturday or Sunday. I'm a big fan of sleeping in on the weekends, yet I still want to get out of the house and do something after a leisurely morning. That said, we have discovered the perfect post-brunch get away: Point Reyes National Seashore (pronounced Rays) in Marin County.

We visited Pt. Reyes for the first time only weeks after moving to the Bay Area and were blown away by the beauty of the land. Although we also quickly learned on that visit that finding our way back from the Lighthouse after dark is more trouble that it's worth! Who knew that so many wild animals could dart in front of your car at dusk? But, we survived- as did the wild animals- and we kept going back!

This past Sunday, after a delicious brunch, we set off again for Pt. Reyes. This time we were in search of a good hiking trail that would allow us to spend a few hours meandering through the area. As luck would have it, we found the perfect trail: The Abbott's Lagoon trail off Pierce Point Road. The 2.3 mile Abbott's Lagoon trail is great for beginners- or those of us that want to have a leisurely, scenic hike.

The Abbott's Lagoon trail does just as it promises: takes the hiker over and around a beautiful lagoon filled with lush vegetation and unusual birds (this city-slicker might even call them exotic birds). We quickly hiked the 1.4 miles of sand-packed trail before hitting the beach. At this point, we could have turned around to head back to the car, but we carried on through the sand. It was a good decision. The beach surrounding the lagoon is beautiful. I had no idea that the sand could look so many different colors! We spent some time sitting on a piece of driftwood and watching birds come in for a water landing. Again, we hiked on further (about 1/2 mile) to the ocean. The site was breathtaking and I could have spent all day watching the fog roll over the ocean cliffs. For the first time in two years, I didn't even try to convince my husband that Lake Michigan is more beautiful than the ocean.

In total the hike took us about 2 hours. Be prepared to do some hiking through sand if you decide to head to the beach. There is easy parking at the trail head and something that resembles a toilet.

Other favorite things to do at Pt. Reyes:

• Walk the "Earthquake Trail" at the visitor's center and see the epicenter of the 1906 Earthquake. Not a good trail to show to your nervous mother from the Midwest!
• Drive to the Lighthouse and walk down the looooong steps to see it in action. Be aware that your legs may hurt the next day!
• Visit Pt. Reyes during Whale Watching season- March, April, October. You'll have to park your car at a lot half-way to the lighthouse and take a shuttle bus. We haven't seen any whales YET, but just the possibility of seeing one is worth the trip!

For more info:

• Point Reyes Hiking Guide
• Point Reyes National Seashore