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We know how important parks and open space are for our mental and physical health. What better way to get outside and enjoy our parks than that favorite summertime activity – picnicking! So, cut up the watermelon and take your friends and family to these old and perhaps new favorites for some summer picnic fun.
Meadow View drop-in picnic area
Junipero Serra Park
Junipero Serra Park is lesser known but offers an array of fun family activities for passing a summer day, and you can bring your dog (on-leash) too. Check out the drop-in picnic areas near the Meadow View playground which boasts a spectacular 54-foot double slide that will thrill kids and grown-ups alike.
For a nice stretch after lunch you can learn more about the park along the short 0.4-mile Live Oak Nature Trail or catch some outstanding views from the top of Quail Loop Trail. If you seek shade for your large group picnic, reserve the Bay View Picnic Shelter, which as its name suggests, affords epic views of the bay.
$6 parking fee; self-guided tour available
Photo by Justin Bandor
San Bruno Mountain
San Bruno Mountain State and County Park has some of the best views on the Peninsula, especially of the San Francisco skyline. At the drop-in picnic areas near the main parking lot, there are barbecue pits, restroom facilities and an open grassy area that is popular for volleyball, frisbee, kite-flying or kicking back on a blanket.
After your picnic, you might choose to explore Saddle Loop Trail – a wide and relatively flat two-mile loop that offers the opportunity to point out landmarks or see what’s blooming.
$6 parking fee; self-guided tour available
Mirada Surf
California Coastal Trail at Mirada Surf, photo by Eric Steven Sevilla
If coastal views, bird watching and an easy stroll are your speed, then Mirada Surf is your picnic spot. And you can bring your dog on leash too! This 15-acre bluff offers gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean from one of several picnic tables along a section of the California Coastal Trail.
At Magellan Avenue, there are restrooms and a bike fix-it station. If you want to get your toes in the sand at low tide, you can do so at Surfers Beach. For a longer walk, stay on the Coastal Trail and either head north to Pillar Point Harbor or south toward Half Moon Bay beaches.
Group picnic area at Huddart Park
Huddart Park
Huddart Park, nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains, offers 24 miles of hiking trails through a mix of second growth redwood forest, evergreen forest and chaparral. The park includes a large meadow with a playground and sand volleyball courts (bring your own equipment) and a variety of picnic sites and shelters with barbeques, horseshoe pits and restrooms.
Check out the drop-in Madrone Picnic Area near trail marker 19 where you are surrounded by oak, madrone, coast redwood and brush. For a larger group, reserve the Redwood Picnic Area near trail marker 47 and enjoy the cool, shady redwood grove with a nearby, small amphitheater.
$6 parking fee; self-guided tour available
Memorial Park
Memorial Park is a perennial favorite for summertime family camping, as time spent amongst the redwoods is rejuvenating and fun. This historic park will soon turn 100 and campsites and picnic areas are receiving the royal treatment.
Photo by Rob Cala
Our favorite drop-in picnic spot is Legion Flat where one can lounge under first growth redwoods. Pescadero Creek runs nearby and is a perfect spot for wading and searching for invertebrates. A short walk down the Tan Oak Nature Trail gets you to the park’s largest redwood tree which is 225 feet and 1,600 years old!
$6 parking fee; self-guided tour available
Coyote Point
With a little something for everyone, Coyote Point Recreation Area is one of the most visited and easily accessible parks in the San Mateo County Parks system. Visitors love the 42-foot castle at Magic Mountain playground, riding their bikes along the Bay Trail, strolling around the marina or flying a kite in the grassy meadow. There is an abundance of picnic spots with barbecue grills, volleyball courts and horseshoe pits.
Picnicking near Magic Mountain Playground
For a drop-in picnic area, visit the upper knoll by the Captain’s House and then stroll over to the Merchant Marine Memorial overlook for gorgeous bay views. If you have a large group with kids, you can reserve one of 15 sites within the Magic Mountain Picnic Area. This gets you close to playgrounds, restrooms and year-round beach access thanks to the newly redone Promenade Trail.
$6 parking fee
San Pedro Valley Park
When it’s a foggy day on the coast, you can often find sunshine at San Pedro Valley Park, tucked in the foothills of Pacifica. Exploring some of the park’s 10 miles of hiking trails affords many pleasant surprises, such as ocean views, a seasonal waterfall, freshwater creeks and maybe a bobcat. For a spontaneous drop-in picnic area, check out the tables at the start of Trout Farm Trail and fuel up for your ascent to the top of Montara Mountain.
Old Trout Farm picnic area at San Pedro Valley Park
If you are seeking a spot for a large group, the reservable North and South Walnut Grove picnic areas offer a mix of shade and sun and are adjacent to a large grassy meadow. Bring your own equipment to enjoy a game of horseshoes or volleyball.
$6 parking fee; self-guided tour available