Any day is a good day to learn about protecting the environment, but in the spring it's Earth Day, taking place on April 22 every year and in “normal” times we would participate in a myriad of activities and events to help protect, preserve, and improve the planet we all share. These two-ish years have been a bit dystopian, but as we spring forward our hope is that slowly we will get back to normal and enjoy all that the Bay Area has to offer. So, whether you are looking for something to do with the family or by yourself, something quiet or an outdoor adventure, we've got you covered!
The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito
The center offers daily guided and audio tours, a great way to raise awareness of environmental issues. There are also many interesting exhibits and on clear days, you’re rewarded with stunning vistas of the city.
Getting there: The Marine Mammal Center is located at 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito, CA 94965.
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey
From jellies to penguins to sea otters and sharks, over 200 exhibits and 80,000 plants and animals that call the Monterey Bay Aquarium home. The first museum to have a living kelp forest, the array of exhibits is sure to enthrall tots, from watching marine mammals swim about in humongous tanks that imitate their natural habitats to watching them being fed.
Member days: May 1-14, Open for all: May 15
Getting there: 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940
Japanese Gardens San Mateo
This Japanese garden is designed by landscape architect, Nagao Sakurai of the Imperial Palace of Tokyo, and features a granite pagoda, tea house, koi pond and bamboo grove. Visit during spring/summer to feed the koi and catch cherry blossoms in full bloom. There’s also a mini-train that’ll delight kids, tennis courts and many picnic areas.
Getting there: 50 E 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401
Japanese Gardens Hayward
The garden was designed by Kimio Kimura. It follows Japanese garden design principles, using California native stone and plants. No stains were used on the wood constructions. Nails and fasteners are recessed, and all wood was notched, and aged, to simulate the appearance of a traditional Japanese garden.
Getting there: 22373 N 3rd St., Hayward, CA 94541
Cruised
A science museum and zoo for children and families where visitors see wild animals up-close and play with kid-friendly science exhibits. CuriOdyssey is home to nearly 100 rescued animals, most native to California, that cannot survive in the wild.
Getting there: 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401
Hiller Aviation Muse
An AvGeek's Nirvana. Beautifully curated exhibits show the past, present, and future of flight. Aircraft are beautifully restored and displayed with exciting angles and exceptional lighting. The museum has more than 50 aerospace vehicles along with companion descriptive displays concerning the history of flight.
Getting there: 601 Skyway Rd, San Carlos
Boat ride along Stow Lake
Take advantage of spring in full bloom by renting a paddle, electric, or row boat to tour this hidden gem. Situated in the middle of Golden Gate Park, the lake includes a 110-foot artificial waterfall, colorful Chinese pavilion, and a 125-year-old Stone Bridge. During springtime, visitors will also get the chance to see ducklings and goslings hatch! Rentals start at $24/hr.
Getting there: 1 Stanyan St, Unit 2, San Francisco, CA 94118
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Visit this beautiful garden at the peak of its bloom in spring. Situated within Golden Gate Park, the garden showcases over 8,000 species of plants. There are several different collections within the garden, such as Mediterranean and Tropical.
Getting there: 1199 9th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122
Golden Gate Park
The 55-acre “urban oasis” with more than 9,000 plants from around the world is always beautiful, but, for obvious reasons, is the most magical in the spring when so many flowers begin to bloom. Pack a picnic to enjoy on the grounds or wander through the gardens and visit flora from Australia, Chile, South Africa, and more, all in one afternoon. April is a good time to see magnolias in bloom, but there are always really cool plants to check out no matter when you go.
Getting there: 501 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Soar to new heights on Golden Gate Park’s SkyStar observation wheel
The giant Ferris wheel in the Music Concourse brought in to celebrate the park’s 150th birthday will stick around for longer than planned because it wasn’t open for most of last year.
Getting there: Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse, 1 Bowl Drive
Immersive Van Gogh
Step into the world of Vincent Van Gogh at this trippy exhibit with over 500,000 cubic-feet of illuminated projections of his work that will make you feel like you’re literally inside of his paintings. The “experiential journey” has been modified for COVID times, but still promises to be one of the most unusual and/or cultural things you’ve done in a very long time. Exhibit runs through the beginning of September.
Getting there: 10 South Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94103
Planterday: The Mission-Driven Mobile Plant Shop
Dedicated to destigmatizing mental health and promoting mental health resources. As official sponsors of Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, they donate a portion of their monthly proceeds to suicide prevention services in the local community.
Getting there: 6004 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
The Bay Area Ecology Center
A list of Bay Area environmental/sustainability related classes, workshops, exhibits, tours, films, and other events. Events posted are directly related to Ecology Center's main topic areas, and located mostly in the East Bay.
Getting there: 2530 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702
350 Bay Area
Building a grassroots climate movement in the Bay Area and beyond to eliminate carbon pollution and achieve a clean energy future with racial, economic, and environmental justice. San Francisco Bay Area residents building a grassroots movement for deep CO2 emission reductions.
They have local groups in most every county. They have hundreds of volunteers, supported by a small but mighty staff, working since 2012 to:
Raise awareness & urgency for the climate crisis; Mobilize to demand action at the speed & scale required to protect us all from the worst impacts; Support the voices of young people calling for a livable planet; Dig into policy options to get real emissions reductions actions
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Stop and smell the wildflowers!
Spring is when landscape is alive with carpets of colorful wildflowers. Check out some of the best wildflower displays on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
Arastradero Creek Loop (Pearson Arastradero Preserve)
3.7 miles Flowers peak: Late-March- Mid-April
The rolling hills in this preserve create a range of habitat
types offering refuge for a great diversity of wildflowers.
You’ll find the biggest patches of wildflowers along the sunny, southern-facing slopes.
Getting there: 1530 Arastradero Road,
1/4 mile north of Page Mill Road.
Bald Hills Loop (Calero County Park)
8.5 miles Flowers peak: Late-March- Mid-April
Enjoy a large outcropping of serpentine soil, offering big, showy HALF displays of native wildflowers. You’ll also enjoy views of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains and nearby Diablo Range.
Getting there: 23205 McKean Rd San Jose, CA 95141
Año Nuevo Point Trail (Año Nuevo State Park)
1.5 miles Flowers peak: April
Best known as the destination to see 5,000-pound elephant seals, Año Nuevo is also home to a spectacular display of spring wildflowers. This easy, gentle trail is good for all ages and abilities.
Getting there: 1 New Year’s Creek Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060
River Trail (Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park)
2 miles Flowers peak: April
Giant redwoods tower over the cool waters of the San Lorenzo River in this park. It contains one of the largest stands of old-growth redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and an abundance of spring flowers add to the beauty of this landscape.
Getting there: River Trail (Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park)
Arrowhead Loop (Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve)
4 miles Flowers peak: Late-March- Mid-April
Just a short drive from downtown San Jose, this preserve offers phenomenal views of Coyote Valley, the Diablo Mountain Range and a plethora of spring flowers. You don’t have to
complete the full loop to get your fill of spectacular flowers.
Getting there: From Highway 101, take Bailey Avenue west, Turn left on Santa Teresa Boulevard, Turn right on Palm Avenue. The preserve is at the end of Palm Avenue