The intersection of the 80 and the 580 with Central Avenue in Richmond is where you will find Costco, a tile outlet, and a couple of warehouses selling decorative rocks and gravel. However, in this unlikely area you will also find picnic areas, wetlands, a dog park, and a wonderful paved trail along the Bay which make the freeways seem remote. This is Point Isabel Regional Shoreline.
One component of the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline is the nation’s largest dog park; the dog park is fenced off from the San Francisco Bay Trail, so your kids can appreciate the dogs without being bowled over by an overly enthusiastic pup. Near the Isabel St. parking lot is the Mudpuppys Tub & Scrub and Sit and Stay Cafe, a cafe/dogwash. The San Francisco Bay Trail itself is flat and paved, so it is perfect for a family bike ride or for a brisk stroller walk.
We parked in the Rydin Road parking lot and walked about two miles on the Bay Trail, all the way to the Marina Bay Parks area. We ended up taking the right fork in the trail and ended up at Marina Bay Park – if we had taken the left fork instead, there is apparently a playground at Vincent Park.
Appealing aspects of the trail: dogs to watch, lots of birds and wildlife to see, easy parking, perfectly flat and paved, and gorgeous views of the Bay. The only negative aspect is that the trail is heavily used by bicyclists, some of whom seem to be going over the posted 15 MPH speed limit. Make sure to remind your kids to give approaching cyclists plenty of room to pass! Also, note that this area is often quite windy and foggy – dress in layers.
Activity review: Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline and Golden State Model Railroad Museum // Apr 26, 2010 at 1:36 pm
[...] not sure why the park isn’t more heavily used, especially since Point Isabel, which is just a few freeway exits further south, is always packed on a weekend. It is a mystery, [...]