The views from the top of Mount Tamalpai State Park can be breathtaking. It takes a small drive to get there but it is not far off of Hwy 101/Hwy 1 exit in Marin County. Near by is Muir woods where there are towering redwoods you can walk through from the forest floor, another beautiful site.
If you are planning a day trip or picnic this is the perfect place; easliy accessable, gorgeous views and a large number of trails for a range of enthusiasts. If you are just looking for a location to drive to it is great, but to park and hike there is a State park fee. For Bicyclists this can be a challenge, make sure your conditioning is up to par because wherever your starting point you are going to have alot of vert to overcome. There is also camping, but I have not camped there, so I can not relate the experience. The best seasons to go to Tamalpai is the spring or the fall because of the lack of fog. In the summer months there is so much heat inland that the temperature draws the coastal fog into San Francisco and sometimes the bay it can obscure a lot of the views west/southwest of the peak. East of the peak is still very visible on a majority of days thoughout the year from there you can see Mount Diablo, Alcatraz, Angel Island, the Bridges, bay cities, and the bays of San Francisco.
If you decide to drive to the peak there is an area to park and take a very small hike to the top with an astounding view that overall gets all 360 degrees (there is a station at the top you can walk around but not enter). What's also pretty cool is the number of dragonflys and birds; a very unique selection for wildlife watchers. Make sure to bring some water and layered clothes for weather can change very quickley on the northern california coast - fog can and will role in swiftly.
Getting there: if you are coming in from the north there is an enterance through Larkspur. I would highly reccomend the hwy 1/stinson beach enterance for it is very user friendly and has very well defined signs pointing you the way. Gas for this trip is not bad at all because the peak of Tamalpai is only about 20 miles (road travel) from the highway if that so you can easliy add that mileage to whereever you are coming from. Safe travels!!!!
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