Literally a few minutes from San Francisco — just over the Golden Gate Bridge — rests the Marin Headlands, a picturesque expanse of undeveloped land with miles of hiking & biking trails, dramatic seaside cliffs and sweeping ocean vistas. It once served as a WWII military outpost and you can still poke around the decommissioned concrete batteries dotting the cliffside landscape. Today, the area serves as a nearby nature escape when San Francisco proves too much for the man.

One of its more interesting features is an 1855 lighthouse that sits at the end of an easy and incredibly scenic walk. The “hike” clocks in at a sweat-free .5 miles (yep, there’s a point in front of that five). Along the way, you’ll pass brilliant wildflowers, duck through a rocky hillside tunnel, and traverse a Calatrava-esque suspension bridge that sways gently over a precipice with deadly crocodiles lurking below. Okay, maybe no crocodiles, but it is really cool. There’s great history here for those that are interested, but the setting alone will make it worth it for most. Just mind those jackets. It was nice the day these photos were taken, but don’t be surprised if a thick marine layer drapes the hills with nasally fog horns honking in the distance.

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