Ano Nuevo State Park

Ano Nuevo State Park is a coastal park just an hour's drive south of San Francisco. It offers similar activities and sights as most Bay Area parks: endless hiking up and down hills that offer dramatic views of the endless Pacific Ocean. What makes Ano Nuevo unique is its unique inhabitants: elephant seals, huge beasts that drag themselves on shore for mating and breeding rituals. Depending on when you visit, you could either witness brutish males fighting each other mating rites or females giving birth to their pups. The elephant seals are protected marine animals, so seeing these interesting creatures involves scheduling a docent-led tour ahead of time.