But this is not Ireland. This is the Point Reyes Seashore, a couple walking along the road an awe-inspiring landscape that brings together the land and the sea in a concoction sure to stimulate the senses. Broad, sweeping, rolling hills of green work their way to the craggy cliffs that signal the beginning of the Pacific Ocean. Best of all, this area is relatively untouched by man. Altogether there are 125 miles of trails and most times you won't be bothered by droves of other tourists.



A weekend away and a world apart might be a good way to summarize a getaway to the Pointe Reyes Seashore, a startling contrast with the metropolitan area that is so close to the south. In fact, once you cross the Golden Gate Bridge, or perhaps the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge coming from the East Bay area, there is a definite line of demarcation between city and country. Oh, there are cities up here all right ? but it's obvious this part of the Bay area was built up by people who wanted to leave the bustle of the city behind them when they retreated from a demanding day at the office.

One of the scenic ways to reach the Point Reyes Seashore is to cross on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and turn off on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, a slow, meandering two-lane road that weaves in between the forested hills and mountains of Marin County and other locales north of San Francisco. Once we exited onto Sir Francis Drake, we passed a bay full of ferryboats waiting to return to the city to bring commuters home for the evening. Then the road took us deeper into forests that we never realized were there.

Check out San Anselmo for antiques, with more antique stores for a small town than just about any other place in California. More than 130 antique dealers are tucked into just a few blocks of this inviting small town where tree-lined streets and historic architecture suggest a quiet, simple life enhanced by the natural beauty of the forested hills and many nearby vistas.

A little further up the road is the Samuel P. Taylor State Park with its 2,700 acres of redwood forests and grassland. It's a quiet place to stop a boat lying on its side on landor a picnic. Enjoy the sounds of the babbling brook, the wind gently rustling the trees and the scenic splendor that made this the first park in California that was set aside specifically for city people to go visit.

Just about an hour's drive from the San Francisco Bay, we reached our base of operations while in the Point Reyes area ? the Point Reyes Seashore Lodge. While not actually on the seashore ? there are no lodgings on this part of the coast ? this comfortable country inn is located very close to the action. The Seashore area's Bear Valley Visitor Center is just a two-minute drive from the lodge, and the town of Point Reyes is only a little bit farther.

Even without the seashore nearby, the Point Reyes Seashore Lodge is an enchanting retreat of its own with its unique architecture ? kind of a cross between a Cape Cod mansion and a modern hunting lodge ? and its peaceful grounds. The lodge is located in the tiny town of Olema, where Sir Francis Drake meets Coastal Highway 1. There are a couple of restaurants in town and not much else, but our suite at the lodge offered a warm fire, plenty of reading materials and a gorgeous view from our balcony overlooking the lawns, walkways and streams that are all part of the inn's two-acre backyard.

After settling in, we took one look at the sunny weather and decided it was time to quickly make our way out to the far reaches of the Point Reyes Seashore ? about a 45-minute drive from the inn ? where we wanted to visit the famed Point Reyes Lighthouse. Weather in this part of California is a little tricky. Fog can come at any time of the year, although the tendency in winter is for it to be foggy in the interior, yet clear out on the coastline. In summer, that often is reversed.

During our winter visit, we enjoyed clear views all the way out to the Seashore as we drove along the "Irish" countryside, making our way ever closer to the spectacular cliffs leading to the sea. Along the two-lane country road, Point Reyes Lighthouse encountered several historic dairy farms that the National Park Service is allowing operators to maintain. Fascinating to us were the numbers of deer we were encountering throughout the area ? not just a deer or two, but clusters of them and all pretty tame.

Along the way to the lighthouse, we saw several signs for roads leading to the park's many beaches. We took a little side trip down to Drake's Beach where it is surprising to see, on this pristine beach, a National Park Service restaurant. This and other Point Reyes beaches are wilderness beaches that seem to put you in tune with Nature. An airplane could have you in San Francisco in 10 minutes ? but this felt like the other side of the world.

At the end of the road was the lighthouse, an easy'if slightly uphill'15-minute walk from where vehicles are parked. The lighthouse is way out on a cliff and, just beyond, there are miles and miles of open sea. From the Lighthouse Visitor Center it is a 308-step walk down to the lighthouse ? which is also 308 steps back up. Many visitors are content to enjoy the views from the observation area. On the day we were there, those views included several migrating whales that are easily visible with binoculars.

Near the lighthouse are several trails that take you out to breathtaking ledges where there the powerful sea washes onto the rocky coastline hundreds of feet below.

After a fair amount of exploring, we next drove our way back to the Bear Valley Visitor Center to get some maps and information for further exploration of the preserve. It soon became obvious that our quick overnight trip to Point Reyes would only scratch the surface of the natural attractions in this area. In the north part of the preserve, for example, you can find herds of elk. Or you can take a short walk from the Visitor Center up to Kule Loklo, a replica of a Coast Miwok Indian Village.

We took a little hike from the Visitor Center along the Earthquake Trail, where the path follows the San Andreas fault line. It's incredible when you see just how much the ground moved during the 1906 earthquake -- the two sections now are 20 feet apart.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Point Reyes National Seashore is just an hour's drive north of the San Francisco Bay area. It's easy to include in any Northern California vacation itinerary.

WHAT: The park is an expansive area that, for the most part, has been left untouched by man and offers a close-up look at the rugged natural beauty of the California coastline.

WHEN: Year-round. Temperatures in the area are moderate, although fog can develop. Always check for travel deals and vacation packages during the shoulder seasons. Last minute travel deals are sometimes possible, depending upon the lodging operator.

WHY: The park provides easy access to a wide variety of trails and natural attractions sure to appeal to visitors of all ages. There are other attractions not too far away: Drive inland a ways and you'll start to come across several California wineries. Even the big city's not far away with San Francisco just an hour's drive. If you're looking for variety, this is a great place to go for your Northern California vacation.

HOW: For more information on Point Reyes National Seashore, go to www.nps.gov/pore/. For more information on Point Reyes Seashore Lodge, phone (415) 663-9000 or visit www.pointreyesseashore.com.