Nick's Rockaway

Beachfront at Rockaway Beach: outdoor heated pool and whirlpool, direct beach access, free parking, and Nick's restaurant next door. The affordable coastal-family basecamp 20 minutes from SF.

A brewpub by the beach with a kids' menu of mac and cheese, chicken tenders and cheese pizza, and hula hoops to keep kids busy.

A converted rail car on Highway 1 serving smoky brisket and combo plates. Takeout and fast, easy to eat at the beach or a nearby park.

Bluff trails with steps to the top, ponds dug for California red-legged frogs, and a path down to the black sand of Sharp Park Beach.