Tomales Bay State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tomales Bay State Park |
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Tomales Bay from Heart's Desire Beach, Tomales Bay State Park
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| Location | Marin County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Inverness, California |
| Area | 2,000 acres (810 ha) |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Tomales Bay State Park is a beautiful California state park located in Marin County, California. This park covers about 2,000 acres (which is about 8 square kilometers). It's split into two main parts: one on the west side of Tomales Bay and another on the east side.
The biggest part of the park is on the west side. It's part of the Point Reyes peninsula and is right next to Point Reyes National Seashore, which is managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Tomales Bay State Park is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of the city of San Francisco.
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Discover the Park's Past
The land where Tomales Bay State Park now sits was home to the Coast Miwok people for thousands of years. They lived here long before Europeans arrived.
Early Explorers Arrive
In 1579, a British explorer named Sir Francis Drake landed in this area. About 25 years later, a Spanish explorer named Sebastián Vizcaíno also arrived. He named the spot "La Punta de Los Tres Reyes," which means "Point of the Three Kings." This name was a nod to the Feast of the Three Kings. Later, the name was changed to Point Reyes.
How the Park Was Created
For a long time, most of Point Reyes remained undeveloped because it was quite far away from big cities. The main part of the peninsula was used for farming, especially for making dairy products.
Over time, some beach areas along Tomales Bay started to be bought by private owners. To make sure everyone could still visit the bay, conservation groups and the state of California began buying land too. Tomales Bay State Park officially opened on November 8, 1952. When much of the rest of Point Reyes became part of Point Reyes National Seashore, Tomales Bay State Park stayed as a state park.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
The west side of Tomales Bay State Park has four lovely beach areas: Indian Beach, Heart's Desire Beach, Pebble Beach, and Shell Beach.
- Heart's Desire Beach: This is the only beach you can reach by car. It has two parking areas, picnic spots, and restrooms. There's even a swimming area with a floating platform, perfect for a dip on a warm day!
- Other Beaches: Indian Beach, Pebble Beach, and Shell Beach can only be reached by walking on trails or by boat. They are great for exploring if you like a little adventure.
Learn About the Miwok People
At Indian Beach, you can find a special program that teaches you about the Miwok people. They have even rebuilt two Miwok homes so you can see what they looked like long ago!
Millerton Point
The east side of the park is mostly natural and undeveloped. The only facilities there are a picnic area and restrooms at Millerton Point. It's a quieter spot to enjoy nature.
Images for kids
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Tomales Bay from Heart's Desire Beach, Tomales Bay State Park
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Heart's Desire Beach is a great spot for swimming and picnics.
