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Shikha la mode

Eating Life to its Fullest in San Francisco, CA.

Home » Travel » Travel Tomales Bay: Hiking + Oysters

April 3, 2016

Travel Tomales Bay: Hiking + Oysters

Tomales Bay Hiking Tomales Bay Hiking Tomales Bay HikingTomales Bay Hiking Tomales Bay HikingTomales Bay Hiking Tomales Bay Hiking Tomales Bay oyster shucking

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Usually on weekends, I like to be outside as much as possible. We spend our entire week inside an office space (or forcing ourselves to stand, if you have a standing desk), so it’s extremely refreshing to me to get the F outside and enjoy the awesomeness that is California. Half the reason for living here is that we have easy access to some of the best nature spots in the country within a few hours of San Francisco. So why not explore?

That’s what I got to do on Saturday. For one of my best friend’s birthdays, we gathered the troops, carb loaded with some delicious pastries, and set off to hike Tomales Bay and shuck oysters.

As a Bay Area native, it was actually my first time shucking oysters and let me tell you, it is NOT easy. BUT it is super fun and a great way to spend an afternoon after a hearty hike. While I’m still nowhere close to being a master oyster shucker, I did pick up these tips:

  • Not all places in Tomales Bay give you shucking tools, so it’s best to bring your own. We got shuckers (is that what they’re called?) and gloves from Amazon Prime (everyone’s saving grace) and they worked great.
  • I’m convinced that the key to shucking is having someone in the group who’s done it before so they can lead the way. There are a few ways to efficiently shuck, so you’ll have to try and see what works best for you.
  • Don’t forget the condiments—you gotta eat the oysters! Pack lemon wedges, horseradish, barbecue sauce, cocktail sauce, and anything else that strikes your fancy.
  • Champagne and oysters are a great combination as well—as pairings and as toppings (don’t ask).

Tomales Bay Hiking


With regards on hikes, here’s an overview of what we did:

Heart’s Desire Beach { A beachside hike perfect for a sunny day. Pro Tip: There is barely any phone reception here, so download your hiking map onto your phone beforehand. The paths here aren’t that intuitive, and if you’re not careful, you can get lost like we did and have to hitchhike back to the beach! }

Chariot { I’ve become obsessed with using Chariots to shuttle groups to events. I used one while wine tasting last month and it was great to use again for Tomales Bay. The drivers are all professional and reliable, which lets your group be in charge of food/drinks for the bus, and most importantly, the road trip playlist }

Cowgirl Creamery { Grab a number and get ready to try ALL the cheese you can. Bring your own bread and crackers, and pick up whatever cheeses and condiments you want for a later afternoon meal. I’m a sucker for Marcona almonds and honeycomb slathered onto a baguette with Mt. Tam cheese }

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Cowgirl Creamery, Heart's Desire Beach, Hiking, mt Tam, oyster shucking, Tomales Bay, Travel, Weekend

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. dixya | food, pleasure, and health says

    April 4, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    this is such a fun activity omg..i have never shucked an oyster but i think it will be a neat experience.

    Reply
    • Shikha says

      April 7, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      It was my first time too – definitely a lot harder than I thought it would be, but really fun when in a group!

      Reply
  2. Nordstrom coupon says

    May 17, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    Over the course of the initial period, they began to form group identities.

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Trackbacks

  1. Travel Petaluma: Lagunitas Brewing Company - Shikha la mode says:
    May 22, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    […] a Chariot { I wrote about Chariot in my Tomales Bay post, and I cannot understate how amazing I find them. Meant originally for commuting within San […]

    Reply

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About

Shikha here - a pastry chef, runner, and writer based in San Francisco. I've worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants and blasted a lot of hip hop during prep service. Now I develop recipes, write, run races, and teach classes so you too can eat life to its fullest.

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