School may be back in, but the weather is fine. If you're not quite ready to be kept inside on a beautiful day, let's play a little hooky. For a day outside and some fun on the cheap, Shoreline does the trick.
1. I'm on a boat
Start your day at Shoreline Lake, a great place for beginners to build confidence windsurfing or sailing before taking to the Bay. The Shoreline Aquatic Center rents paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, windsurfing gear, and sailboats on an hourly basis. You can also launch your own vessel for a launch fee of $6 for sailboats and $5 for any other type of boat. Those looking for a little extra instruction can take advantage of Shoreline's private lessons year-round and group lessons from February through October. Seafaring kids (ages 5 to 15) can also participate in Shoreline's Windsurfing and Sailing Camps.
2. The wheels are turning
The paved, flat Shoreline trails are perfect for families juggling strollers and young children as well as for bikers stretching out their legs on a lunch break. Walkers and cyclists can go off the main trail that circles Shoreline Lake and head towards the Bay, where the forests are home to burrowing owls and jackrabbits.
3. Reward those glutes
All that sailing and cycling can really work up an appetite, so be sure to stop at Shoreline's Lakeside Café. Lounge by the water on the outdoor patio with a Crissy sandwich ($8.25), Stella ($4.50/pint) and views of windsurfers and sailors.
4. Catch a concert
If you plan ahead, consider coordinating your trip to Shoreline with one of your favorite artist's concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. The outdoor amphitheater hosts festivals like Harmony by the Bay and concerts featuring Florence and the Machine, Dave Matthews Band, and Linkin Park
5. Okay, just a little homework
Built in 1867, the Rengstorff House is Mountain View's oldest historic house. Henry Rengstorff was a German immigrant who came to California in 1850 for the Gold Rush, but instead worked as a bay steamer and later as a farm laborer. In 1959, Rengstorff's descendents sold the house to the Newhall Development Company and by 1979 the house had been abandoned and vandalized by trespassers. The City of Mountain View purchased the house for $1 and moved it to Shoreline. Today, the Rengstorff House has gone through a $1.5 million renovation and is open as a free museum on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with guided tours led by docents dressed in period costume from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Directions
Take Caltrain to the San Antonio Caltrain Station. From there, take Bus 40 towards La Avenida & Shoreline.
Photos: Mirza Asad Baig, bongarang, viklahan, Shoreline Amphitheatre
By Sarah Destin