School has just started, the sun is finally out and many students are looking for something to do that will get them out of their rooms and into the sun. Here are 5 options that can add to the adventures of college education without breaking the wallet or bending the mind.

1. Kayaking in the San Francisco Bay: Sound adventurous? Well City Kayak makes it easy. For as little as $15 dollars one can rent a kayak and traverse the towers of the Bay Bridge while enjoying the views of the city and Yerba Buena Island or paddle over to SBC Park and watch a Giants game while floating in the bay.

2. Hiking in Muir Woods: As the temperature in San Francisco begins to heat up during this time of year Marin begins to cool down. Muir Woods, nestled in-between the headland hills, provides a beautiful day hiking experience. Equipped with misty trees, rolling hills and animals, Muir Woods it is one of San Francisco’s great day get-aways.

3. Biking Skyline Blvd: Although this adventure requires some logistical planning it is worth the effort. Skyline Blvd, which traverses along the coastal range toward Santa Cruz, yields some of the best biking the bay has to offer. Skyline has everything from single track advanced mountain biking to rolling paved roads for 10-speed bicycles. This area has something for everybody. Maps of bike routes and trails are available on-line and can also be obtained at local bicycle shops throughout the city. A simple Internet search for “Skyline Blvd. biking” will bring up recourses and maps to follow. This area is another place for day hiking if biking sounds like too much work.

4. Rock Climbing at Mission Cliffs: If all this outdoor non-sense seems like to much or your transportation apparatus is non-existent than indoor rock climbing here in San Francisco might be just the answer. Mission Cliffs offers a huge 16,000 sq. foot facility with climbing walls as high as 50 feet. Rates at Mission Cliffs range from $15 before 3pm to $24 after. This pricing includes all the gear needed to tackle the walls and a belay class to show the ropes.

5. Getting out with a guide: The great outdoors can be a real adventure and sometimes it helps to have a guide. The Bay Area has a couple of excellent alternatives for students who don’t want to go out and get lost in the woods. These groups offer a relaxed educational environment while also creating a place for people to meet. These guided adventures do almost anything from horseback riding in Marin to wind surfing in the East Bay. Some of these groups offer discounts to students. There is a list of groups provided here to help find the right adventure group.

The Bay Area offers a large variety of activities to choose from. The Internet is the best source to find out how to get out and where to go. No matter what adventure is undertaken, remember to always bring water, food, sunscreen, a little money. Get out there and enjoy.

City Kayak
(415) 357-1010
` www.citykayak.com

Bay Area Outdoor Adventure Club
(415) 954-7190
www.sfoac.com

Outdoors Unlimited
www.outdoors.ucsf.edu