46 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} several gardens. Feed hungry koi at the Japanese garden, and embrace whimsy by admiring the tiny, decorated homes at the fairy garden. Then stroll through the rose garden and marvel at its 100 varieties with playful names like Lady of Shalott, Good as Gold and Scentimental. SAN GREGORIO STATE BEACH – SAN GREGORIO Recognized as one of the state’s cleanest beaches (according to Heal the Bay), San Gregorio is a pocket beach bordered by dramatic bluffs just south of Half Moon Bay. A smattering of tables on the edge of the bluffs offer breathtaking views of the waves, basking beachgoers and the nearby bridge over San Gregorio Creek, which flows under Highway 1 and spills out onto the sand. As you savor the last bites of your meal, watch seagulls surf the skies, while sea rocket, beach bur and California sagebrush shiver gently in the PHOTOGRAPHY: ROBB MOST / JOHANNA HARLOW Walk off your meal on one of Huddart’s many shaded trails. For something less than a mile in length, opt for a gentle jaunt on the Skyline Trail through madrone trees, sword ferns and huckleberry or the mostly-level Chickadee Nature Trail through redwoods and chaparral. Meanwhile, hardcore hikers can take the nearly five-mile Crystal Springs and Dean trails loop, one of the park’s most popular routes. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for black-tailed deer tiptoeing through the brush. CENTRAL PARK – SAN MATEO If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of packing your own lunch, San Mateo Central Park is conveniently located blocks away from the city’s thriving downtown. Order takeout, then scout out this park’s plentitude of perfect picnicking spots. Choose to unfurl your blanket across the sprawling lawn, settle at the tables by the playground or dine on a bench in the shadow of Leon, the park’s towering giraffe sculpture. After lunch, explore the park’s
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