Reap the Sights at Bahia Marsh

The gift-giving holidays are over, but there are still gifts to be discovered.

Here are two that can be combined into one: Time and the Bahia Marsh.

Time is the best gift one can give a loved one. Spend some time together, strolling through Novato's Bahia Marsh. It's is one of the best gifts one can truly share with family and friends, young and old.

The Marin Audubon Society purchased 632 acres from the Bahia Residential Development in 2003 to restore the once-navigable lagoon, which is now silted over. The Audubon Society donated 208 wooded acres to Marin County Open Space, 362 to the state Department of Fish and Game. The remaining 62 acres were restored to tidal and seasonal wetlands. The Audubon Society is still working on the restoration, and you can view it via the levee trails.

Now enjoy the Marin Audubon Society's gift. Park at the end of the Bahia Drive or Topaz Drive to access the Bahia Marsh levee walk. The levee trails are short, dry and level, making the navigation of strollers easy.

Note: If you bring along your four-legged friend/s, they need to be leashed at all times. Make sure to bring your binoculars, cameras to catch a closer glimpse of the many species of shore birds. See how many different species of birds you can count and think about signing up for the Marin Audubon Society's annual Bird Count on Christmas Day 2012.