The San Francisco Bay Trail Project launched an innovative free smart phone audio tour app to guide trail enthusiasts along segments of the Bay Trail. "The Bay Trail on Tour enables people of all ages to get out on the Bay Trail and hear stories about amazing places right in our backyard," stated Laura Thompson, project manager for the San Francisco Bay Trail. The Bay Trail on Tour melds together three aspects of what makes the Bay Area unique: innovative technology, awe-inspiring Bay views, and an active lifestyle.
The tours are rich in scenic and unique Bay Area destinations, spanning 37.5 miles of Bay Trail, with 12 options to choose from including wetlands in Novato, Sears Point in Sonoma County, Alviso in San Jose, and Bair Island in Redwood City. The App features hikes ranging from two miles to five miles, with the narrated tours lasting from one to three hours.
"The Bay Trail on Tour is the Bay Area at its best," said Doug McConnell, host of OpenRoad on NBC Bay Area and narrator of the audio tours throughout the region. "Whether you live in the Bay Area, or you're just visiting, with your smart phone and good walking shoes you can get to know this place while spending time outside."
To participate, people can download the free Vizzit Places app (available in iOs and Android), then walk and listen to at least five of the twelve audio tours hosted by Bay Area TV personality Doug McConnell. A limited-edition Bay Trail on Tour t-shirt will be available to the first 100 people to listen to five tours until Labor Day 2017.
Eleven audio tours were funded by the California Coastal Conservancy, a state agency that aims to protect and restore the California coast and connect people to the coast's natural resources. The Shoreline at Mountain View tour was made possible through a sponsorship from Google's Real Estate & Workplace Services organization. Vizzit Places worked closely with local historians, shoreline managers, and scientists to develop the tours.
The details and locations of the Bay Trail on Tour can be found at baytrail.org/get-on-the-trail/audio-tours. For more information, visit the website at baytrail.org or contact Laura Thompson, Project Manager, San Francisco Bay Trail, laurat@abag.ca.gov, (415) 820-7935.
About the San Francisco Bay Trail
The San Francisco Bay Trail is a planned 500-mile walking and cycling path around the entire San Francisco Bay running through all nine Bay Area counties, 47 cities, and across seven toll bridges. Currently, over 350 miles of trail are open to the public.