Things to do in Marin County
-
A
Mt Tamalpais State Park
Mt Tamalpais State Park encompasses 6300 acres of parklands, plus over 200 miles of trails; get a map and don't miss East Peak. Panoramic Hwy climbs from Hwy 1 through the park to Stinson Beach, a mellow seaside town with a great beach. Park headquarters are at Pantoll Station, the nexus of many trails and location of a wooded first-come, first-served campground.
reviewed
-
B
Muir Woods
Wander among an ancient stand of the world's tallest trees in 550-acre Muir Woods, 12 miles north of the Golden Gate. The easy 1-mile Main Trail Loop leads past thousand-year-old redwoods at Cathedral Grove and returns via Bohemian Grove. Come midweek to avoid crowds; otherwise arrive early morning or late afternoon. Take Hwy 101 to the Hwy 1 exit, and follow the signs. No camping or picnicking is permitted.
reviewed
-
C
Bay Area Discovery Museum
At Fort Baker, the Bay Area Discovery Museum is cool for kids, with hands-on science exhibits, musical instruments, festivals and camps.
reviewed
-
D
Hiking Point Reyes
For an awe-inspiring view of Point Reyes National Seashore, follow the Earthquake Trail from the park headquarters at Bear Valley. The trail reaches a 16ft gap between the two halves of a once-connected fence line, a lasting testimonial to the power of the 1906 earthquake that was centered in this area. Another trail leads from the visitors center a short way to Kule Loklo, a reproduction of a Miwok village.
Limantour Rd, off Bear Valley Rd about 1 mile north of the Bear Valley Visitor Center, leads to the Point Reyes Hostel and to Limantour Beach. At the beach there's a trail that runs along Limantour Spit, with Estero de Limantour on one side and Drakes Bay on the other…
reviewed
-
Whale Watching
Gray whales may be seen at various points along the California coast, and the Point Reyes lighthouse is a superb viewpoint for observing these huge creatures on their annual 6000-mile migration. During summer, the whales feed in the Arctic waters between Alaska and Siberia. Around October, they start to move south down the Pacific coast of Canada and the USA to sheltered lagoons in the Gulf of California, by the Mexican state of Baja California.
The whales, led by the pregnant cows, pass Point Reyes in December and January. They're followed by pods of females and courting males, usually in groups of three to five, and then by the younger whales. The whales spend about two…
reviewed
-
Mountain Biking
Bikers must stay on fire roads (and off the single-track trails) and keep speeds under 15mph. The rangers take these rules seriously, and a ticket can result in a steep fine.
The most popular ride is the Old Railroad Grade. For a sweaty, 6-mile, 2280ft climb, start in Mill Valley at the end of W Blithedale Ave and bike up to East Peak. It takes about an hour to reach the West Point Inn from Mill Valley. For an easier start, begin partway up at the Mountain Home Inn and follow the Gravity Car Grade to the Old Railroad Grade and the West Point Inn. From the Inn, it's an easy half-hour ride to the summit.
From just west of Pantoll Station, bikers can either take the Deer Park…
reviewed
-
E
Hiking Marin Headlands
The headlands have some excellent mountain-biking routes, and there is no more exhilarating ride than the trip across the Golden Gate Bridge to reach them.
For a good 12-mile dirt loop, take the Coastal Trail west from the fork of Conzelman and McCullough Rds, bumping and winding down to Bunker Rd where it meets Bobcat Trail which joins Marincello Trail and descends steeply into the Tennessee Valley parking area. The Old Springs Trail and the Miwok Trail take you back to Bunker Rd a bit more gently than the Bobcat Trail, though any attempt to avoid at least a couple of hefty climbs on this ride is futile.
reviewed
-
F
Angel Island
Rising from the middle of the bay, Angel Island was devastated by a 2008 fire that burned 300 of the park’s 740 acres. As you explore this domed beauty, all around you’ll spot signs of the land repairing itself. You can spread out a picnic in a protected cove overlooking the close but immeasurably distant urban surroundings, or explore the island on foot or bicycle. The island has served as a military base, immigration station, WWII Japanese internment camp and Nike missile site, leaving it some interesting and thought-provoking forts, exhibits and bunkers to explore.
reviewed
-
G
Pelican Inn
The oh-so-English Tudor-style Pelican Inn is Muir Beach’s only commercial establishment. Hikers, cyclists and families come for pub lunches inside its timbered restaurant and cozy bar, perfect for a pint, a game of darts and warming up beside the open fire. The British fare is respectable, but nothing mind-blowing – it’s the setting that’s magical. Upstairs are seven luxe rooms (from $190), each individually decorated in Tudor style, with cushy half-canopy beds.
reviewed
-
H
Marine Mammal Center
Marine Mammal Center, on the hill above Rodeo Lagoon, is the largest marine mammal hospital in the world. In 2009 the center opened its all-green, solar-powered hospital, with observation decks for visitors to get close to the recovering patients (mostly seals and sea lions) before they’re released back into the wild. Spring brings oh-so-cute new pups – and the most visitors. Kids love the hands-on exhibits and see-through glass walls to the science labs and animal rooms.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Nick’s Cove & Cottages
Celeb SF chef Mark Franz runs the kitchen at Point Reyes’ only destination restaurant, a vintage-1930s roadhouse perched over Tomales Bay (20 minutes north of Point Reyes Station), with trophy heads mounted on knotty pine walls and a roaring fireplace. Book a window table to bird-watch while you sup on impeccable seafood, grilled meats and local oysters – all sustainably farmed. Reservations essential. The adjoining cottages are expensive ($355 to $700), but oh-so romantic.
reviewed
-
I
Hawk Hill
Every fall, migratory birds and raptors – including hawks, falcons and eagles – soar overhead at Hawk Hill. Because open water doesn’t support the thermals that birds need to stay aloft, they use the headlands to gain altitude for the 2-mile crossing of the Golden Gate. Bring binoculars. Go 1.8 miles up Conzelman Rd, park along the road and walk up the west side of the hill; for a map and details on which birds are there now, see www.ggro.org.
reviewed
-
J
Hog Island Oyster Co
Picnic on fresh local oysters in a bayside cove at this renowned oyster farm, which provides tables, barbecues, lemons, hot sauce, trays of ice, shucking knives and instruction. Bring wine, beer and other food items. Bay Area families come every year, and book months ahead for summer weekends (but you can sometimes show up without reservations late afternoons on Saturday and Sunday); best to come weekdays. Make reservations. If you love oysters, don’t miss it.
reviewed
-
K
Old St Hilary’s Church Museum
Commanding splendid views from its perch in Tiburon, Old St Hilary’s Church Museum is one of the country’s last examples of Carpenter Gothic architecture still in its original setting. The hillsides around the deconsecrated Catholic church comprise St Hilary’s Preserve, which nurtures a treasure trove of rare wildflowers, including the black jewel and Marin dwarf flax. Best in spring.
reviewed
-
L
Tennessee Valley Trail
Tennessee Valley Trail, in the Marin Headlands, offers beautiful views of the rugged coastline and is one of the most popular hikes in Marin (expect crowds on weekends). It offers easy, level access to the beach and ocean and is a short 3.8 miles, though it can get windy. From Hwy 101, take the Mill Valley-Stinson Beach-Hwy 1 exit and turn left onto Tennessee Valley Rd from the Shoreline Hwy; follow it to the parking lot and trailhead.
reviewed
-
Marin County Civic Center
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Marin County Civic Center is a long, beautiful structure blending into the hills directly east of Hwy 101; exit on N San Pedro Rd, 2 miles north of San Rafael. Tours begin here Wednesday at 10:30; reserve by calling 415-499-6646. The center hosts regular concerts and events, including the Marin County Fair each July and a farmers market every Thursday and Sunday morning.
reviewed
-
M
Fish
This kid-friendly dockside joint at the end of Harbor Dr hooks locals with sustainable, line-caught fish – some from their own boats – and down-home details, like picnic-table seating and Mason-jar glasses. Sustainability and organics have their price: the Saigon salmon sandwich will set you back $22 – but it’s worth it. No credit cards.
reviewed
-
N
Lark Creek Inn
Lark Creek Inn is in a lovely spot and is a fine-dining experience. It's housed in an old Victorian building tucked away in a redwood canyon, and the farm-fresh American food (roast veal, seared scallops, roasted chestnut ravioli) is gratifying. The main dining room has a Sunday dinner formality, but you can also dine in the adjacent bar.
reviewed
-
China Camp State Park
China Camp State Park, about 4 miles east of San Rafael is a pleasant place to stop for a picnic or short hike. From Hwy 101, take the N San Pedro Rd exit and continue 3 miles east. The name comes from the remains of a Chinese fishing village here, one of many Chinese shrimp-fishing encampments once prevalent around San Francisco Bay.
reviewed
-
O
Buckeye Roadhouse
A classic from the days when roadhouses were a common stop along the highway, the Buckeye is a Marin County gem. The food, American to the core, far surpasses traditional truck stop fare. Seared ahi (tuna) salad, fresh sole and Mongolian spiced pork chops appeal to contemporary taste buds and won't leave anyone hungry.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Point Reyes Bird Observatory
The Point Reyes Bird Observatory, off Mesa Rd west of downtown, has bird-banding and netting demonstrations, monthly guided walks, a visitors center and nature trail. Banding demonstrations are in the morning every Tuesday to Sunday from May to late November and on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday the rest of the year.
reviewed
-
P
Headlands Center for the Arts
In Fort Barry, you'll find the Headlands Center for the Arts. It's a refurbished barracks converted into artists' work spaces and conference facilities. The center hosts open studios with its artists-in-residence three times a year, and two or three times a month there are talks, performances and other events.
reviewed
-
Q
Sam’s Anchor Cafe
Everyone wants an outdoor table, but you can’t reserve the bay-front patio at this way-popular seafood and burger shack – the town’s oldest restaurant (look for the trapdoor that was used to spirit booze straight from ship to saloon). Good cioppino. Expect seagulls to alight tableside.
reviewed
-
R
Book Passage
Corte Madera is home to one of the Bay Area's best bookstores, Book Passage, in the Market Place shopping center. It has a strong travel section, plus frequent author appearances. San Anselmo has a cute, small downtown area, including several antique shops, along San Anselmo Ave.
reviewed
-
Point Reyes Lighthouse
[ourpick] Point Reyes Lighthouse, crowns the peninsula's westernmost point and is ideal for whale-watching. Our favorite hike: the bluff-top trail on the peninsula's north tip, Tomales Point, through herds of Tule elk. Take Pierce Point Rd.
reviewed
