Things to Do in Marin
Just across the Golden Gate Bridge, and minutes from downtown San Francisco, lies Marin County, California.
Surrounded by water on three sides, residents can explore wild and scenic California beaches, enjoy sailing and windsurfing in San Francisco Bay, or marvel at the ancient redwood forest on the slopes of legendary Mt. Tamalpais.
The natural environment of Marin County is breathtaking!
Marin County is conveniently located between San Francisco and the Napa and Sonoma Wine Country. Its warm, sunny climate makes it possible to enjoy Marin’s incredible outdoor attractions all year round.
Marin is a natural for outdoor recreation — mountain biking, hiking, fishing, bird watching, windsurfing, kayaking, golf and tennis.
Music, art and film festivals, and historical and cultural landmarks like the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Civic Center attract people from all over the world.
California-grown organic fruits and vegetables, artisan cheeses, fresh seafood and some of the world’s best wines appear on the menus in Marin’s many diverse restaurants.
Wine tasting, antique shopping and exploring Marin County’s quaint towns are all part of this California paradise.
Muir Woods
The road to Muir Woods is narrow and windy and the parking is limited. From Hwy. 101, Exit Hwy. 1/Stinson Beach. Follow the signs to Muir Woods National Monument.
Muir Beach
This crescent-shaped cove has a sandy beach with lots of privacy. It is strikingly beautiful with a creek and nearby dense woods providing opportunities to view wildlife: Monarch butterflies in the pine trees, salmon in Redwood Creek, and frogs in the marsh, fox, birds, deer, and coyote on the hills. Horses and dogs are can be found on the beach and some trails. The calm waves can be great for beginning boogie boarders and swimmers. Just up the road the Muir Beach Overlook provides a dramatic view of the California coastline.
McNears Beach
This 55-acre park is located along in San Rafael, in central Marin County. The park offers a sandy beach, a seasonal swimming pool, tennis courts, lawn and picnic areas, a horseshoe court and a 500-foot fishing pier.
Paradise Beach Park
This 19-acre park is on the east shore of the Tiburon Peninsula. It offers a sandy beach, lawn and picnic areas, a horseshoe court, and fishing pier.
Agate Beach
This 6.6-acre park is near Bolinas along the Pacific coastline. It provides access to almost two miles of shoreline at low tide and is a wonderful area to explore tidal pools.
Angel Island State Park
Access to the Island is by public ferry from San Francisco, Tiburon and Vallejo or by private boat. The beaches at Quarry Point and Ayala Cove are sandy and protected from the afternoon breezes. The water at Perle’s Beach can be considerably rougher and the beach is more exposed to wind and weather. The view, however, is spectacular, and Perle’s Beach is a delightful place for beachcombing.
Tomales Bay State Park
The 2,000-acre, day-use Park features four gently sloping, surf-free beaches, protected from winds by Inverness Ridge, the backbone of the Point Reyes Peninsula. The park has hiking trails and is a popular place for picnicking, swimming, clamming and boating.
China Camp State Park
The park is located along the San Pablo Bay shoreline; just minutes away from San Rafael on North San Pedro Rd. Visitors enjoy picnicking, wildlife-watching, hiking, swimming, fishing, boating and windsurfing.
Stinson Beach
White sandy beaches, crashing waves, and picnicking sites make Stinson Beach a popular destination for visitors year-round. The main entrance gate opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at about sunset. Lifeguards are on duty usually during the summer months. A sunny winter morning at Stinson Beach can be delightful.
Rodeo Beach
This picturesque beach can be accessed by a trail from Mill Valley. The beach provides sunning, walking, surfboarding, dog walking, restrooms, and a picnic area.
Tennessee Cove
The 1.8-mile hike to Tennessee Cove is a very popular beach hike in Marin. At the beach, the cove is surrounded by towering cliffs.
Kirby Cove
This quarter-mile-long pebbly beach has a tunnel which can be explored at low tide and offers great views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bonita Cove
A small and windswept beach with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Note: The beach disappears at high tide.
Steep Ravine Beach
Whale-watching cabins are available for rent. This rocky beach (no sand) is only usable during a very low tide. Look for the hot springs that appear at certain tide levels.
Red Rock Beach
Protected from the wind, this is a popular beach. Not a swimming beach; Frisbee and sunbathing are in order.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore and the Bear Valley Visitor Center.
McClures Beach
This is one of Marin’s most scenic beaches with rugged coastline framing both ends. During very low tides, often there are great tide pools at the south end.
Kehoe Beach
A half-mile walk alongside a marsh and over a sand dune takes you to Kehoe Beach. Once at the beach, turn left to explore the stream meandering to the Pacific Ocean. To the right, giant dunes offer adventurous explorations.
Pt. Reyes Great Beach (North and South Beaches)
South Beach and North Beach make up an incredible expanse of over 10 miles of undeveloped ocean beach to roam – also known as “Point Reyes Beach.” If you are looking for the drama of heavy surf this is the place to be. Please be very cautious near the water as “sneaker waves” have been known to drag unwitting victims out to sea.
Drakes Beach
This is one of the nicest beaches at the Point Reyes National Seashore. The tall cliffs provide shelter from the northwest summer winds. There is a visitor center, and a memorial to Sir Francis Drake here.
Limantour Beach
You can take long walks on Limantour Beach, over a mile in each direction. You can also wade, watch the birds, beach comb, or enjoy a picnic. The nearby Estero de Limantour is a favorite for bird watchers for its variety and number of birds.
Sculptured Beach
Tide pools, rock formations, a blowhole where the sea really does “blow through,” birds, passing whales and dolphins (bring binoculars), incredible sunsets, and great sand are just some of the things you could see here.
Wildcat Beach
South of Limantour Beach, near Alamere Falls, it is a 5.5-mile hike from the Palomarin trailhead in the southern part of Point Reyes. Wildcat Beach is one of the most beautiful, remote white sand beaches in California and a popular place for horseback riding.
Abbotts Lagoon Beach
This is a great place for bird watching. The sand dunes backing the beach are home to the endangered snowy plover.
