Just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, Marin County welcomes you with a dramatic shift from an urban to untamed landscape. Roughly half of Marin County’s acreage is preserved as parkland or agricultural land, and the other half harbors tiny towns and rural hamlets.
Often called simply “Marin” (pronounced, muh-RIN), spend your time here as locals do—savoring hikes and outdoor activities, dining at top-notch eateries, browsing boutiques, and day-tripping to friendly outposts along the wild coast. Chart your explorations through Marin County’s main towns and scenic outdoor spaces:
Courtesy SeaTrek/Sam Huff
Sausalito
Just north of San Francisco, the waterfront town of Sausalito occupies a picture-perfect spot on the southern tip of Marin’s peninsula. Celebrated for its colorful community of houseboats moored on the bay and Victorian cottages perched on steep hillsides, the town is ideally suited for leisurely strolls along the water’s edge, with tasty stops at seafood restaurants and ice cream shops. To see this nautical town from the water, join a SeaTrek kayaking tour and paddle out on Richardson Bay.
Spend a night or two at Casa Madrona or The Lodge at Cavallo Point, and you’ll have time to explore beyond the town limits.
Hiking in the Marin Headlands
Miles of trails lace the Marin Headlands’ 2,100 acres of seaside bluffs, chaparral-draped valleys, and sandy beaches. For hikers, bikers, birders, and nature lovers, this means myriad trail options, from an easy circle around Rodeo Lagoon to a challenging trek up Hill 88.
Landmarks and Photo Spots: Point Bonita Lighthouse & Kirby Cove
For unbeatable coastal vistas, tour the Point Bonita Lighthouse, an 1877 landmark with sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Farallon Islands. Take a drama-filled walk through a hard-rock tunnel and across a pedestrian suspension bridge to reach the cliff-hugging lighthouse, perched above crashing waves.
History buffs can tour relics from the headlands’ long history of military occupation, including aging bunkers and batteries and a restored 1954 Nike missile site. Campers vie for spots at Kirby Cove, where every tent has a Golden Gate view.
Mill Valley
Much loved for its inviting cafes and eclectic boutiques, woodsy Mill Valley anchors the base of mighty Mount Tamalpais, the 2,571-foot peak that separates Marin’s sunny suburbs from its wild, windswept coast.
Start the day with an espresso at The Depot Café or Equator Coffee, then browse the gift-worthy treasures at the revamped Mill Valley Lumber Yard, home to Makers Market, Lulu Designs Jewelry, and a half-dozen more shops. Come during October for the 10-day Mill Valley Film Festival, known for showing plenty of Oscar contenders.
Mount Tamalpais
Next, explore Mount Tamalpais State Park: Drive the zigzagging Panoramic Highway to Pantoll Ranger Station, where trails fan out. Hike Easy Grade Trail to the historic Mountain Theater or trek a 7-mile loop to Stinson Beach.
Muir Woods
If the fog has obscured the panorama from Mount Tam’s East Peak, pay a visit to Muir Woods National Monument, where misty weather makes the redwood trees seem even more magical. Muir Woods’ spectacular old-growth grove offers hiking trails for all abilities. Parking is limited, so make reservations online before you go.
San Rafael
San Rafael, Marin’s largest town and its county seat, is dotted with stunning architecture, including the Mission San Rafael Arcángel and the Rafael Theater, which was featured in the 1973 film American Graffiti thanks to Marin County local George Lucas.
The city’s Fourth Street is a hub of coffee shops, bistros, and boutiques clustered near the five-story AC Hotel San Rafael, where the rooftop lounge Above Fifth serves an elevated tapas menu and sublime sunset views. Wander around downtown, then fan out a few blocks to the Falkirk Cultural Center and the Marin History Museum, two stunning gingerbread Victorians filled with local history and art.
Marin Civic Center
San Rafael also boasts the Marin Civic Center, an architectural masterpiece designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Sign up for a 90-minute docent-led tour or download the mobile app and guide yourself through its airy buildings decked out with atriums, skylights, balconies, arches, and a massive dome with a 172-foot-tall spire.
Next door to the Civic Center is the chef-loved Marin Farmers' Market. Hailed as one of the largest farmer’s markets across the state, this abundance of produce, honey, oils, and so much more is open year-round on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Marin County Fair
At the adjacent fairground, the Marin County Fair delivers carnival fanfare in July: dizzying rides, live music, livestock exhibits, food and wine competitions, and nightly fireworks. Open from 11 a.m.–11 p.m. daily, the fair runs July 1–5.
Muir Beach and Stinson Beach
Most of Marin’s population resides on the county’s eastern side; to the west lies the untamed Pacific. Redwood Creek flows downhill from Muir Woods and empties into the ocean near Muir Beach, a cozy enclave of homes perched above a crescent-shaped cove.
Surfers drive to the sprawling Muir Beach parking lot and lug their towels and boards to the silky sand, while hikers set out on the rugged Coastal Trail. Eleven miles of steep ups and downs deliver you to the Golden Gate Bridge, and much shorter walks pay off with windswept coastal vistas. Hikers can replace lost calories at the delightfully British Pelican Inn, a Tudor-style country pub serving shepherd’s pie and Blackthorn Cider.
For more coastal time, drive Highway 1 north to the 3.5-mile-long shoreline at Stinson Beach, Marin’s most popular sunbathing destination. Stinson has only 300 residents, but a handful of businesses serve beachgoers’ needs. Taste the clam chowder at Parkside Café or the shrimp tacos at Breakers Café, or spend the night in a cozy bungalow at Surf Lodge.
Bolinas
Heading north from Stinson Beach, Highway 1 hugs the edge of Bolinas Lagoon. A sharp left turn on Olema-Bolinas Road leads south 2 miles to Bolinas, a community that clings to its free-spirited heritage. Locals cherish the town’s geographic isolation, but visitors are welcome to enjoy its alluring beaches and quirky landmarks.
See the work of local artists and learn about the town’s colorful history at the Bolinas Museum. Take a sunset stroll on Agate Beach, taste the blackberry pie at Coast Café, or chat with the locals at Smiley’s Saloon, which may be the West Coast’s oldest continually operating saloon (the bartenders kept pouring drinks during the Prohibition years).
Point Reyes National Seashore
The farther west you travel in Marin County, the more rural and restful the landscape. On the Pacific’s edge, Point Reyes National Seashore stretches across 70,000 acres. The triangular-shaped peninsula is home to a mosaic of beaches, lagoons, estuaries, and ponds that frame its densely wooded interior. Wisps of fog wash over forested hills, and tule elk roam in coastal meadows.
A perfect day in Point Reyes might include a visit to its stunning beaches, where breakers pound and elephant seals haul out, or a tour of the 1870 Point Reyes Lighthouse, a lonely sentinel on the West Coast’s windiest and foggiest point. Or simply stop at a trailhead and go for a hike; the preserve has 150 miles of paths to explore. Afterward, kick back at cafes and lodgings in three charming small towns: Olema, Inverness, and Point Reyes Station.
More Places to Discover in Marin County
Marin County also encompasses several islands, including popular Angel Island, a 760-acre landmass located 1 nautical mile from Tiburon. Ten times larger than its neighbor island, Alcatraz, Angel Island is preserved as a California State Park and offers myriad outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, camping, and historic sites.
To get there, take a 12-minute cruise with a salty bay breeze on the scenic Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry. Before or after, make time to wander along Tiburon’s waterfront, shop its stylish boutiques, or sip a cocktail on a café deck overlooking the bay.