Marin Outdoors
What could be more ideal than floating on the still beauty of Sausalito's Richardson Bay in a kayak, languidly paddling past artistic houseboats, surrounded by the sunset-silhouetted Mt. Tamalpais. No kayaking know-how? No problem. All gear and training, are included.
Come aboard a 51 foot "Morgan Out Island" staysail ketch that is fast, exciting and fun. Enjoy romantic sunsets under the Golden Gate Bridge, the thrill of gliding past historic Alcatraz, Sausalito, and the breath-taking San Francisco waterfront by day and its glittering skyline by night.
Travel to this small coastal village and you'll understand why the locals are so grateful to call Stinson Beach their home. Located just 20 miles north of San Francisco, Stinson Beach is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and rests between the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the foot of Mt. Tamalpais. There are hundreds of miles of trails in the area, 3 miles of sand and more than 100 picnic benches in a 51 acre park adjacent to the beach.
Named by a Spanish explorer, Sausalito has always been a vibrant area. In the 1800s the area was known as Whaler's Harbor, and sailors and whalers flocked to the port for its safe harbor, saloons, bordellos and gaming houses. Today Sausalito is a favorite tourist destination, for its art galleries, restaurants, and boutiques lining Bridgeway, and for the beautiful and in some cases, funky homes that line the hills facing the bay as well as the harbor.
Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino named the area Punta de los Reyes, or Point of the Kings while sailing past the peninsula on Jan. 6, 1603, today a youthful, rural spirit sweeps rustic Point Reyes. The unincorporated town is at the south end of Tomales Bay. Families who have lived here for generations have resisted development and the community retains a romantic, small-town atmosphere.
This lush park, featuring old growth redwood trees, is a 560-acre site where one can experience the grandeur and natural cycles of a redwood forest. The Park offers six miles of trails including leisurely walks and strenuous hikes. Unpaved trails lead hikers out of the canyon and connect with trails in Mount Tamalpais State Park.
Mount Tamalpais is one of the most beautiful sights in Marin, attracting 1.3 million visitors annually. Mount Tamalpais stretches 2,571 feet above sea level, giving visitors on the mountain spectacular views of the ocean, San Francisco and the bay. Hiking and biking are the two most popular activities for visitors. Additionally, there are ample picnic grounds, a hillside amphitheater and campsites through out the 6,400-acre park.
Painted a cheery International orange, the Golden Gate Bridge spans one of the most famous harbor entrances in the world. A tourist hot-spot, this is considered to be the most photographed sites in San Francisco. The bridge connects Marin County with San Francisco.
Angel Island, one of California's beautiful State Parks, is hilly, grassy and a heavily forested haven in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. With more than 740 acres, this state park provides spectacular views of Marin County, San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.
The island is approximately one mile off the shores of the Tiburon waterfront and ferries dock directly off Angel Island in Ayala Cove. For more than six thousand years, Miwok Indians used the land as a fishing and hunting site. Afterwards, for almost 100 years - stretching from the Civil War to the Cold War - the island housed a variety of military installations. It also played a major role in the settlement of the West, serving both as a Public Health Service Quarantine Station, and an Immigration Station.
Transportation is easy via ferry from the Tiburon waterfront.
The Marin Headlands was a former military reservation that is now an urban national park. Some of the most dramatic views of San Francisco can be seen from its hillsides. This 12,000-acre protected area situated north of the Golden Gate Bridge is a great spot for hiking, biking and camping enthusiasts. At the turn of the century, American Armed Forces built 33 coastal defense batteries to defend the San Francisco Bay Area. Today visitors can take docent-led tours of Point Bonita Lighthouse in addition to self-guided tours on the trails to campsites, Rodeo Beach and several look-out points. With so many historical, recreational and nature activities, there's truly something for everyone. For complete park information visit
West Marin You can choose from hikes along the ridge of San Geronimo Valley, traipse through gorgeous pasturelands, view a sheep shearing demonstration, experience an organic olive ranch in a spectacular valley, walk among flowering orchards, discover an organic dairy or a ranch with spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay and the Point Reyes Peninsula
Head over the Golden Gate Bridge to one of the city's museums, explore the streets of Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach and Golden Gate Park; Ride a cable car, step out on the town, indulge your inner fashionista, discovering a vibrant mosaic of cultures and lifestyles.
Wine Country
California's Wine Country With so much to see and do, you'll want to plan to spend a day in Napa Valley or Sonoma County with just under an hours drive from Marin, California's beautiful wine country boasts award-winning wineries and restaurants, small historic villages and dynamic large towns, offering endless possibilities for enjoyment and exploration.
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