W
ith majestic Mount Tamalpais over-
looking Marin County, from its
Pacific Ocean shores to San Fran-
cisco Bay inlets, small towns nestled into
hillsides and a lively culinary and cultural
scene, there's no question that Marin is one
of the most idyllic places in California.
Tiburon, the county's southernmost
town, looks as though it were plucked from
the Mediterranean coast with its waterfront
restaurants, shops and cafés. Views of San
Francisco are the backdrop for sailboats
that help Tiburon retain its salty flavor as a
historic shipbuilding center.
In the west find a string of beach ham-
lets—Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, Bolinas—
where writers, poets and artists whet their
creativity and have long called this home.
Nature Lovers' Paradise
Further west is West Marin, a paradise for
nature lovers. Point Reyes National
Seashore offers secluded beaches dotted
with sea lions and elephant seals, lush
forests and a picture-perfect lighthouse
clinging to the rocky coast. In winter, Point
Reyes is one of California's top spots to view
gray whales on their annual migration.
Nearby are the blink-and-you'll-miss-
them towns of Point Reyes Station, Olema,
Inverness and Marshall, known for serving
locally-made cheese and fresh oysters from
the glistening waters of Tomales Bay.
Hikers and mountain bikers make a bee-
line for the trails of Mount Tamalpais, known
locally as Mt. Tam, where mountain biking
was born. A diverse terrain of redwood
forests, rolling hills, cascading waterfalls and
high trails and roads afford breathtaking, top-
of-the-world views of the Bay Area. It's an
unforgettable experience for visitors, who, if
short on time, can take it all in by car.
Visit Marin County a place that seems to,
simply, have it all.
MARIN COUNTY
The great outdoors, just minutes north
of the Golden Gate Bridge
HIKE, BIKE, EXPLORE
IDYLLIC MARIN
VISIT MARIN Visitmarin.org
B Y L A U R A D E L R O S S O
FIND YOUR OWN UNIQUE VIEW from atop Mt. Tam.
