Activities & Surrounding Area

West Marin is one of the jewels of the San Francisco Bay Area. Stinson Beach, the West Marin town closest to San Francisco, is a small beachside town with less than 1,000 year round residents. It is the biggest, nicest beach within striking distance of the urban pleasures that abound in Northern California. Less than an hour from San Francisco, and only 30 minutes from Mill Valley and the picturesque town of Sausalito, it's an ideal location from which to explore all that the Bay Area has to offer.

Yet when you are at Stinson, you are surrounded by nature. Surfing, swimming, hiking on Mt Tamalpais, the majestic redwoods of Muir Woods, and the Audubon Canyon Ranch Bird Preserve are part of the bounty of West Marin. Walking on the beach you can spot seals and many, many birds as the nearby Bolinas Lagoon is a vital part of the Pacific Flyover for migrating birds.

The towns of Bolinas, Olema, and Point Reyes Station are all easily accessible. Within an hour's drive are the towns of Tomales Bay and Occidental, famous for it's old Italian restaurants.

Stinson beach offers several restaurant options, as do the surrounding towns. Fresh oysters, mussels, and clams can be picked up nearby, as can a wide variety of fresh produce from local farms. There is an outstanding weekly farmer's market in Pt. Reyes featuring locally grown organic produce.