travel

what are some cities and towns I can visit while in the bay area?

We definitely recommend making a ‘whole trip’ out of your visit to Marin this August, if you can make that happen. There is so much to do and see in the Bay Area and beyond. Here are just a few things …

San Francisco

Of course, there’s always something interesting happening in San Francisco; the SFMOMA, Contemporary Jewish Museum, the de Young Museum, and the Legion of Honor all offer amazing collections (and some fascinating architecture too!).

With the kids, make sure to visit the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, eat at their delicious cafeteria, and then finish off the day with a spin around the carousel at Koret Playground nearby. Or, visit the Children’s Creativity Museum in the SOMA neighborhood near downtown — they’ve got a carousel too, and an amazing urban playground area. Then walk across Howard Street to the Yerba Buena Gardens, where there’s a beautiful waterfall fountain installation honoring MLK Jr., and some food options.

There are amazing restaurants in San Francisco, landmarks, cool sites to visit, and funky neighborhoods to explore.

Marin County

Marin is home to the cities and towns of Sausalito, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax, San Rafael, Novato, and many more incredible towns in West Marin. If your little ones are with you, the Discovery Museum in Sausalito is a fantastic place to spend some a few hours. Bring layers, as the towns nearest to the water (and to San Francisco) are cooler.

All the towns and cities in Marin are pretty close together — sometimes you can drive through an entire town in less than five minutes — so don’t be afraid to go exploring in other towns. Though some trips out to West Marin towns can take a bit longer. Each Marin County town has a unique feeling — whether it’s a cute downtown, beautiful views, incredible hikes, or waterfront walks.

Speaking of hikes, there are over 600 miles of amazing hiking trails in Marin County. Many converge on some part of Mt. Tamalpais, Marin’s big landmark. Check out this link for trail information https://www.alltrails.com/lists/marin-county-top-trails.

Wine Country

Sonoma, Napa, Healdsburg, Russian River, Calistoga, Glen Ellen … etc. etc. There is a cornucopia of incredible wineries just North of Marin. Always an incredible trip filled with beautiful scenery, warm weather, and amazing food.

Coastal Visits

Both in Marin County and North (and South too!), there are some incredible coastal spots to visit: Rodeo Beach, Muir Beach, Muir Woods (you must have a reservation to visit!), Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Pt. Reyes, Inverness, Tomales Bay (oysters!), Bodega Bay, Sea Ranch, Mendocino, and beyond … and all the smaller towns in between.

Not to mention the beautiful, and slightly more inland, Guerneville, Occidental, Forestville, Sebastopol, and more, in the Russian River area.

And South of San Francisco you’ll find these amazing coastal towns with gorgeous Highway 1 drives: Moss Beach, Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!), and Capitola. WARNING! There are some closures on Highway 1 from landslides, so be sure to check driving directions before visiting.

Lake Tahoe

If you want to see a gorgeous lake tucked between majestic mountains, head to Lake Tahoe. It’s a three hour drive in the summertime. You can swim in the lake, and the hikes and trails are stunning. It’s one of THE most beautiful places.