Young Family
Morning: Take the Alexander Avenue exit off Highway 101 in Sausalito to the Marin Headlands. Take Conzelman Road heading west and stop for a family photo overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Then venture out to Hawk Hill to see hawks, falcons and eagles in migration beginning each August.
Mid Morning: Ignite your child’s creativity at Sausalito’s award-winning Bay Area Discovery Museum. baykidsmuseum.org
Noon: Continue the play over lunch at Bar Bocce in Sausalito. Mom and Dad can relax over wood-fired oven pizza while the kids romp just steps away on the Bar Bocce beach. barbocce.com
Afternoon: Pilot a kayak with the family through one of the many outlets on the bay. bluewateryachtharbor.com, 101surfsports.com, seatrek.com
Evening: Catch an outdoor movie. Marin Country Mart in Larkspur and Film Night in the Park both show familyfriendly flicks in community parks throughout the county. The events are BYOB (bring your own blanket) and free. marincountrymart.com, filmnight.org
Road Biker
Morning: Kick the day into gear at Equator Coffee, the brand served at Thomas Keller’s restaurants. Mill Valley location. equatorcoffees.com
Mid Morning: Head over Camino Alto for a picturesque eight-mile ride through the towns of Larkspur, Ross and San Anselmo on the way to your next stop. Avoid the busy Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and take the side roads through beautifully manicured neighborhoods.
Noon: Pop into the new Marin Museum of Bicycling in Fairfax, and then refuel the organic way in Fairfax at Good Earth Natural Foods, a Marin institution since 1969. mmbhof.org, genatural.com
Afternoon: Head off to complete the 35-mile Alpine Loop, or ride back through Corte Madera and hit the Bay Club Marin for a sports massage. Either way, your muscles will be rewarded. bayclubmarin.com
Evening: Ready for another ride tomorrow? Join your fellow bikers at Mill Valley Beerworks for a housemade brew, then head to former pro biker and celebrated local chef Todd Shoberg’s new spot Molina, both in downtown Mill Valley. millvalley beerworks.com, molinarestaurant.com
Romance
Morning: At the Waters Edge Hotel in Tiburon, you can wake up to views of Angel Island and the San Francisco skyline from the peace of a waterfront room that feels worlds away. Located adjacent to the Tiburon Ferry. marinhotels.com
Mid Morning: Linger on the deck of Sam’s Anchor Cafe over a brunch of Dungeness crab omelets, Nimon Ranch bacon and top-shelf bloody marys. samscafe.com
Noon: Depending on your schedule and budget, take the ferry to Sausalito or try the Tideline Water Taxi for a private ride across the bay. If you opt for the taxi, be sure to detour under the Golden Gate Bridge for stunning views. goldengateferry.org, tidelinesf.com
Afternoon: Stroll along the Sausalito waterfront to California Caviar on Bridgeway and taste the only sustainably produced caviar in the United States. californiacaviar.com
Evening: Melt away in the Lodge at Cavallo Point’s award-winning spa and leave time to enjoy the heated meditation pool. Grab a Farley Bar signature cocktail and head to the lodge’s outdoor decks, where you can snuggle with your sweetheart while the Sausalito sun sets (blankets provided). cavallopoint.com
Music Lovers
Morning: Gear up. Head to one or both of San Rafael’s very popular musical instrument stores. The Magic Flute has an extensive sheet music collection and a variety of instruments, while Bananas at Large offers music gear, recording equipment and fretted instruments. bananasmusic.com, themagicflute.com
Mid Morning: Visit San Rafael’s Terrapin Crossroads for some homegrown music while you brunch. Owned by the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh and wife Jill, the San Rafael eatery is known as much for its food and family-friendly atmosphere as for its live music. terrapincrossroads.net
Noon: Learn about vintage guitars from finger-style icon Eric Schoenberg at his eponymous shop in Tiburon and possibly catch an impromptu show. om28.com
Afternoon: LTravel to Mill Valley for a casual preshow bite at Sammy Hagar’s award-winning El Paseo: A Marin Chop House, and while you’re there, dip into his hand-selected wine collection for a special treat. elpaseomillvalley.com
Evening: Head back up Highway 101 to funky Fairfax, where live music reigns supreme, and catch a show such as Jonathan Korty’s curated band lineup at 19 Broadway. 19broadway.com
Sunday Cruise
Morning: Get the road trip going with homemade goodness from Rustic Bakery in Larkspur. Grab and go with vanilla-pecan granola parfaits, fresh croissants and Stumptown Coffee Roasters coffee. rusticbakery.com
Mid Morning: Cruise 40 miles along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Built in 1870, the original lighthouse is preserved as a historic landmark and is surrounded by more than 70 major marine wrecks. nps.gov
Noon: Pick up sandwiches at Perry’s Deli in Inverness to enjoy at any of the nearby beaches.
Afternoon: See the unspoiled shoreline of Tomales Bay by kayak. Start near Nick’s Cove in Marshall and paddle alongside harbor seals into Point Reyes National Seashore. On a moonless night opt for a bioluminescence paddle. Head back to Nick’s Cove for some oysters. pointreyesoutdoors.com
Evening: End your day with a walk on Stinson Beach and dinner in town in the new private dining room at Parkside Cafe, or listen to live music at the Sand Dollar Restaurant across the street. parksidecafe.com, stinsonbeachrestaurant.com
Foodie
Morning: Why decide on just one spot for breakfast when you can pick any one of Marin’s many farmers’ markets and browse the aisles for your meal? agriculturalinstitute.org
Mid Morning: Head out Sir Francis Drake to Marin Sun Farms in Point Reyes. Note that you are driving through the epicenter of Marin’s farming community: Oysters, cheese, wine, honey, beef, chicken, eggs, goat, lamb and produce are all raised here. Check out the Marin Sun Farms restaurant. marinsunfarms.com
Noon: Cruise downtown Point Reyes Station, stop by Cowgirl Creamery’s retail space on Fourth Street and stock up on more goods, then enjoy a light lunch at Osteria Stellina. cowgirlcreamery.com, osteriastellina.com
Afternoon: Take in a farm-to-table cooking class at The Fork, which starts with a tour of the Giacomini Dairy farm followed by a cheese tasting and some cooking tips from a local chef. pointreyescheese.com
Evening: Make the last seating at Sir and Star in Olema to see what all the fuss is about regarding the culinary creations of West Marin foodie couple Margaret Gradé and Daniel DeLong, who ran Manka’s for years and seem to be re-creating the magic at the former Olema Inn. sirandstar.com