Comprising seven tiny hamlets — Point Reyes Station, Olema, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Tomales, Dillon Beach and Inverness — and a whole lot of open space, West Marin is the largest rural area in Marin County. Its bucolic rolling hills, pastures dotted with grazing cattle and sheep, sweeping ocean vistas and dramatic cliffside beaches have lured countless visitors over the years, as well as a number of notable artists, including the late abstract expressionist Sam Francis.
Nature lovers flock to Point Reyes National Seashore for a close encounter with wildlife like elephant seals and tule elk, and to Tomales Bay to witness spectacular displays of bioluminescence — best experienced on a kayak at night under the stars. Aside from all of that natural beauty, however, West Marin is also foodie paradise, home to gourmet cheese and bivalve purveyors like Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, Hog Island Oyster Co. and Tomales Bay Oyster Company, as well as outstanding eateries like Nick’s Cove, William Tell House, and Sir and Star at the Olema.
Our Partners
Eat | Stay | Do
Community
A Local Legend: Live Water Surf Shop and its Famous ‘No Shark’ Logo
The history of a 44-year-old Marin institution and an iconic logo that has influenced California surfing.
Marin Farmers are Back on the Land
Marin ranchers and growers are giving new life to the family farm.
Chris Robinson Finds a Home in Marin
The former singer for the Black Crowes finds peace in West Marin.
History
The Grandi Building: The Point Reyes Station Historic Landmark Is Getting a New Lease on Life
Built back in 1915 featuring Mission Revival architecture, the building has long remained vacant.
The Story of Forest Farm: How the San Geronimo Valley Became Home to the Country’s First Racially Integrated Summer Camp West of the Mississippi
The radical, progressive dream of husband and wife duo Harold and Frances Gregg thrived in Marin for 25 years.
How Did the San Geronimo Valley Get Its Name? A Mystery Rooted in the Troubled History of Spanish Missions and the Coast Miwok
Historians have been trying to answer this seemingly straightforward question for decades.
Through the History Lens: A Look Back at the Point Reyes Lighthouse
If visiting the Point Reyes Lighthouse seems demanding now, think back 160 years.
The History of the Marshall Depot
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad lasted until 1930; now California’s Highway 1 travels much the same route
Homes
A Quaint Cottage in Point Reyes is Revamped With a Cathedral-Ceiling Kitchen and Luxurious Deck
After their youngest child launched, a couple sold the family home, moved to San Francisco and began looking for property in the tiny coastal community of Point Reyes.
A Home Bathed in the Light of West Marin
A move away from the city presents an opportunity to build a home that interacts with nature and allow for light-filled home design.
