Welcome! This year, once again, while deciding which local attractions most qualify for “Best of the County 2018,” we asked you, the reader, to weigh in online. And you did, casting more than 400 votes in categories like food, drink, and day and nighttime fun. In the following pages writer Calin Van Paris highlights our editors’ picks, also indicating the ones you thought were tops. Did we miss a real standout in the following pages? As always, let us know — we love feedback … and we love Marin.
Local Love
Once you find someone you want to spend time with, creative Marin date destinations are easy and fun to discover. Here are some of our favorites. What are yours?
Explore historic ANGEL ISLAND after a romantic ride on the Angel Island Ferry (Tiburon).
Elevate your view of the county’s breathtaking panoramas on a flight with SEAPLANE ADVENTURES (Sausalito).
Summit Mount Tam and savor the MOUNTAIN HOME INN’S views and refreshments as your reward (Mill Valley).
Stop at TOMALES DELI + CAFE before a stroll to Dillon Beach, Marin’s northernmost bit of coast (Dillon Beach).
Grab a rod at WEST MARINE and spend a few scenic hours fishing at Horseshoe Cove (Sausalito).
Camp Marin
A night in the great outdoors is now more doable than ever. Hike or bike in, throw up a tent or rent a rustic cabin, and spend some quality time in the open.
Angel Island has traditional campsites and plans for new cabins on its northeastern point; this arrive-by-bay destination (and former immigration station) is as scenic as it is historic (Tiburon).
China Camp’s wetlands, water proximity and plentiful trails make spending the night at Back Ranch Meadows Campground, with its 33 walk-in tent campsites, wholly worthwhile (San Rafael).
Whether you park off Panoramic or hike up via Matt Davis, Mount Tam’s Pantoll campground is a woodsy classic (Mill Valley).
For views and solitude, pitch a tent at Steep Ravine on Mount Tamalpais — or secure one of the highly coveted cabins, built in the 1940s, in advance (Stinson Beach).
At Samuel P. Taylor State Park, endlessly winding trails, a canopy of redwoods and newly built cabins lend the creek-veined camping areas extra appeal (Lagunitas).
Hike in to Wildcat Camp, pitch your tent on a meadow bluff, and wake up for a two-mile hike to Alamere Falls — minus the crowds (Point Reyes Station).
Good Sport
Believe it or not, Marin has more exercise options than yoga and Pilates. Make like an Olympian with one of these medal ready activities.
ARCHERY at Northwoods Bowmen’s Club and Archery Range (Novato).
GOLF at Peacock Gap (San Rafael).
ROWING at Marin Rowing Association (Larkspur).
SAILING at Sailing Education Adventures (San Rafael).
SWIMMING with North Bay Aquatics (various locations).
Shore Enough
The stretch of Pacific-facing coastline that edges Marin County is home to an assortment of sandy beaches with personalities all their own.
Grab the kids for an afternoon of tide-pooling at AGATE BEACH (Bolinas).
BOLINAS BEACH has some of the county’s most legendary surf (Bolinas).
Easy access and picnic tables make HEART’S DESIRE ideal for babies and toddlers (Inverness).
Ponder life’s mysteries along the endless expanse of LIMANTOUR BEACH (Point Reyes National Seashore).
MUIR BEACH is best enjoyed with a packed picnic (Muir Beach).
Hop over the hill for a scenic dog-walk along STINSON BEACH (Stinson).
Game On
When the sun is high or the stars are out, local residents go where they can enjoy food and drink with friends. To make this pastime even more Marin, add bay views and bocce ball. Bar Bocce in Sausalito turns socializing into a team sport, the bocce court serving as boundary between bar and beach. Pick a side, toss a ball and get in on the fun.
This article originally appeared in Marin Magazine’s print edition with the headline: Best of Marin County: Recreation.
