Mill Valley Film Festival

Marin's Oscar-feeding celebrity-packed 35th year just opened and runs through Oct 14. It boasts a massive slate of much-hyped spectacles like Holy Motors, The Sessions, and Argo and guests ranging from Stevie Nicks to Dustin Hoffman. Check out the schedule and buy tickets here. 

Visit the Marine Mammal

Sea lions and seals are pretty darn cute. At the Marine Mammal Center, you can get an up close and personal look at the rehabilitation of rescued or sick sea animals. The outdoor pens are solar powered and filled with playful, barking seals and sea lions, and visitors can catch a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes feeding and research labs. A visit to the state-of-the-art facility is absolutely free though we highly recommend taking the audio tour ($10) or using one of the friendly docents on site. Free, 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito.

Hike the Coastal Trail

If you’re already over in the Marin Headlands, Rodeo Beach is a beautiful root beer-colored beach to relax on. Alternately, take a hike up the Coastal Trail. You can stop at the top, or dip down into Tennessee Valley next door. A round trip to Tennessee Valley and back will take about 3-4 hours of steep climbing, but the views south to the city and north to Point Reyes seashore are well worth it.