Whether you’re traveling from near or far, Marin County is a hidden diamond of a trip.

Cradled on the sweeping scape of the San Francisco Bay Area, nomadic tourists and California natives alike agree that it is an idyllic destination for the entire family.

For the B&B Fan

Don’t let your next road trip be an uninspired stay at a motel serving up microwave complimentary meals. Instead, be inspired by the fresh, sustainable farm-to-table agriculture of Marin County. Scenic solitude can be found at many of Marin’s locally owned bed-and-breakfast inns.

There’s simply no place like the Straus Home Ranch, a beautifully renovated and furnished 150-year-old farmhouse nestled amongst towering eucalyptus and cypress trees and surrounded by 160 acres of organic pastures. What’s truly spectacular, besides the charming house, is the setting: a romantic garden, two porches overlooking the historic red-painted barns, the rolling pastures and Tomales Bay.

At the Bear Valley Inn if active living is your thing, this may be the place for you. It is surrounded by ample terrain for hiking, horseback riding and biking. The grounds feature a natural oasis where you can visit with chickens and roam the gardens when not exploring the surrounding terrain.

These and many other Marin B&B’s are only a short and scenic 35-mile drive from San Francisco.

For the Adventurous Artist

Fresh air and art are both good for your health and you'll find both in Marin County. Whether your idea of artistry is a Mozart concerto or a jam band drum solo, Marin County has you covered. Thanks to our closeness to the cultural and counter-cultural mecca of San Francisco, artistic expression has always flourished here and today it’s stronger than ever. So feed your soul at the open-air Mountain Play, the indie-centric Mill Valley Cinema, The Marin Symphony, as well as museums and sculpture gardens catering to every taste. In Marin, when it’s time to get your culture on, we’ve got something for everyone.

For the Foodie

If you are obsessed with fresh farm-to-table bites and locally sourced meals, then organically oriented Marin is perfect for your inner chef. Newcomers should consider signing up for a food and farm tour online. Each event cultivates the best in culinary tourism, whether being hosted at one of the area's best farms or restaurants.

Farm-to-table dining is a phrase that can mean different things to different people. At its heart, however, farm-to-table means that the food on the table came directly from a specific farm. For the true foodie, try any of Marin's fresh farm-to-table recommendations, especially the new Michelin starred Madcap restaurant in San Anselmo.

For the Perpetual Parent

Call of the Sea is setting sail with summer and fall youth day camps in 2022. Join an exciting adventure with sailing, hiking, nautical crafts and more for an experiential, environmental education under sail for your family. Voyages with Call of the Sea give young people a meaningful connection with their bay and coastal waters while offering the benefits of an extended, live-aboard sailing program or a youth day sail.

If your children dig nature, then you can’t miss The Marine Mammal Center. This is not a zoo and will be unlike any animal park experience you have ever had. Here a partnership between humans and nature is nourishing recovery and sustainability for the local marine wildlife.

// For more information, go to visitmarin.org.