Marin County

Marin County (population:  252,409 – 2010 Census) is located just across the Golden Gate Bridge, north of San Francisco and nestled between Sonoma County to the north, and Napa County to the north-east. The land area encompasses 520 square miles with 165,000 acres of land supporting 200+ farms and ranches. The main north-south artery, Highway 101, allows access to San Francisco and Sonoma Counties, while Highway One provides access to the communities of West Marin/Point Reyes Seashore and the scenic Marin coast. With its central location and Marin County as your home base, it is easy to explore all that the Bay Area has to offer without ever losing a day to an overly-long commute.

Marin enjoys a temperate, Mediterranean climate year round. Winters are moderate with temperatures averaging 55 degrees, and summers are warm and dry with an average temperature of 82 degrees. Morning and evening fog is common, especially in the Golden Gate area.

As for activities, numerous destinations await – Mt. Tamalpais, Muir Woods, Stinson Beach or Point Reyes National Seashore to name a few. Marin County is an outdoor recreation wonderland, with nearly half of its land permanently preserved as open space, watershed or park land, and weather that allows for mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and sailing all year long. More relaxed activities could include whale watching, garden tours or plein air painting.

Among Marin County’s charming communities are Belvedere/Tiburon, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Greenbrae, Larksput, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito and Stinson Beach.

Marin offers a plethora of shopping with something unique to suit every taste and desire. Boutique finds, one-of-a-kind crafts, handmade gifts, and home furnishings can be found in community shops across Marin, along with distinctive art galleries and studios featuring the work of local artists. In addition, Marin County is home to some of the biggest names in retail.

From cozy and casual to elegant and refined, Marin County is home to more than 500 restaurants. What makes them truly special is access to California’s freshest seasonal ingredients. Fifty percent of Marin County is farmland, growing everything from fruits and vegetables to olives and wine grapes. Marin dairy farms supply fresh milk, butter, and artisan cheeses. Fine wines, of course, are the order of the day, with the best of California’s wine country at its doorstep.

 (source: Marin Convention & Visitors Bureau)