Welcome to Marin County
Serene communities and unparalleled scenery in exclusive, small-town neighborhoods.
Just north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County takes premiere, luxurious living along the Northern California waterfront to an unparalleled level. Its gentle climate and spectacular nautical scenery provide the ideal backdrop of serene living, regardless of lifestyle. Whether overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the hills or residing along the shores of the San Pablo Bay, Marin County is home to some of the finest communities and properties in the Bay Area. More than half of the land in Marin County is preserved open space. It’s for this exclusive seclusion that companies like George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch call the area home along with its residents. With its breathtaking scenery, accessibility to nature, and the county’s proximity to downtown San Francisco, Marin County is an ideal location to raise a family.
In addition to its proximity to San Francisco proper, Napa Valley and Sonoma are also just within reach from Marin County. Though it doesn’t boast as vast a network of public transportation options as other Bay Area counties, three ferry services make for a serene commute to and from downtown San Francisco. No two towns in Marin County are alike, and each one lends its distinctive personality and small-town charm to the overall character of the county. Depending on the area, luxury home architectural styles run the gamut from multi-million dollar mansions, palatial gated estates, and Mid-Century Moderns, to waterfront bungalows and high-end condos.
What to Love
• Serene neighborhoods with small-town charm
• Abundant national parks, beautiful scenery and unspoiled beaches
• Secluded location with proximity to San Francisco, Napa, and Sonoma
• Picturesque weather and views
People & Lifestyle
The luxurious combination of natural beauty, fantastic weather, small-town atmosphere, and easy access to San Francisco make for the wonderful family-friendly lifestyle residents of Marin County enjoy. With only 13 small towns and 14 villages, Marin County residents are tightly-knit, interwoven, and welcoming communities that promote active involvement within each area. The prestige of living in Marin County is both charming and dignified, and it's not uncommon to find residents go out of their way to support their fellow neighbors and their respective communities.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Sol Food is a casual eatery serving traditional Puerto Rican fare within a contemporary, botanical-filled space in San Rafael. One of the most beloved Latin American eats in Marin County, Sol Food is an institution that locals unapologetically visit several times a month.
Offering Punjabi burritos, enchiladas, and other innovative fare, Avatar’s Restaurant in Sausalito is an Indian-fusion eatery that incorporates Mexican, Italian, and Caribbean ingredients into each dish. The infusion of flavor and creativity of traditional Indian cuisine interpretation is only outdone by the welcoming, familial atmosphere that awaits guests who frequent Avatar’s.
Farm House Local, in the heart of downtown Larkspur, specializes in farm-to-table breakfast and lunch featuring locally sourced ingredients and artisanal products available in the Bay Area—as such, the menu changes seasonally. Served within a rustic-chic, modern-day general store atmosphere, the dining experience at Farm House Local is superior in its simplicity and charm.
Fish is a bare-bones waterside shack located in Sausalito and is an exquisite and charming adventure in sustainable seafood. Dishes are paid for in cash and eaten at waterfront picnic tables. The restaurant’s dedication to creating flavorful and inventive seafood dishes that promote sustainability is evident in its Michelin star rating and stellar reputation among critics.
Things to Do
Epic views, sweeping landscapes, and photography opportunities abound in Marin County, and Vista Point is one of the area’s most iconic. The location is ideal for photos of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco city skyline, and Alcatraz Island. When the fog rolls in, or the morning sun hits the water just right, views take on an almost otherworldly aesthetic from this vantage point, making the Bay Area one of the most photogenically beautiful places in the world.
There is no place better to gush over the luxury of national parks at your feet when living in Marin County than Muir Woods. Known for its towering old-growth redwood trees, winding serene trails, and evergreen groves, Muir Woods is both a National Monument and a whimsical journey through surreal, beautifully primeval forest. The woods are an inspiring area for self-reflection as well as celebration—it’s one of the top wedding ceremony spots in the Bay Area.
Along with Muir Woods, the Marin Headlands is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which spans over 80,000 acres of ecologically and historically significant areas in Marin County. With a rich history of cultures that have called it home, from the Miwok Indians to the American Military, the Marin Headlands plays host to a variety of natural habitats and unique geology that can be observed while hiking or biking through its many gorgeous trails.
The Sausalito Boardwalk is used by various sources to refer to three different locations in Sausalito, only two of which actually have wooden sidewalks—The Bridgeway Promenade, the boardwalk at the southern end of the promenade near Old Town, and the boardwalk north of the Sausalito Ferry pier. Some of the best views in the Bay Area can be found at the Bridgeway Promenade—along with some of the most delicious restaurants, eclectic boutique shops, and awe-inspiring local art galleries.
Schools
Marin County is divided into 19 distinct school districts. Highlights include:
• Redwood High School, Public, 9-12