Accessed from San Francisco via the 1.7-mile-long Golden Gate Bridge - which can be walked during daylight hours - Marin County is a paradise for year-round outdoor pursuits. The region is blessed with physical beauty, from the soaring redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument and mountain bike trails of Mt. Tamalpais to the rugged shoreline of Point Reyes National Seashore. In winter, Point Reyes Lighthouse offers a fantastic vantage for spotting migrating California Gray Whales. Nearby, the Marine Mammal Center rescues and treats injured and orphaned marine mammals, and the Audubon Ranch provides a sanctuary for native plants and animals. There's plenty of Native American history, not least at a reconstructed Coast Miwok Village and Novato's Museum of the American Indian, while charming towns such as Novato are dotted with historical buildings. The upscale bayfront town of Sausalito is even a National Historic landmark. Even gourmands are in for a treat. Sausalito and Mill Valley are renowned for gourmet restaurants. Wineries can be visited, as can the Marin French Cheese Company, the McEvoy Ranch olive orchard, and the Tomales Bay Oyster Company, operating since 1909. That's just the tip of the iceberg.
- Christopher Baker for Triporati
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