A Relocator's Guide to Marin County

Marin County is one of the most coveted places to live in the U.S. It offers residents vast expanses of unspoiled public lands adjacent to spectacular vistas, world-class restaurants, schools, arts, and urban life.

A whopping 85% of the land in Marin County is designated as protected open space. The upshot for those who call Marin County home is access to an 18,400-acre “backyard,” consisting of three national parks, six state parks, 39 county parks, and 34 open space preserves. Beyond that, the area is surrounded on three sides by water.

If you’re considering relocating to Marin County, the information below will help you research all this Californian coastal jewel has to offer.

 

Nestled among the mountains, headlands, and waterways of Marin, there are 11 cities, each offering its own kind of adventure. Whether it’s hiking among the redwoods of Muir Woods, surfing at Stinson Beach, or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, there’s always something new to discover.

Marin isn’t just for fitness buffs and nature lovers, though. It also offers plenty of perks for families and working professionals, including great schools, fabulous restaurants, convenient transportation, diverse cultural events, and an eclectic mix of people and lifestyles. You’re always just a short trip away from amenities like a farmer’s market, where you can find local cheeses, grass-fed beef, and artisanal goods from some of the region’s 200+ local farms. Weekends are great for venturing down to the waterfront to watch the harbor seals, take a ferry ride, or swing over to Novato to see an exhibition at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art. And day trips to neighboring Napa Valley wineries, downtown San Francisco, or UC-Berkeley are always an option when you want a quick get-away.

Whether you’re looking for Belvedere real estate, Tiburon homes for sale, or Sausalito real estate, you can’t go wrong living anywhere in Marin County. The county’s open space provisions contribute to the area’s high property values, but they also provide certainty that the unspoiled, stunning living environment you’re investing in will be there for generations to come.

If gastronomic access is a must-have for your lifestyle, the restaurants, cafés, and farms of Marin County will win you over. With numerous listings in the Michelin Guide, ranging from the star-rated Madcap in San Anselmo to one of many Bib Gourmand-rated hot spots in the region, your taste buds will thank you for living in Marin County real estate. Locals enjoy fresh seafood eaten over the water at Scoma’s in Sausalito, pizza at Café Reyes at Point Reyes Station, and Tex Mex at Playa in Mill Valley. If, by some miracle, you work your way through all of Marin’s local fare, San Francisco’s world-renowned chefs and restaurants are a stone’s throw away.

 

It goes without saying that Marin County’s proximity to the stars of the California wine world, Sonoma and Napa Valley, make it a top destination for tourists and locals alike. Take a tour of Sonoma Valley’s 100+ wineries—from striking castles and garden chateaus to modern lounges and Mediterranean-style villas. Or drive just a bit further to Napa Valley and enjoy intimate wine tastings, expansive outdoor spaces, and behind-the-scenes private tours of its more than 400 wineries. Be sure to bring home some bottles for your own cellar while you’re there.

Marin County has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to national and state parks. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is often the first one that comes to mind. It covers more than 80,000 acres and includes attractions such as the Marin Headlands, Stinson Beach, Alcatraz Island, and the majestic redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument. The Point Reyes National Seashore is another “can’t miss” destination on the national parks tour. It’s home to elephant seals, whale watching, and thunderous waves crashing against rocky headlands.

Mount Tamalpais State Park, or Mt. Tam as the locals call it, is the crown jewel of the area. Its deep canyons and undulating hillsides are covered with cool redwood forests, oak woodlands, open meadows, and sturdy chaparral. The breathtaking views from the upper parts of Mt. Tam include the Farallon Islands 25 miles offshore, the Marin County hills, San Francisco Bay and City, the East Bay, and Mount Diablo.

 

With all the preserved open space Marin has to offer, hiking and biking are a given. Marin County offers thousands of miles of trails and hiking paths. So many, in fact, that the Marin County Visitors Bureau pulled together hikes by category (e.g., best beach hikes, best advanced level, best views). One of the most famous hiking trails in Marin is the Dipsea Trail, a heart-pumping, a seven-mile trip that starts with three extremely long sets of stairs. Another nearby favorite is the Steep Ravine Trail, which makes use of a series of ladders to traverse its deep ravines. Both trails, while strenuous, are well worth the effort.

While Marin County is considered the birthplace of mountain biking, mountain bikes have since been banned from most single-track trails. There are, however, hundreds of miles of designated bike paths in the area, and road biking is a very popular sport among local residents. You’ll find many of them pedaling toward the top of Mt. Tam on any given morning.

Marin’s active outdoor lifestyle isn’t restricted to land. Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, and sailing in the Bay are all popular activities. There are dozens of marinas where residents berth their yachts and sailboats and plenty of places on the bay to rent a kayak for a day. And for those who just want to be near the water but not on it, there are plenty of waterside paths for strolling, sitting, and dining.

Pick a week, and you’re bound to find dozens of musical, cultural, or community events to attend with family or friends. San Rafael is a designated arts and culture district, so the city is always offering an array of theater, art exhibitions, and cultural activities throughout the year. Additionally, there’s a Farmer’s Market every Sunday in San Rafael, but you can also find markets in Mill Valley, Novato, and Fairfax.

One of the reasons homes in Mill Valley are so popular is that it's home to places like the Mill Valley Lumberyard. A charming collection of shops, work studios, and eateries, Mill Valley Lumberyard is a hotspot for families who gather to shop, dine, and attend community events. Additionally, Corte Madera and Larkspur have a parade each July, and the Marin County Fair takes place every summer on the Civic Center Fairgrounds.

 

Marin County has some of the top schools in the nation, many of which have considerable private funding, allowing them to offer academic, enrichment, and athletic programs. Families can start their school search at the Marin Office of Education, filtering by choices such as public, private, or alternative education. The CA School Dashboard is a good tool for finding more details about each school, such as the student population or information about teachers, facilities, and instructional materials. Another helpful resource is California School Ratings, which ranks every school in the county.

Golden Gate Ferry operates the ferry service in Marin. Ferries run daily, with limited weekend hours, from three locations: Larkspur, Sausalito, and Tiburon. They take passengers directly to the SF Ferry building, which makes it a popular choice for commuters who work in the financial district. All ferries allow bicycles on board and offer refreshments. Special service is provided from Larkspur to Oracle Park when the San Francisco Giants play at home.

Golden Gate Transit operates a fleet of comfortable buses that transport commuters from Marin County during heavy traffic hours and on weekends into San Francisco or East into Contra County over the Richman Bridge.

The newest transportation service in Marin is the SMART train, which operates along a route from Sonoma through San Rafael and terminates at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal for connections into the financial district. Stations along the way are equipped with bike racks and lockers—bikes are also allowed on board.

Marin County is home to a temperate, Mediterranean climate year-round. Unlike its foggy neighbor to the South, San Francisco, the days are typically sunny and warm. Winter days average 55 degrees with occasional rain, and summers are warm and dry with a good possibility of morning and evening fog, especially near the Golden Gate area. Summer days average 82 degrees, and light jackets are necessary for the evening. Inland near Novato tends to be slightly warmer than Bayside communities such as Sausalito and Tiburon.

If you’re looking for a luxury home in Marin County’s competitive real estate market, reach out to the experienced local realtors at the Nadine & Camara Real Estate Team today.