A gorgeous 20 mile ride north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, Stinson Beach is the best option for those wanting a classic California beach day.
Stinson Beach — Photo courtesy of Tom Molanphy
While other Bay Area beaches can be windy or foggy, Stinson is usually protected from harsh weather. Instead of the rocky shores on the bay beaches, Stinson offers the soft white sand that most travelers expect when they visit California.
And if summer fog does roll in, take advantage of the miles and miles of nearby trails to climb out of the fog and into redwood studded Marin Headlands. If you're looking for a beer at the end of a long hike, you can trek all the way to The Tourist Club. But even a thirty minute climb up the Matt Davis Trail will offer some spectacular views.
Stinson Beach from Matt Davis Trail — Photo courtesy of Tom Molanphy
If you'd rather have a lazy California day, the town of Stinson Beach offers stylish gift shops, first-rate restaurants, and side-of-the-road snack shops that can make your beach day complete. And if you've just finished a wine tour in Sonoma, few places offer the spectacular sunsets that happen everyday at Stinson.
Photo courtesy of Tom Molanphy
If you need sand in your toes and miles of ocean views, then head across the Golden Gate to Stinson Beach.
