Welcome to Marin
Just across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco and laying claim to one of the most spectacular coastlines in the country, Marin straddles the cosmopolitan Bay Area and the untamed nature of Northern California.
A series of Bohemian hamlets, Marin is the Bay Area’s favorite easy escape. Among the country’s most affluent enclaves, Marin’s counter-cultural history and natural beauty continue to attract people who value its mountains, forests, beaches, and unconventional character.
What to Expect
A taste of tranquility and California counterculture just across the Golden Gate Bridge.
A peninsula, Marin is surrounded by water on three sides, which makes it feel more remote than it actually is. Adding to the sense of being a bit apart from it all, the Marin coast is connected to the rest of the Bay by winding two-lane roads, like the famous Panoramic Highway over Mount Tamalpais. Along the rugged shore you’ll find quiet beaches, like southern Marin’s Black Sands Beach, where yours may be the only set of footprints in the sand.
The Lifestyle
A half-hour in any direction will take you from an expansive beach to a mountain peak to a bustling city street.
Known as the home of the mountain bike, the region’s characteristic outdoorsiness is matched by the worldliness of its well-heeled residents who equally relish Marin’s world-class restaurants, celebrity-owned music venues, and protected green space. Residents spend weekends riding one of the famed trails, like the 13-mile Fairfax-Bolinas “Pine Mountain Loop,” eating oysters and drinking wine at Marshall’s Hog Island, or listening to live music at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael restaurant, founded by the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh.
Unexpected Appeal
A relaxed pace that makes going home feel like going on vacation.
Those who think they might miss the bustle of city living may find they can’t wait to escape it each day and return to the calm and quiet of Marin. The county’s tradition of open space preservation means that there is no shortage of nature to celebrate, from the 1,300-acre Lucas Valley Preserve to the Deer Island Preserve in the Petaluma River Delta.
The Market
From rustic to modern, single family homes typically start in the seven figures.
From multi-million dollar estates to rustic redwood cabins to artsy houseboats, Marin’s eccentricities extend to its housing stock. Whether you’re looking for a weekend retreat or retirement home off the beaten track or something within commuting distance from San Francisco or the East Bay cities, Marin has a surprisingly diverse array of home-buying options.
You'll Fall in Love With
Redwood-covered hills, a rugged coastline, and some of the region’s best farmers markets.
Living at the base of Mount Tamalpais and a short drive to Marin’s spectacular Pacific coastline means nature is always nearby. But the county is also home to a thriving arts community, as represented by the Marin Civic Center — one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s last major commissions — which hosts theater, live music and other cultural events and is the home of the famed Marin farmers market. When you live in Marin, there’s nothing like going home to get away from it all.
Located in the North Bay
Nearby Neighborhoods:
The Presidio
Napa
Sonoma East to West Boundaries:
The Pacific to the San Pablo and San Francisco BaysNorth to South Boundaries:
North to South Boundaries:
Sonoma County to the Golden Gate
Commute Times [[FROM/TO SAN RAFAEL]]
Civic Center 47m by bus, 36m by car
San Francisco Ferry Building 40m by bus/ferry, 41m by car Downtown Oakland 1h 3m by bus/train, 29m by car
SFO 1h 20m by airporter, 45m by car
Nearest Transportation Options
Marin Transit
Golden Gate Transit
Golden Gate Ferry
Bay Area Rapid Transit
You Should Also Try
1. Los Gatos
2. Napa
3. Sonoma