Today I want to share my itinerary for 2 days in Tomales Bay and Point Reyes with you. A narrow inlet of the Pacific Ocean in Northern California separates the Point Reyes National Seashore from the West Marin mainland. With an abundance of oyster beds and loads of natural scenery, it’s the perfect place to spend a couple days in Marin County. I’m here now and I’m excited show you the best of the area. I’ve included a map as well.
2 Days in Tomales Bay and Point Reyes
Situated on the Pacific Coast, Tomales Bay is 15 miles long by 1 mile wide. People come from all over to experience everything from the waterfront seafood restaurants to the outdoor activities. I’ve been visiting this part of the Golden State my whole life, and I’m excited to be back again.
Just 30 miles north of San Francisco, Tomales Bay and Point Reyes are an easy day trip from the city. But it’s worth spending more time here to immerse yourself in the coastal atmosphere, experience the natural beauty, and try the local restaurants.
2 days is enough time to discover the best things to do in Tomales Bay and the Point Reyes National Seashore. On this trip I’m excited to do a range of activities that show off the best of West Marin.
Where to Stay
There are lots of great hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals, and other types of accommodation in Tomales Bay. My other half and I have booked ourselves a night at the Lodge at Marconi in Marshall. We stayed here on our last trip, and we loved it so much we’re back for more.
A historic property, this place was once a hotel for the employees of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America. It’s since been transformed into a cool coastal retreat with bay views and “Marin chic” decor.
We’re fans of everything from the forested grounds to the stylish guest lounges and hilltop panoramas. Our room is chic and cozy, and we can see the bay from our windows. Best of all, it’s less expensive than many of the area’s other hotels. If you want to follow in our footsteps, you can book a stay of your own here.
There are plenty of other options for accommodation in the area as well. From the famous Nick’s Cove to the beautiful Olema House, Tomales Bay and the surrounding areas have lots of places to call home-away-from-home. You can see a range of choices and find accommodation that fits your style here.
Day 1
My other half, The Pup, and I hop in the car in San Francisco on a Wednesday morning. After driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, we head out to the Pacific coast to kick off our 2 days in Tomales Bay and Point Reyes. On the way we cruise past redwood trees and alongside rolling hills full of cows.
After an hour we reach Tomales Bay. We drive along the waterfront and take in views of Point Reyes on our left. We look out for the houses in Inverness and the sand at Heart’s Desire Beach as we drive north on the Shoreline Highway toward Marshall.
Lunch
When we arrive, we pull into a parking space in front of The Marshall Store. Right on the water, this famous seafood restaurant has an outdoor area that’s perfect for lunch on a sunny afternoon.
We order at the counter, excited to start our trip with a meal of local fish and shellfish. We start with ahi poke and a Dungeness crab sandwich. They’re so good we can’t resist following them up with Oysters Rockefeller. They’re my favorite bites of the trip.
All the food goes down a treat as we soak up the atmosphere and admire the views of Point Reyes across the bay.
Tomales Bay Trail
After lunch, we get back in the car and drive a short distance to the trailhead of the popular Tomales Bay Trail. This 2.6-mile round-trip route goes from the highway down to the shore. It passes through pastureland and features waterfront scenery along the way. It’s also one of the few dog-friendly trails in the area.
We park in the lot by the trailhead, pass through the gate, then walk past ponds and up a gentle hill to get to the bay. As we go, we soak up the pastoral scenery and admire the views.
When we reach the water, we take in the tranquil atmosphere and stand in awe of how blue the bay is before retracing our steps to get back to the Tomales Bay Trailhead.
Cheese Tasting
Back in the car, we continue our itinerary with a trip to a local dairy. Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company is family-run and women-owned. It produces delicious cheese and other products, and it’s a great place to taste West Marin’s produce at the source.
Not far from Point Reyes Station, the dairy is nestled in the hills away from the highway. After passing the cows, we find ourselves in a beautiful tasting room filled with all kinds of food and gifts. There are outdoor tables for sunny days, and the whole place makes me want to live a more cheese-forward life.
We do a casual tasting of a range of cheeses (they offer more formal tastings from time to time, but we’re here on an off day). We savor everything from Toma to Gouda and blue, and we can’t help buying a couple to take away with us. We also pick up a bag of maple almonds they roast in-house.
The Lodge
After the cheese tasting we make the short drive to Marshall and check into our room at the Lodge at Marconi. It’s situated over two floors, complete with a loft level that’s perfect for The Pup. We unpack our bags, then continue our 2 days in Tomales Bay and Point Reyes by taking a walk.
One of the things we love about this hotel is that there are extensive grounds here. Hiking trails crisscross the property, Adirondack chairs surround outdoor fire pits, and hills offer sweeping views over Tomales Bay.
We head out with The Pup, hiking around the perimeter and stopping to admire the historic buildings and stunning panoramas. We sit on a bench overlooking the bay, snacking on our recently-acquired cheese and almonds and marveling at how peaceful it all is.
Dinner
After our hike we freshen up in our room before heading to dinner at Mable’s. This new restaurant at the Lodge at Marconi is conveniently located just up the hill from our room. We walk to it, excited to try the food and drinks.
With a rustic wooden facade and an airy dining room, Mable’s is a great place to eat in Tomales Bay. The restaurant focuses on seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients rooted in the flavors of the surrounding area. We start with cocktails and salads, and they go down a treat at the beginning of our meal.
From there we tuck into a shared main course of Brazilian stew. With lots of fish, mussels, and clams, it’s packed with as much seafood as it is flavor. The service and atmosphere are both to our liking, and we end on a sweet note with homemade chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream.
Day 2
The next morning our 2 days in Tomales Bay and Point Reyes continue with a big day of sightseeing and beach-going. The sky is clear and the sun is shining, and we’re excited to get outdoors and into nature in West Marin.
Breakfast
But first, breakfast. We check out of the Lodge at Marconi and drive down to Point Reyes Station. After ordering at the counter, we settle into an outdoor table at Side Street Kitchen.
This local spot is famous for its apple fritters, which are big fried balls of apple pie filling with whipped cream on the side. They’re only available on certain days of the week, so we feel lucky we’re here when they’re being made.
We get an order along with a hearty egg-and-mushroom dish, enjoying them under the California sun as we sip our morning coffees.
Point Reyes Station
After breakfast we continue our trip with a walk around Point Reyes Station. This cute little town is just past the southern end of the inlet, and it’s one of our favorite places in West Marin.
Point Reyes Station is packed with historic wooden buildings that house shops selling everything from photographic prints to gifts, baked goods, and books. There are several restaurants and a big supermarket here, not to mention local stores offering homemade cheeses and artisanal foods and drinks.
We spend time browsing the shops and picking up local produce to take back to San Francisco with us. As we go, we soak up the relaxed pace of life and take in the 19th-century facades lining the main street.
Point Reyes Cypress Tree Tunnel
From Point Reyes Station we drive through Inverness and out to the Point Reyes National Seashore. We’re excited to explore, and we know just where our first stop is going to be.
The Point Reyes Cypress Tree Tunnel is California’s answer to Northern Ireland’s Dark Hedges. Featuring long rows of trees arching over a side road halfway between the Point Reyes Lighthouse and the visitors center, this place is a photographer’s dream.
The Monterey cypress trees here date back to around 1930. They were planted to provide shelter along the road to the Art Deco-style radio station built to receive wireless Morse code messages from ships.
The last commercial message was broadcast from the KPH Maritime Radio Receiving Station in 1999, but the cypress tree tunnel still attracts visitors from around the world.
We park our car along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, then walk a few steps to get to the tunnel. There are a few people around when we arrive, but it’s peaceful and beautiful. We stand in awe of the gnarled trunks and curved branches as we snap photos and capture videos.
Drakes Beach
From the Point Reyes Cypress Tree Tunnel we drive to Drakes Beach. We’re here during elephant seal pupping season, which runs from late December through March. The beach is closed to visitors, but people can walk up to the fence and see the giant seals and their little pups.
We do just that. There are park staff and volunteers present to answer questions and educate visitors about the elephant seals. We chat with one, learning about the lives of the hundreds of seals here, and spotting their 2-week-old pups.
It’s amazing to see the animals up close, and great to enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean on a sunny, windless day.
Point Reyes Beach
From Drakes Beach we drive over to Point Reyes Beach. Part of this place is one of a few dog-friendly stretches of sand in the area, and we’re excited to walk The Pup here.
We pull into the North Beach parking lot and head out for a stroll. The huge expanse of sand is empty save for one other visitor, and we enjoy sweeping views of Tomales Point as we walk along the waterfront.
It’s incredibly peaceful here, and we can’t believe our luck with the weather. The sun is beaming down, the wind is nowhere to be felt, and we feel like we’re in a dream world.
Lunch & Olive Oil Tasting
After our walk we drive back through Point Reyes Station and out to a place just over the border in Sonoma County. We’re at McEvoy Ranch for lunch and an olive oil tasting. This 550-acre property in Petaluma is nestled in hills full of olive trees, and we can’t wait to experience what it has to offer.
We settle in at an outdoor table overlooking a pond as a server brings us menus and welcomes us with small wine samples. We order a vegetable tart and chimichurri chicken along with a 3-flavor olive oil tasting flight and glasses of the estate’s wine.
The food and olive oil are delicious, and they go down a treat in the peaceful surroundings. Afterwards we head into the beautiful shop, picking up a bottle of extra virgin olive oil and other treats to take home with us.
Soft Serve
Back in the car, we start the journey back to San Francisco. But we can’t help making one last stop on the way. We’re big fans of Double 8 Dairy buffalo milk soft serve, and we usually get it at Palace Market in Point Reyes Station. We were too full to stop for it earlier, but we know another place that has it.
We pull into Sausalito and make our way to Driver’s Market & Deli on Caledonia Street. This shop has the famous soft serve, and we order cups of it to go. It’s rich and creamy, if a bit less so than what we usually get at Palace Market. Regardless, this delicious local treat makes for a perfect end to our trip.
2 Days in Tomales Bay and Point Reyes
As we drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and back into San Francisco, we feel like we’ve had a great getaway in Tomales Bay and Point Reyes. It was fun discovering the best of this coastal area in Northern California, and we can’t believe the towns, restaurants, trails, and other local highlights are so close to the city.
Given how easy it is to spend 2 days in this part of Marin County, we know we’ll be back soon. I hope my blog post has inspired you to visit, too.
Tomales Bay Itinerary Map
If you want to follow my travel itinerary for 2 days in Tomales Bay and Point Reyes, you can find an interactive Google map of all the places I mentioned in this blog post here. I hope it helps you get a feel for the area so you can plan your own trip.
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