With majestic Mount Tamalpais overlooking Marin County, from its Pacific Ocean shores to San Francisco Bay inlets, small towns nestled into hillsides and a lively culinary and cultural scene, there’s no question that Marin is one of the most idyllic places in California.

Tiburon, the county’s southernmost town, looks as though it were plucked from the Mediterranean coast with its waterfront restaurants, shops and cafés. Views of San Francisco are the backdrop for sailboats that help Tiburon retain its salty flavor as a historic shipbuilding center.

In the west find a string of beach hamlets—Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, Bolinas—where writers, poets and artists whet their creativity and have long called this home.

Nature Lovers’ Paradise

Further west is West Marin, a paradise for nature lovers. Point Reyes National Seashore offers secluded beaches dotted with sea lions and elephant seals, lush forests and a picture-perfect lighthouse clinging to the rocky coast. In winter, Point Reyes is one of California’s top spots to view gray whales on their annual migration.

Nearby are the blink-and-you’ll-miss-them towns of Point Reyes Station, Olema, Inverness and Marshall, known for serving locally-made cheese and fresh oysters from the glistening waters of Tomales Bay.

Hikers and mountain bikers make a beeline for the trails of Mount Tamalpais, known locally as Mt. Tam, where mountain biking was born. A diverse terrain of redwood forests, rolling hills, cascading waterfalls and high trails and roads afford breathtaking, top-of-the-world views of the Bay Area. It’s an unforgettable experience for visitors, who, if short on time, can take it all in by car.

Visit Marin County a place that seems to, simply, have it all.