A Picnic at Marin French Cheese Factory

One of my family’s favorite local picnic spots, where the kids can endlessly run wild, is at the Marin French Cheese Factory on Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Road, near Novato Boulevard. If you haven't been there, you've seen it as you've driven out to the Point Reyes National Seashore from Novato or Petaluma. When you first pull into the parking lot you’ll see the Marin Cheese Factory store, which has been making cheese in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1865. There you can sample and buy their award-winning European-style cheeses (Brie, Camembert, Schloss, and Breakfast Cheese, to name a few), purchase pre-made sandwiches, chips, crackers, wine, soft drinks, and ice cream. They also offer a factory tours for all those interested in the cheese making process. On one side of the store are a group of picnic tables and a pond that is usually filled with ducks and geese. My kids love to run around the grass area that surrounds the beautiful pond and feed the birds. Many people bring a blanket and picnic lunch and park themselves in front of the pond for a relaxing afternoon.

One day when we decided to picnic there, we drove straight in to the back of the building and discovered a huge lush green picnic area with tables scattered all around. I never realized that this big lawn area was there. It was great! We parked ourselves way back in a shaded area and had our picnic. The kids ran around like crazy and played with a soccer ball that I found in the car. Some other families showed up with their small BBQs, badminton sets, volleyball nets, Frisbees, and lawn chairs and made a whole afternoon of it. They also have a covered and lighted BBQ area you can rent for parties, and events.