Lace up those hiking boots and get your gear together... it's time to hit the trail! Marin County is a paradise for families who love the outdoors, with over 50% of the county's land dedicated as protected open space. The Point Reyes National Seashore, Mt. Tamalpais State Park, and the Golden Gate National Recreation area are only a few of the outstanding natural resources that we have right in out own backyard. It's a great way to both educate children about nature and the environment and to get some exercise.

On this page, we've collected all our posts on family-friendly hikes, walks, beaches, and other outdoor activities and resources. If you have a favorite hike or place you'd like to share, or if you'd like to submit an outdoors-related post as a guest contributor, please contact us.

Have a Family Picnic This Labor Day Weekend

September 1, 2012
Posted by pamela |

Labor Day PicnicIt’s Labor Day Weekend, that final chance to enjoy summer vacation (even though many kids in Marin are back in school already). While a backyard barbeque is a Labor Day tradition, why not plan a picnic with friends and family? It's fun, you don't have to clean up the house either before or after, and there are plenty of awesome picnic spots in Marin and the North Bay. (This weekend's weather is supposed to be fantastic, too.)

Here are a few tips for planning a picnic:

  • Have every family bring a different dish, but still don't forget to pack plenty of food and drink. It’s always better to have more than less!
  • Make a checklist for all the things you’ll need to bring, like folding chairs, picnic blankets, games, food, drink, etc.
  • Plenty of active games and outdoor toys will keep the kids occupied while the grownups relax.
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Hiking with Kids in Marin: Mt. Tamalpais' East Peak

August 14, 2012
Posted by pamela |

Mount Tamalpais East Peak Verna Dunshee TrailI grew up hiking on the trails of Mt. Tam with my family, and have fond memories of walking around the summit of the mountain and marveling at the fantastic views. The East Peak of Mt. Tamalpais is a great place to go for families looking to take a hike with small children, and it also offers what are arguably the most spectacular views of any hike in the San Francisco Bay Area, so it's a great spot to take out-of-town visitors, too.

The easy, paved, .7-mile Verna Dunshee Trail that circles the mountaintop is accessible and perfect for strollers, too, and it's recently been repaved and upgraded. In addition to panoramic views of the Bay Area, the East Peak has a small visitor center and gift shop, as well as a seasonal snack bar offering candy, hot dogs, ice cream, and sodas. It's always a great place to stop for a treat after a family hike.

You'll also find the Gravity Car Barn and Museum near the snack bar. Open to the public on weekends from noon to 4 pm, the Gravity Car Barn pays tribute to the long gone Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway, an excursion railroad that from 1896 to 1930 transported visitors up to the summit of Mt. Tam via steam train, and back down to Mill Valley by means of a free-wheeling gravity car, a replica of which is housed inside the gravity car barn and is rolled out when the museum is open.

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A Visit to the Marine Mammal Center

July 18, 2012
Posted by pamela |

Statue of elephant seal at the Marine Mammal CenterEver wonder who takes care of the seals and other marine mammals that end up stranded on California's coast? Marin's Marine Mammal Center has been on the scene rescuing and caring for sick, injured, malnourished, and abandoned marine mammals—including elephant seals, seal lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and even whales—since 1975.

Located at Fort Cronkhite in the Marin Headlands, the Marin Mammal Center's new $32 million facility opened in the summer of 2009, and offers daily tours and educational activities for the entire family. It's a great destination as an outing on its own, and as a not-to-miss part of a visit to the Headlands.

Admission and self-guided tours are free of charge. Pick up a guide card from the information desk (remember to return it on your way out) and take a look around. At the back of the center you'll find the pools and pens where the Center's patients stay while recovering. The best place to check out the pens and their residents is from the second floor observation area. There are often volunteer docents stationed here who can answer questions about what you're seeing down below in the pens, and who the current patients are. Remember to be quiet here—you're visiting a hospital for sensitive wild animals.

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Hiking with Kids: Bear Valley Trail

July 9, 2012
Posted by pamela |

Bear Valley TrailOne of our favorite places for a hike with the family is Bear Valley Trail. Located at the Point Reyes National Seashore's Bear Valley Visitor Center near Olema, this trail is for many reasons one of the most popular in Marin, and a great spot for novice hikers and children. It's flat, wide, and sheltered from the wind and sun. While there's a slight uphill on sections both ways, it's not too challenging.

Starting at the end of the parking lot, Bear Valley Trail follows Bear Valley Creek all the way to the Pacific Ocean, if you're willing to go that far—it's approximately 8.2 miles round trip. A more manageable destination for those hiking with children is Divide Meadow, which lies at a little over a mile and a half into the trail. There you'll find a wide meadow ringed by Douglas firs. There are benches cut out of fallen logs to sit on, and it's a great place to stop for a picnic. You can usually count on seeing some wildlife here, mostly deer, but on at least one occasion we've seen a bobcat. The trip to Divide Meadow and back is 3.2 miles total.

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Five Sensational Summer Hikes for Families in Marin

July 6, 2012
Posted by pamela |

Turtle Back Nature Trail at China Camp State ParkIt's summer, school's out, and there's no better time to experience the outdoors in Marin County. Gather up the kids, lace up those hiking boots, fill your water bottles (very important in the summer heat!), and hit the trail.

All of these hikes are easy enough for everyone in the family to tackle, and many (especially Muir Woods and Turtle Back Nature Trail) can be tackled with an sturdy jogging-style stroller. We've included some of our favorite summer hikes from all parts of Marin. Follow the links in the titles to read more about each hike, and visit our Outdoors page for more ideas for family hikes and outdoor adventures this summer.

  • Point Bonita Lighthouse: The newly reopened Point Bonita Lighthouse in the Marin Headlands is a fantastic place for a family hike. Walk through a tunnel carved from solid rock and over a swaying suspension bridge to visit this 1850s lighthouse that warned mariners of the dangers of the Golden Gate. Take in spectacular views of the Pacific, the Golden Gate Bridge, and San Francisco while you're there.
  • Turtle Back Nature Trail: Designed with accessibility in mind, this easy-to-hike trail in San Rafael's China Camp State Park (yes, China Camp is not closing!) is a perfect outing for the family. Follow this 3/4-mile trail through oak forest, wetland, and meadow, and watch for wildlife along the way. Educational panels along the trail describe the ecosystem of the area.
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Summer Family Tahoe Fun at Northstar California

July 3, 2012
Posted by pamela |

Last week we had the opportunity to head back up to the mountains and experience Northstar California Resort during the summer. When we visited back in the winter, we thought that the summer activities offered at Northstar sounded just as fun as the winter ones, so we were determined to go back once school was out. We did, and we had a fantastic time during our visit!

Northstar is an exciting destination for a family summer getaway, with lots of things to do including mountain biking, hiking, geocaching, roller skating, and more. The summer vibe at Northstar is definitely more laid back than it is during the ski season, but it's still a bustling place, with hikers and mountain bikers gathering by the gondola to head up onto Mt. Pluto for outdoor fun.

When you've had enough of the wilderness, come back down the mountain and take advantage of some of the fun to be had in the Northstar Village.

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Top Outdoors Articles

Fun in the Sun at Heart’s Desire Beach
Outdoor Family Fun at Marin's China Camp State Park
Family Hike and Picnic at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen
Outdoor Outings for Kids: Bear Valley Visitor Center in Point Reyes
Whales and Seals and More Whales, Oh My! Winter Wildlife Watching in Point Reyes
5 Tips For Camping With A Toddler.