Coastal California Bliss: A Weekend Getaway to Point Reyes & Stinson Beach

Point Reyes National Seashore is a perfect hideaway spot that many San Francisco Bay Area locals try to keep to themselves, but not these loose lips! 😊 An easy destination, just a bit over an hour’s car drive north of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore invites you to unwind, recharge, and explore at leisure.

During our first visit, we merely scratched the surface of it and are already planning a return trip over the weekend. And here’s why:

Tomales Bay

We started to explore Point Reyes National Seashore from Tomales Bay. Tomales Bay is worth spending at least a full day at, especially if you enjoy water activities. Swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, and boating are all available. You can even get a guided kayaking tour on this 1-mile-wide, 15-mile-long bay.

There are several access points to Tomales Bay, we came in from Chicken Ranch Beach on the Inverness side, which is dog friendly. There we rolled up our pants and waded around the shore about 20-30 feet out, along with a handful of other folks, doing the same thing. As you can see in the photos – the water was calm, crystal clear, and surprisingly warm.

The secret to Tomales Bay unique water quality is that it flows along the coast from neighboring Bodega Bay and, thus, protected from the Pacific Ocean currents. (RANDOM REMARK: Have you ever noticed that every letter “c” in “Pacific Ocean” is pronounced differently? Now you have 😊)

On land, the 2,000-acre Tomales Bay State Park offers miles of trails for hikers and bikers, with all levels of difficulty and spectacular views of the Bay. Besides the gorgeous vistas, this is a great place to observe local plants and wildlife. The area is also a Tule Elk game reserve, so your chances of spotting some are pretty good! But because this is a reserve, dogs are only allowed at the Vista Point Picnic Area.

Note: The entrance fee to the park is $8.00 a day per car (at the time of the writing), and not all trails allow bikes, so check beforehand.

Foodies – you won’t be leaving Tomales Bay without tasting their world-famous oysters! Unless it’s a heavy rainy season. By California health laws, oyster farms must halt harvesting during periods of heavy rain. Also, it might have just been a random occurrence, but on our trip, some restaurants were closed for a day, or oysters weren’t on the Tuesday menu. Check out Hog Island Oyster Company, Tomales Bay Oyster Company, and  Nick’s Cove restaurant in Marshal on the other side of the Bay.

Further exploration of Tomales Bay and delicious oyster brunch make us want to return to Point Reyes National Shore for a weekend retreat!

Inverness

The town of Inverness in California might not have basked in the fame of the “Outlander” novel and TV series as its namesake in Scotland did. But Inverness, CA, has its own undeniable charm. And being smack-dab in the middle of the Point Reyes National Seashore, we became well-acquainted with it during our visit.

The Point Reyes Shipwreck

The Tomales Bay Shipwreck is a unique attraction that adds to the picturesque appeal of Point Reyes National Seashore. The weathered vessel has become a popular location for artists, photo-buffs, and nature enthusiasts. So this is definitely a spot you want to add to your list of “things to see in Point Reyes National Seashore”.

Originally, the “S.S. Point Reyes” was built in 1944 for transporting sailors from naval ships to nearby ports, then later used to ship salmon and seafood to and from surrounding areas. Eventually, the craft got acquired by a local resident who moved to Inverness for restoration. During a storm, the ship became beached, and the project was abandoned.

Catching on fire in 2016, the decaying S.S. Point Reyes was fated for removal. But after a valiant fight from local artists and residents, the ship was allowed to stay for all to enjoy, for as long as it remains intact.

The shipwreck is located behind the parking lot next to the Inverness Store on the east side of Sir Francis Drake Blvd in Inverness. Once parked, you’ll find a short trail leading from the back of the lot straight out to the site. You can’t miss it!

Foods, Goods, and a Cool Place to Stay at Point Reyes National Seashore

We stopped by the Inverness Park Market for lunch on the road. The West Marin Reuben and Island of Hog Pulled Pork sandwiches at Inverness Park Market were so incredibly tasty, that we gobbled them up, forgetting to take pictures (yes, they were that good!! 😊). We also grabbed some snacks from their vast variety of goodies — local cheeses (Shoutout to Cowgirl Creamery and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company!), artisanal crackers, and even pet treats to take back to our cabin.

Cottages at Point Reyes Seashore

Cottages at Point Reyes Seashore are the ideal accommodation for a weekend hideaway at Point Reyes National Seashore, be it a couple, going solo, or family traveling. And they are dog-friendly!

Located in 15 acres of tranquil forest and just a few minutes away from Chicken Ranch Beach, the vibe is of an upscale summer camp, with self-service hoteling — let’s call it rustic chic. They even have a game-shed chock-full of board games and sports equipment that you can borrow during your stay!

Waking up in a sun-lit room to the sounds of singing birds (and resident woodpeckers), sipping a hot cup of coffee on the patio, while watching a family of grazing deer outside your cottage makes for the perfect weekend morning in Point Reyes National Seashore!

Later in the evening, we returned to “town” for a light dinner at the Tap Room, adjoined to the Inverness Park Market. We had hoped to try the famous Barbecued Local Oysters (available with House Made BBQ Sauce or Garlic Butter), but since it was Tuesday, they weren’t available. 

So, we settled for a bowl of Homemade Clam Chowder and a side of Garlic Fries to share, and those hit the spot perfectly. By the way, Tap Room has indoor/outdoor seating – and dogs are welcome too! 

Coasting Around Point Reyes National Seashore

While driving to see the famous Point Reyes Lighthouse (opening hours: 10.00 am — 4.00 pm Friday-Sunday, check the link for more info), a thick, heavy fog rolled in quickly from the coast much earlier than expected, creating an odd and ghostly “eeriness” across the landscape.

Continuing deeper into the darkening abyss, wet gusting winds and thickening fog made it increasingly more difficult to see what lies ahead. It’s no wonder the 1980 cult-horror movie “The Fog” was filmed in this very location! We turned around.

TIP 1: To avoid getting fogged in, get out earlier in the day to see the Point Reyes Lighthouse and hike along the Chimney Rock Trail!

The Cypress Tree Tunnel

We were lucky to catch some pretty good shots of the Cypress Tree Tunnel in Point Reyes, another famous destination for photographers and nature lovers. The tunnel is formed by a row of towering cypress trees (planted in the 1930s), creating a shadowy archway of intertwined branches.

To get there, head northwest along Sir Francis Drake Blvd. until you see the “North District Operation Center” sign, and there you are! The Cypress Tree Tunnel leads to the historical KPH Marine Radio Station, which was closed at the time. However, visitors can freely stroll through the Cypress Tree Tunnel and grounds at leisure, enjoying the natural beauty of this Coastal California landmark.

Stinson Beach

On the way home, we headed south on Hwy 1, Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), from Point Reyes to Stinson Beach, and cut back to 101 in Mill Valley, heading back to the San Francisco Bay Area, hugging Mount Tamalpais (Mount Tam) in the process. Strongly recommend using this route unless you get carsick on narrow cliff-side roads.

The whole Point Reyes National Seashore area is so photogenic — it’s impossible to stay away from taking pictures. Stinson Beach is no exception. In some moments Stinson Beach made us feel like we were back in Hawaii, and at other times in Iceland. That is Coastal California for you!

We thoroughly enjoyed our brunch at Parkside Cafe (patio seating is dog-friendly!) in Stinson Beach, steps away from the ocean, indulging ourselves with decadent local Hog Island Oysters Au Gratin and Brioche French Toast with warm berry compote and maple syrup!

And Monkey got to stare back at a deer who came out through the bushes at the beach to check out what’s what.

In Conclusion

We are definitely coming back to Point Reyes National Seashore after this scouting trip. What a fabulous area to disconnect from a busy life, explore, and simply enjoy Being!

TIP 2: Very spotty Wi-Fi and cell phone service throughout the area — check your maps and destinations beforehand.

TIP 3: We only noticed one gas station in the area in the town of Point Reyes Station.

Hope we inspired you to visit Point Reyes National Seashore in California! We know that we can’t wait to get back! Check out some of our favorite spots for Fun Things to Do on the Pacific Coast Highway near SF Bay Area, Fort Ross and Bodega Bay, and Santa Cruz Mountains for more blissful coastal weekend destinations around the San Francisco Bay Area to start with!

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