You’d be hard pressed to find a more beautiful, or delicious, stretch of California’s coast. Marin County’s rolling landscape is home to diary farms, hands-on educational experiences, and U-pick opportunities alike. It’s just a short drive from San Francisco and other cities around the bay making it the perfect place for a day trip where you can soak in some fresh air and beautiful vistas. Here’s how to spend a perfect day in Marin County:
Morning Cheese Tasting + Farm Views
Stop: Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company
Address: 14700 Shoreline Hwy, Point Reyes Station
- Begin your day with a tasting flight of award-winning cheeses, including the iconic Original Blue and Toma.
- Enjoy panoramic views of Tomales Bay from “The Fork” — their culinary education center and outdoor patio.
- Tours are available by reservation and typically include a behind-the-scenes look at the creamery and sustainable dairy operation.
Tip: If you prefer a lighter morning, skip the full tasting and purchase cheeses from their on-site shop for a picnic later.
Visit a Goat & Sheep Dairy
Stop: Toluma Farms & Tomales Farmstead Creamery
Address: 5488 Middle Rd, Tomales
- Just 20 minutes from Point Reyes Station, Toluma Farms offers insight into regenerative agriculture and the art of small-batch cheesemaking.
- Tours (when available) include time with the goats and sheep, plus tastings of farmstead cheeses made right on-site.
- Even without a formal tour, the farm store offers cheeses and pantry goods worth bringing home.
Farm-to-Table Lunch or Gourmet Picnic
Option A – Dine-In:
Stop: Side Street Kitchen
Address: 60 4th St, Point Reyes Station
- Casual counter-service restaurant serving local, seasonal fare. The rotisserie chicken, seasonal veggie sides, and hearty sandwiches showcase Marin’s farm produce.
- Dine indoors or outdoors on their sunny patio. Quick, delicious, and locally sourced.
Option B – Picnic To-Go:
Stop: Cowgirl Creamery + Palace Market
Address: 80 4th St, Point Reyes Station
- Pick up a wedge of Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt Tam, fresh bread from Brickmaiden Breads, and local fruit or cider from Palace Market just next door.
- Head to nearby Bear Valley Picnic Area or Heart’s Desire Beach (in Tomales Bay State Park) for an outdoor lunch surrounded by redwoods or shoreline.
U-Pick Orchard Visit (Seasonal)
Stop: Chileno Valley Ranch
Address: 5105 Chileno Valley Rd, Petaluma
- Open for U-Pick apple and pear season (typically August through October).
- Walk through heirloom orchards, pick fruit straight from the trees, and enjoy quiet valley views.
- Outside apple season, the ranch occasionally hosts educational tours or sells grass-fed beef and lamb by reservation.
Afternoon Farm Stand Stop
Stop: Check out potential locations at the Marin Community Farm Stands & CSA website
- Website: www.communityfarmstands.com
- Booking Notes: Farm stands are seasonal and open-air. CSA subscription available. Check website for locations and open hours.
Optional Sweet Finish or Scenic Drive
Add-on: Visit Marin French Cheese Company (7510 Pt. Reyes–Petaluma Rd) on your return route.
- If you missed cheese earlier, this is a great stop for picnic-style dining, pond views, and soft-ripened cheeses (like Brie and Camembert).
- Or drive east via the pastoral backroads of Petaluma or south through Nicasio and the redwoods toward San Geronimo Valley.
Marin County makes it easy to connect with food at its source — and with the land, people, and stories behind it. Whether you’re tasting freshly made chèvre, picking apples in a valley orchard, or meeting baby goats on a hillside farm, you’ll find that Marin offers more than just food — it offers a deeper connection to California Grown agriculture.
Article written by Alison Needham, @agirl_defloured for Experience California Agriculture, photos by James Collier, Paprika Studios, and Hillary Rance.