I had a pretty great childhood, but I didn't have a park with a playground surrounded by redwoods…read more This park is amazing!! But wait, there's more! It's not just for kids here, as there are often people sitting or lying amongst the redwoods... reading, listening to the creek, or even forest bathing. I've done this and let hours slip away while I just zenned out here. It's also in a fantastic location- right next to the MV Library and the Friends of the Library Bookstore. It is a smaller park, and it's a very peaceful place. Come and enjoy, and please leave no trace. =)

It's tranquil. Beautiful. Quiet. And full of peace. It's a great place to read, walk talk or see…read moredogs and humans shuttle to and from.

such beautiful and amazing water fountain. definitely a beautiful place to be in summer.read more

Vina Del Mar plaza is a small , triangle-shaped park located in downtown Sausalito, California…read more It is near the waterfront terminal and ferry , situated at the intersection of Bridgeway , Anchor street , and El Portal . The park is full of palm trees , a decorative fountains , grassy lawn areas , and benches . The park is most famous for two 14-foot-tall concrete Elephant statues named Jumbo and PeeWee . The fountain and the elephant statues originally came from the 1915 Panama- Pacific international Exposition in San Francisco. William Faville , the architect of the fair 's court of the Universe , arranged to have the fountain and a pair of the exposition's 12 elephants status moved to his home town of Sausalito after the event closed . The park was named in honor of Vina Del Mar , Chile , which became Sausalito 's first sister city at the 1960 . This is a great place to sit and rest after a long walk from the pier or shopping in the downtown.

Nice beach with a hiking trails as well. It's a pretty clean beach, and when we were there some…read morepeople were walking around looking for trash to pick up, so it's nice that there seems to be locals looking out for the well-being of the environment. Free parking lot. Empty when I arrived in the morning, but no spaces by the afternoon. It is a pretty peaceful beach. It doesn't really have a tourist feel that some beach areas have since it's just the beach itself (no shops/food or anything like that). It's not a huge area, but we came during low tide and walked around the more rocky area before the tide started rising. They do have restrooms at the parking lot. Although, the restrooms were disgusting when I was there, so I'd avoid it if possible. (Not flushing toilets.)

Muir Beach feels like the California people imagine, but quieter and more honest…read more Instead of a crowded boardwalk or lines of shops, you come down a winding road through coastal hills and suddenly the land just opens up. The ocean isn't bright blue like postcards, it's deep gray-green, powerful, and constantly moving. The waves don't gently roll in... they crash. You feel it in your chest before you even step on the sand. The sand is darker and softer than most beaches, almost cool even in the sun. Behind you are tall grasses and weathered driftwood, not hotels. In front of you is nothing but horizon. There's a small creek cutting through the beach and a wooden bridge crossing it, which somehow makes the whole place feel more like a nature preserve than a tourist stop. People aren't blasting music or playing volleyball, they're walking, breathing, taking pictures, or just sitting quietly watching the water. If you want a loud beach day, this isn't it. If you want to slow down and actually feel the ocean, this is one of the most peaceful places near San Francisco.

Located right next to Barrel House Tavern, this isn't your typical park featuring grassy fields and…read moregreenery... Yee Tock Chee Park is a small open space along the water, made up of concrete and stone, as well as a few wooden benches and a couple trees on the border (street side). It's a memorial to Willie Chee, former owner of Marin Fruit Company. The historical site even has stairs leading into the water where the Princess ferry boat used to dock. Strolling along the waterfront, exploring the adorable shops and eateries on Bridgeway, this park is a nice little spot to relax and enjoy the scenery. On a clear day, I was able to admire wonderful views of the city and nearby islands, especially as there are steps to an elevated level for visitors to take advantage of, to feel like you are actually on the water.

#17/2016 Here's a…read morelittle raised, triangular parklet that offers cool grass and shade from established trees and the best view across the Bay of the San Francisco skyline, the bridges, Treasure Island and Tiburon. A loving plaque dedicates this small patch of greenery to longtime resident Yee Tock Chee. He seems like he was beloved.

Going to this park is a lot of fun. There's so many activities going on, especially on the…read moreweekends. I usually will frequent McGinnis Park to walk along the jetty's near the bay. You can really get several miles in and it's completely flat so it's not difficult. But on a hot day it can be a little uncomfortable due to lack of shade, but there is ample parking and restrooms. I enjoy watching the birds, too.

Who would've thunk that this park has public tennis courts?! What a wonderful, unexpected…read morediscovery! Similar to Granada Park in Corte Madera, the John F Mcinnis Park courts feel like a tennis speakeasy. First rule of this tennis club - "you don't talk about this tennis club." The blessing and the curse of these courts is that they're kind of hard to find and get to (especially now, during this Coronavirus lockdown). But once you walk up the steep hill and get there, you'll be rewarded with four beautiful, well-maintained courts. There's no charge to play, nor proof of residence or membership. It's a total tennis lover's oasis! Not sure what's it like in the non-Coronavirus age, but players have to adhere to public court rules (no more than 2 sets or an hour's worth of play if others are waiting to hop on). All in all, this park was a major find! Beautiful, hidden location... but not too far away. Game on!

Phoenix Lake in Ross is one of my favorite places to hike and has become part of my regular…read moreroutine. It's easy to get to, and if you arrive before 9:30 am, you usually have a good chance of finding a parking spot. Even if the lot is full, it's worth waiting a few minutes because spaces often open up as hikers finish their walks. My friends and I love hiking here, and we also enjoy mountain biking on the trails from time to time. The trails are well maintained, the scenery is beautiful, and the peaceful atmosphere makes every visit enjoyable. During the week, it's especially quiet, making it the perfect place to relax, get some exercise, and enjoy nature. We are fortunate to have such a beautiful outdoor destination in Marin. I highly recommend Phoenix Lake to anyone looking for a peaceful hike with stunning surroundings.

I've loved coming to Phoenix Lake since I moved to Marin in the 70's…read more I used to ride my bike from my house in San Rafael hitch up my bike when I got to the lake and then do a run around the lake and then ride my bike home. Trust me, I only hike it now! Today I added in a few new to me trails including the Yolanda Trail, 5 Corners & Shaver Grade. A mix of open exposed trails to a gorgeous canopy of redwoods & terrific views of Mt. Tam

An awesome place to hike! This open space has good trails featuring views of the Civic Center and…read moreMt. Tam. Some of the trails connect to China Camp State Park and Harry Barbier Park. The preserve is pretty heavily forested by oaks, bays, madrones, and a few redwoods, which keeps it nice and cool while you're working up a sweat. The trails are not heavily trafficked in my experience, and dogs (on leash) and horses are allowed on trails and the fire roads. Bikes are not permitted on some of the trails, but it's not uncommon for mountain bikers to come bombing down the hill with no warning, on trails where they're not supposed to be. Other than that occasional surprise, hiking here can be quite peaceful. If you're looking for a good workout out in nature, San Pedro Ridge is a nice option. I wouldn't recommend hiking here for absolute beginners, as some of the trails can be a little challenging even for experienced hikers.

Outdoors lovers like me look at that big hill west of 101 in the Dominican area of San Rafael, and…read morethink "I wonder what is up there." Thankfully, you can find out. Why? Because it's there. When I lived in San Rafael, I did find out. I started at the trailhead near Dominican University, and did the slow incline up the fire road. It's a dense wooded forest of oaks, very shady. If I remember right, I made it to the top a few times. The big surprise: I looked down the hill, and saw the remains of a car that didn't quite get the curve right, and now it's rusting 40 feet down from the fire road! I don't know if it's there anymore, but it was in the last millennium. Today, I found out more. This time, I started at a trailhead near the Civic Center. Now there is manzanita along with the oaks, alternating between shade and open space. And views, first of the Terra Linda area, then of the neighborhood west of downtown SR and also Mt. Tam. Names of parkland, depending on where you are: Harry Barbier Memorial Park, City of San Rafael; San Pedro Mountain, Marin Open Space; China Camp State Park, Land of Fruits and Nuts. You don't just happen upon the trailheads, you need to know how to get to them. This is not an easy place to hike. If you get winded on hills, you'll have trouble on these trails. It's enough of a challenge to give experienced hikers a good workout. Dogs love it too. Several single-track trails, and mountain bikes are allowed on them. NO WATER. San Pedro Ridge is not a unique place, but it is a very nice getaway when you're tired of being cooped up in your too-expensive Marin shack. The big thing about San Pedro Ridge is not the destination, but the journey. And what a good little journey it is.

GORGEOUS. The views were simply amazing at sunset!…read more The Verna Dunshee loop is 0.7 miles and completely flat (under 20 minutes) while the East Peak trail is 0.3 miles and ~300 feet of elevation gain (around 30 minutes up-and-down). The East Peak trail was pretty challenging with uneven ground and steep elevation, but it's doable for most people as long as you take it slow. The east peak parking lot is $8 to park but super easy to access and plenty of spots available. You can scan a QR code at the entrance to the trails to pay, and wi-fi is provided.

The Verna Dunchee loop is actually what brought us here. It is paved and flat and less than a mile…read moremaking it an easy enjoyable peaceful walk, I did it in my fuzzy boots. When we finished my husband looked up at the fire look out and then back at me and said "you wanna?". So I returned to our vehicle put on tennis shoes and started up. The first part is wooden and easy but then all the easy stops. I am going to go ahead and call it a beginners rock scramble since you must use your hands some of the time. The views are stunning! Makes you stop and appreciate nature and all its miracles. Totally worth it but I will admit it was harder than I anticipated. The loss of the star is 8$ parking. Oh and the bathrooms were clean! Dog friendly.