Marin County Getaway - Mill Valley & Tiburon Travel Diary

I just returned from 7 beautiful days in Northern California and I must admit..today I am so sad to be be back home! Turning 4-0 in my favorite place in the world is certainly a trip I will never forget!!! (catch all the stories that I saved to my Instagram hi-lights) So happy we took a few days to explore Marin County too. San Fransisco actually had a huge massive security conference on my birthday forcing us to switch up our logistics and what we did could not have been better!!!

We stayed in Tiburon all though you could easily stay in Tiburon or Mill Valley!! Both are very nice - main difference is that Mill Valley is inland and Tiburon is on the water, so the question is would you prefer a “foresty” feel (Mill Valley), or a seaside one (Tiburon). Either way you can't lose...! In Tiburon you have the very lovely walk along the shoreline at "Blackie's Pasture" and it's a great place to picnic/read the Sunday paper, if it's warm out. Main street (with killer bay views, is far more appealing than MV's downtown. There are nice restaurants/bars with decks overlooking the bay and SF. Sam's restaurant with its deck views of the bay is a local treasure (packed during happy hour/Sunday brunch) although not inexpensive. But is anything inexpensive in California?! LOL!

WHERE TO STAY

No questions asked, you must stay at The Water’s Edge Hotel! (I actually did not stay here because it was fully booked and I am still crying) And I cannot recommend The Tiburon Lodge where I did stay. It is too expensive for what it is and it is SOOOOOOOO loud. If you are going to be out and about all night then this might be perfect for you! But for people like Lin and I who enjoy going to sleep at ten p.m especially from still being on Oklahoma time…I would not stay here unless you are an incredibly heavy sleeper. The rooms are right above the communal courtyard and pool and hot tub and restaurant! Calling the front desk both nights were definitely not the greatest. We just really wanted a romantic hotel stay! And this was so unsexy and so unromantic!!! The Water’s Edge Hotel has everything we were wanting and I really hope to visit one day.

Time to explore…

WHAT TO DO-TIBURON

Named for the leopard sharks that swim along its shorelines ("tiburon" is Spanish for "shark"), the the tiny, well-to-do hamlet of Tiburon is located just a short ferry ride across the Bay from San Francisco and offers a myriad of relaxing things to do.

Go for a ferry ride - The way to San Francisco, Oakland, and Angel Island is over the water! Tiburon is all for the relaxation and romance, but when you venture out of Tiburon for a day in the city or a hike around awe-inspiring Angel Island, your Ferry or Water Taxi awaits you

Get The Sunny & 70 at Sam’s Anchor Cafe - it would be rude not to, right? And Old Bay Fries and a delish refreshing drink served out of a huge punch bowl?! We went for the APEROL SPRITZER bowl! We also enjoyed the fish ceviche. It’s served with taro root chips and I wish I could eat it everyday!

Load up on Italian food - again, rude not to! There’s plenty of choices so be prepared to do your… ahem, research! But we looooved Don Antonio Trattoria Marin, by Antonio Volpicelli. Tiburon has scenic vistas echoing those of Lake Como so when in ROME…Buon appetito! (do get the house made gnocchi with Gorgonzola.)

Fish and Chips is a must at The Tiburon Tavern!

Drink espresso at Caffe Acri and enjoy a chocolate croissant- It’s such a lovely place to people (and dog) watch!! I feel like everyone in Tiburon has a dog and it puts a smile on my face!

Stock up on wine at Tiburon Wine- Jerry Horn's Wine Shop, Tiburon Wine is lovely! You can get a glass, a bottle, and bring some home too. You'll find one of the best selections of French Champagne in Marin County, plus local wines too (and it's not all fancy—you'll find a bunch of easy-on-the-wallet wines to enjoy, from $10-$30) I suggest taking one back to your hotel for some romance!

Put your comfy shoes on (hopefully that’s all you brought for SF) and get exploring - in Tiburon you can stumble across a pretty sight at any time, (including lemon trees) so make the most of being able to cover off a lot of the town by just walking and stopping along the way. But don’t miss Old St Hilary’s. This fine 19th-century example of Carpenter Gothic architectural style can be seen from almost anywhere in Tiburon. Hiking trails lead from above it onto Old St Hilary's Open Space Reserve where there are tons of wildflowers in spring (many endemic to the area) and incredible views of the bay year-round.

WHAT TO DO-MILL VALLEY

Nestled below majestic Mount Tamalpais, Mill Valley is reminiscent of a charming European village. Surrounded by national parks, including Muir Woods, ( you have to be shuttled into Muir Woods so you must make a reservation or you will not be able to go into the park) an ancient coast redwood forest, Mill Valley’s lush landscape of hills and canyons is a favorite place for visitors who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and running. And don’t miss the delightful downtown area near Lytton Square, where people gather for coffee at Equator Coffee or for a game of chess. As you stroll up and down the quaint nearby streets, you’ll be tempted by an array of fashionable boutiques and restaurants.

SHOP:

Prevalent Projects specializes in a warm modern aesthetic with a focus on quality, craftsmanship and sustainability. It sources its wares from all over the world. This shop is so beautifully curated by Julia Albee. I wanted every single thing! I hope to do a dedicated feature on them so stay tuned for that! We bought a few little things that we could carry back but so thankful they ship because this gem is already a new favorite!

Sundry specializes in unique items for your kitchen and garden. Everything is sustainably focused too! I went a little nuts here!!! If you love to cook and garden..this is your place! I love the French brands they stock too.

The Goods specializes in unique gifts, vintage finds, locally sourced treasures and lots of cashmere....! I bought a beautiful alpaca scarf from Peru that I will treasure forever!!!

Two Neat is a great shop that has some great cards, candy, hats and tee’s, and stuff for dogs!!

After all that shopping, take a little sangria break at Playa. The chips and salsa and guac are soooooo darn tasty!! And you can’t lose with either the white or the red sangria!!!

Soooo much to explore ! So little time. Let me know what else I need to do next time in the comments!!!!! The next day it was time to head into the city which we took the ferry!!!!! It truly is magical. We did a drop off in Sausalito and got so close to Alcatraz!!! You will get some great views of The Golden Gate Bridge too.