Travel Guide to Bolinas and Point Reyes Station
Before this this trip, we had never been to the Point Reyes area of California, and quite honestly we didn’t know where to begin. This area of California is known for being secretive and hidden away, with many of the roads unmarked and no chain brands in sight. While these characteristics make it an ideal destination to explore on road trips, it can also make planning a challenge.
Our Adventure with Amazing Co.
For this blog post we’ve partnered with Amazing Co., an online service that has pre-planned activities for some of the country’s most beautiful locations. Amazing Co. is the perfect way to explore a new city because they’ve done all the heavy lifting for you by scouting out the best places to eat and points of interest.
For our day trip to Point Reyes Station we did the Amazing Co. Family Mystery Picnic, which means you complete a series of riddles to unlock each of your destinations on the itinerary (don’t worry, you can skip the riddles if that’s not your jam). We had a lot of fun as a family deciphering clues along the way, and we discovered that detective work sparks a lot of giggles!
Our mission for the Mystery Picnic was to collect all of the foods that would ultimately build our picnic lunch. Each food item comes from a local shop and is made fresh from locally sourced ingredients, making this the ultimate feast for foodies! When you are booking your reservations with Amazing Co., you can select whether you want have a meat-eaters lunch, or you can opt for vegetarian or vegan. You can also add wine to your picnic too!
Bovine Bakery
Our first stop in Point Reyes Station was the cute little patisserie Bovine Bakery, located on the main downtown strip. We picked up our picnic basket and four fresh pastries - a chocolate croissant, morning bun, bear claw, and almond croissant.
Palace Market
Our next stop was just across the street at the Palace Market which carries a large assortment of local, organic, and artisan produce and products. We picked up our picnic meats loot of Dry Salami, Mild Coppa, Olympia Chorizo El Rey Salami and Prosciutto at the Palace Market.
Cowgirl Creamery
Cheese lovers rejoice! This high-end creamery crafts artisan cheeses from local organic milk. This cheese is so famous that it was mentioned in an episode of Will & Grace and is a favorite of lifestyle expert Gwyneth Paltrow.
Many of the Cowgirl Creamery cheeses are named after landmarks local to the Marin Headlands. For our picnic we had the Mt. Pierce cheese and the Inverness cheese, complimented with a small jar of Quince Fig Jam and a baguette.
Side Street Kitchen
This bright and airy restaurant serves fresh and organic meals from locally sourced ingredients. On the menu you'll find wholesome entrees such as roasted chicken, sandwiches, salads, skillfully prepared vegetables and seafood.
Side Street Kitchen has ample patio seating and is conveniently located right off the main strip of Point Reyes Station, it's very easy to walk to this spot. During our Mystery Picnic with Amazing Co we picked up a 3-pack of dipping sauces for our lunch.
Bolinas Beach
The drive from Point Reyes Station to Bolinas Beach is a very scenic and pleasant one, taking about 30 minutes one-way. Between the two destinations you'll find the town of Olema which has some cute eateries and shops (keep scrolling to see my recommended destinations in Olema).
Bolinas Beach has sandy shores and is known for ideal waves for surfing. We had our picnic on the sand while watching the waves. Parking can be limited because there's no parking lot, just street parking. We went on a weekday and we had no issues finding a convenient parking spot near the entrance. This beach also does allow dogs to roam off-leash for your furry Fido friends.
More to Explore in West Marin
Sea To Sea -Located in Olema, this modern general store celebrates cool design and independent makers. You’ll find it on the Highway 1 drive halfway between downtown Point Reyes Station and Bolinas.
Toby’s Feed Barn - A large venue with a very cute grocery and gift shop filled with curated modern-meets-rustic goods. There’s also a coffee shop, art gallery, farmer’s market and yoga studio.
Station House Cafe - A popular restaurant serving farm-to-table fancy foods. On the menu they’ve got updated versions of your favorite classic comfort foods. They also do have a brunch menu and outdoor patio seating.
Cafe Reyes - Serving up fancy wood fired pizzas, oysters and fresh salads in a rustic-chic atmosphere.
The Little Store - This vintage shop is owned and operated by eclectic style millennials and is tailor made for their peers. Find clothing, accessories and goods for the home.
Due West - This modern and trendy tavern restaurant was made for Instagrammable Highway 1 road trips. Located inside the Olema House Hotel, there’s also an adorable market where you can pick up on-the-go fresh picnic meals and coffee.
Sir and Star at the Olema - A fancy restaurant that is mostly reservations only. Menu consists of entrees made from local ingredients, all the bounty West Marin has to offer.
Point Reyes Lighthouse - I always love the photo opportunities at old-school lighthouses, and the Point Reyes Lighthouse is especially picturesque. It gets chilly out there so come prepared with warm layers.
Petaluma - Have you seen our travel guide to Petaluma? This beautiful city just a half hour drive inland and totally worth it!
Hotel Accommodations - Keep scrolling to see our top picks for stylish hotels.
