Gennifer Rose - Dog-Friendly Picnic at Marin French Cheese Company in Petaluma - Duck swimming in the pond.

On a very foggy day we drove from Sacramento to Point Reyes. Along the way we detoured to have a picnic at the Marin French Cheese Company along Petaluma Road. We had our Black Labrador Holly with us and we needed to find a dog-friendly place to enjoy lunch. The Cheese Factory (as it’s known by locals) was the perfect place to stretch our legs and enjoy lunch and snacks made by local foodie artisans.

The Marin French Cheese Company is located in the rural landscape of Petaluma. It’s one of the oldest cheese manufacturers in America and specializes in artisan cheeses. On site they have a large pond and picnic areas for guests to enjoy some freshly prepared gourmet lunch and take in the countryside scenery.

Below I have a guide on how to go about putting together your family picnic at the Cheese Factory. There is some planning involved, along with rules and regulations to follow. This is a popular spot for both locals and visitors to frequent, so there isn’t always available spots on busy days.

Plan Your Picnic at the Marin French Cheese Factory

The Best Cheeses to Buy for Your Picnic

It would be a shame to have a picnic at the Cheese Factory and not taste test some of the award winning cheeses made right on site. They’ve been making cheese for over 150 years and they perfected their Rouge et Noir brand European-style cheeses.

My recommended cheeses to try are the many flavors of Brie, Camembert, Schloss and their original Breakfast Cheese. At the store they have over 40 varieties of cow and goat cheeses, so you’re bound to find one that you love.

Cheese lovers should also detour to The Cowgirl Creamery at Point Reyes Station. This other noteworthy artisan cheese destination is a picturesque 15 minute drive down the road.

The Deli Counter Inside The Cheese Factory

At the deli counter you can purchase everything you need for a super fancy picnic lunch. Sandwiches are made-to-order (both hot and cold) and you can order sides of soups and salads. Ready to eat sandwiches have their artisan cheeses (more Brie please!).

You can build a complete meal with freshly baked breads and pastries, nuts, chips, fruits and ice cream for dessert. You can even get fancy with an impromptu charcuterie board with cheese, crackers and olives. My special treat after lunch was some English Toffee from the Petaluma Toffee Company purchased inside the store.

Beverages include fancy sodas, juices, coffee and alcoholic drinks such as craft beer and wine.

Can You Drink Alcoholic Beverages at the Cheese Factory Picnic Grounds?

Inside the store they have wine and beer beverages available to purchase and drink at the picnic tables.

Rules About Using the Picnic Tables at The Cheese Factory

There’s many picnic tables scattered throughout the grounds at the Cheese Factory. These tables are first come, first serve so they cannot be reserved unless you’ve booked a special event. They are only for paying customers who purchase food and drinks from the store. On the weekends it’s a $40 charge for a table in addition to purchasing food (this fee may also spill over onto busy weekdays).

At the Cheese Factory they do have BBQ’s available for groups to rent. You can contact their team at cheesefactory@marinfrenchcheese.com for more information.

Can you bring outside food for picnics at the Cheese Factory?

As mentioned earlier, the picnic tables are reserved for paying customers who purchase food from their store. And it’s also important to support the company and the local food artisans. With that being said, we have a very picky toddler who will only eat specific foods. We purchased food for the adults from the store and brought outside food for my daughter. We didn’t have any issues and if someone has dietary restrictions I think it would okay to bring outside food as long as others in your party are purchasing food.

Does The Marin Cheese Factory Allow Dogs?

As of September 2020 they do allow dogs. I spoke with the employees about their dog policy because there’s a bit of confusion on this topic. The picnic grounds had been open to dogs for a long time but they decided to change their policy and not permit dogs. Sadly this was because of some bad experiences with irresponsible pet owners.

They’ve since revised the rules and are now allowing dogs on leash. Today I checked their website and it needs to be updated, it currently still says that dogs are not allowed. Please always remember to pick up after your dog and keep your dog on their best behavior.

Helpful Information for Visitors

Parking - The front parking lot can fill up quickly, especially on busy weekends. There’s more parking available on the back lot behind the deli.

Restrooms - The restrooms are very clean and well-maintained. They are only available for paying customers and you need a code to enter.

Open Hours - The store and picnic sites are open most days a week besides major holidays. There’s conflicting information online about their hours of operation, so I would give them a call at 707-762-6001 before you plan your visit. We visited on a Wednesday and we had the place to ourselves.

Tours - Sadly they’ve discounted their tours but there is a small museum exciting inside the shop where you can see artifacts and learn more about the history of the company.

Weather - On hot days you can usually find shade under a tree, and I would recommend bringing blankets and layers of clothing on chilly cold days.

The California Cheese Trail

Running the length of the golden state is the California Cheese Trail, a collaborative that promotes family farms and artisan cheesemakers. There’s over 80 stops along this trail where you’ll find some of the best crafted cheeses, and many of these makers offer tours and tastings to the public.

Gourmet food enthusiasts can plan a wine and cheese driving tour through some of the most beautiful California landscape. You can follow one of the pre-routed tours on the map, or create your own from scratch.