Travel Guide to Bolinas and Point Reyes Station

GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Walking with Scout on the Beach in Bolinas
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Produce Stand at Toby's Feed Barn
 

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.


 
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Basket of Heirloom Tomatoes at Toby's Farmstand at Point Reyes Station
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Sale Sign for Organic Heirloom Tomatoes at Toby's Farmstand
 

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.

 
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Bovine Bakery French Pastries Bear Claw
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Standing in front of Bovine Bakery
 

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.

 
Gennifer-Rose_Travel-Guideto-Bolinas-and-Point-Reyes-Station_Product Display Inside Palace Market in West Marin
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Me and Scout Standing in Front of the Little Store in Point Reyes Station
 

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.

 
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Bovine Bakery Fresh French Pastries
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Gennifer Rose Standing in Front of Mural at Point Reyes Station
 

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.

 
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Outside Street View of Side Street Chicken
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Inside Restaurant of Side Street Chicken
 

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.

 
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Me and Scout at Our Bolinas Beach Picnic
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Scout Picking Up Sea Shells on Bolinas Beach
 

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.

 

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!

 
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Scout Standing on the Shore at Bolinas Beach
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Picnic Blanket with Food at Bolinas Beach
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Salami and Prosciutto from Palace Market
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Figs and Black Tea Jam Preserves from Quince and Apple
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Me and Scout in front of The Little Store
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Product Display Inside Toby's Feed Store
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Art Gallery Inside Toby's Feed Barn
 

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!

 
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Picnic Display of Cowgirl Creamery Cheese and Side Street Kitchen Sauces
GenniferRose_TravelGuidetoBolinasandPointReyesStation_Dipping Sauces from Side Street Kitchen

 

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