West Marin Real Estate
West Marin, with its rolling hills of farmland, redwood tree-lined roads, pops of color from red barns and proximity to spectacular beaches, is an artist’s and photographer’s ideal of natural beauty. It’s also a dream for those who envision themselves entrenched in a true country living experience in one of the loveliest stretches in all of California, if not the whole U.S.
Why buy property in West Marin, CA?
Encompassing the largest rural part of Marin, West Marin is mostly undeveloped land and is sparsely populated, all by design. Having access to raw nature is a big draw for buyers searching for West Marin homes for sale.
A leisurely drive through any of West Marin’s seven unincorporated communities, consisting of Point Reyes Station, Olema, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Tomales, Dillon Beach and Inverness, suggests that West Marin is a place where time has stood still. Wooden storefronts on quaint main streets, long stretches of uninhabited roads and grassy knolls full of grazing black and white cattle are regular sights here. There is a relaxed, casual feeling all around. Yet the eastern side of Marin, where most people live and plenty of modern amenities exist, is merely minutes away.
West Marin is served by the Shoreline Unified School District and the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District, with smaller schools and classrooms, translating into lower student to teacher ratios.
Fun Facts & Geography
Large swaths of protected land is a big draw for those looking for a West Marin home for sale.
West Marin consists of many miles of wild coastline, open ridge tops and dairy land. It is home to elk, elephant seals, foxes, bobcats, hundreds of bird species and the occasional mountain lion. Much of West Marin is protected within Point Reyes National Seashore or within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Other areas in West Marin, not under conservation rules set forth by government entities, have been protected the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, or MALT as its commonly known. Since 1980, MALT has been the driving force for the protection of West Marin’s precious farmland against development. The first farmland trust to exist in the U.S., it has preserved more than 54,000 acres of West Marin farmland via conservation easements.
A Perfect Day in West Marin
After you’ve found your perfect West Marin home for sale, it’s time to settle in to your off-the-beaten-path existence.
Many, if not all, West Marin dining establishments serve fare that is locally raised and grown. So if you don’t have your own chicken eggs to scramble for breakfast, head over to Point Reyes Station where you can partake in an omelet or the restaurant’s famous “hangtown fry.”
After, head out to your choice of numerous hikes or to do some beach exploration. Some local and lesser-known favorites are the bayside beaches at Heart’s Desire and Chicken Ranch, popular with families due to their surf-less waters and sandy beaches. If you want to try your hand at surfing, the waves can’t be beat in Bolinas.
Afterwards, head over to Tony’s Seafood in Marshall for locally sourced oysters and spectacular views of Tomales Bay. Or head over to the William Tell House (named after the famous marksman), known as Marin’s oldest, continuously operating saloon, for chowder made with local seafood or a butcher’s cut of the day sources from nearby Stemple Creek Ranch. Afterwards, head back to your West Marin home to relax after your leisurely, fun day
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