Marin is a ruggedly serene, out of the way region known mostly for its quaint, coastal villages. The coastline is full of windswept beaches, rocky cliffs, and forested headlands. It’s a bridge away from San Francisco and next door to the Napa and Sonoma wine country. The coast has lots of rocky areas that are covered with seaweed and ideal for seals and sea lions. It is on the northern boundary of the ‘Red Triangle’ which means there are sharks in the water, no question.
There are a lot of pointbreaks and exposed beachbreaks like Bolinas Beach which is in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Bolinas Jetty is a good spot that is sheltered from the winds and does well on a strong west swell. The area turns on when a big winter swell and offshore winds hit the very south facing beaches. There is a dedicated local community that will always call Marin home. Regardless the somewhat remote location, when it is working, surfers will hit the water, despite the sharks and cold temperatures. Luckily, the local vibe is welcoming and there are plenty of good breaks to go around.