The hook
The Bay Area's classic beach day: a long arc of sand under Mount Tam, water warm enough to actually swim on a good day, and a trailhead for a legendary hike.
01Why it's worth it
Stinson is the beach Bay Area families have driven over the hill to for generations, a broad three-mile arc at the foot of Mount Tam where, on a rare warm day, people swim (with summer lifeguards). It's no secret, and it can be a traffic-and-parking ordeal on hot weekends, so go early or midweek. Beyond the sand it's a gateway: the Dipsea and Matt Davis trails climb straight from town up into Mount Tam's redwoods and grasslands for one of the best coast-to-ridge hikes anywhere, and the little town has a few good bites. Set expectations, cold water more often than not, fog half the time, crowds when it's hot, and it's still a great beach with a mountain at its back.
02How to experience it
Take Highway 1 over the hill from Mill Valley (a winding, carsick-prone drive) and arrive early on any warm day, since parking fills fast. Swim only near the summer lifeguards. For the best of it, hike the Dipsea or Matt Davis trail up into Mount Tam and back down.