This Region Includes Beautiful Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties, over the Golden Gate Bridge, North of San Francisco.

Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties in California is definitely worthy of planning a few days to visit. These counties, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge are known for their picturesque landscapes, rich culture, and world-renowned wine regions. As for the wine, we don’t typically visit the “famous” wineries in Napa or Sonoma County. They are pretty pricey, well, overpriced, and for us, we have just as good of wineries in the Sacramento region where we live. IF you are a wine connoisseur, YES, make the visit.

Marin County is known for its scenic coastal views, redwood forests, and charming towns like Sausalito and Mill Valley.

For a day trip, a MUST is to simply drive along Highway 1, starting at the Golden Gate Bridge and heading to Jenner, California. The trip is a little “challenging” from the bridge to Stinson Beach, but becomes much smoother after that. You’ll head through Bodega Bay, and that drive just north of town is simply stunning. You can pull over at a number of beaches and park, for free, mostly, and enjoy the views.

If you spend a day at one of these beaches along the Sonoma coastline, be AWARE. Don’t get in the water!