School’s right around the corner, the time is flying until back to school! For the Summer weeks we’re at home, I’m always so grateful to live where we do. There is always so much going on at Mom camp - I’m sharing my Top Outdoor/Indoor Summer Activities for families in Marin, California!

Share with me in the comments any family activities you have enjoyed this Summer 😊

the best Summer Activities for Families in marin, California:

Mountain Biking and Hiking in Mount Tamalpais State Park 🥾🥪🚲
We love heading out to Tamalpais to spend the afternoon hiking or mountain biking! Mt Tam is the highest mountain in the Marin Hills, the views are amazing and so much wildlife for the kids to spot along the way. Catch my Reel to see our most recent adventures, spotting rattlesnakes 🐍 and catching lizards! 🦎

Pro Mom tip: Grab a map at the Pan Toll Ranger Station, where you can ask a ranger about family-friendly hikes. It’s one of our go-to day trips, and is just as beautiful in the rain and fog as it is in the sunshine!

Head to Angel Island on the Tiburon Ferry ⛴️
Just drive your car to downtown Tiburon, park it in the public lot and hop on the ferry… this is such a fun afternoon adventure on the water in Tiburon! Once you get to Angel Island there are a ton of activities you can do as a family including a tram tour around the island and beautiful beaches to relax on 🍹🏝️ be sure to pack a picnic and drinks, and a flask of mojito for you Moms!

Pro Mom tip: if you’re visiting Marin for the summer, you can enrol your kids in the Angel Island kids camp and they take the ferry over!

Sea Trek Ocean Kayak and Sup Rental 🚣🏼‍♀️ and 101 Surf Sports 🏄🏼‍♀️
I’ve used both these companies for school events before and recommend if you’re looking to hire kayaks or SUPs for the day! You can go Kayaking and take Stand Up Paddling trips, classes, lessons and Stand Up Paddle Yoga. We also purchased all of our watersports (SUPs and Kayaks) from 101 Surf Sports in San Rafael if you’re local.

Pro Mom tip: you’ll definitely want to bring a fanny pack big enough for emergencies (you know, first aid, sun screen, snacks, hip flask…)

A hike on ring mountain 🥾🍇🧀 - check out my blog post for Ring Mountain

Ring Mountain is near and dear to my heart because it’s right up the street and we’re always there! It’s a perfect hike up, or you can drive to the top and bring your picnic baskets. It’s suitable to bring toddlers and babies! You can also mountain bike up Taylor Road and come down on some trails, these trails are suitable for adults only. While you are there you will get to experience the stunning 360 views of SF and Marin!

Pro Mom tip: if you can sneak away from the kids for the evening, it’s the BEST place to see the sun set over Marin County and a perfect date night picnic spot.

Take the smart train to Napa! 🚂- Check out my previous blog post that was published in SMMC magazine!

This idea is close to my heart also as my blog post about this got re-published by Southern Marin Moms Club (SMMC) magazine! I suggest parking at Larkspur Landing and jumping on the train there, where you can also grab food and a coffee for the ride. Once you get to Santa Rosa, check out my blog post to see what to do!

“Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) is the Bay Area’s newest passenger rail service providing a safe, reliable and congestion-free transportation option for Marin and Sonoma counties. The current 45-mile system includes stations in the Sonoma County Airport area, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael, and Larkspur.” (excerpt: Sono Marin train website)

Children’s museum in Sausalito 🌳🔬 in July we will be visiting the new Gumnut Grove exhibit for sure!

This is an obvious choice for me, my kids and I have been going there since before they could walk. They have a great sensory area for babies as well as a ton of exhibitions and a snack bar (although I’d recommend to bring your own) for the older kiddos.

Children experience the wonders of nature as they run, play and climb through 3 large treehouses nestled in the canopy of Fort Baker's majestic trees. Designed for our 5 - 10 year old visitors. (excerpt: Bay Area Discovery Museum)

Hike and Scenic Railway in Muir Woods 🚂
Muir Woods has a rich and varied history, from its use by the Coast Miwok people, to its early days of tourism and the Mount Tamalpais Mill Valley Scenic Railway, to an era of conservation, to modern preservation. In each era, the forest has been affected by the actions of humans, for better or for worse. Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this coastal redwood preserve features majestic redwoods and scenic hiking trails that draw more than 1.5 million visitors each year.

The Butterfly and Dinosaur exhibits now on at the Academy of Sciences - 🦋🦖🦕

And finally, if you want to escape just 10 minutes over the Golden Gate Bridge from Marin sits one of the most amazing museums in the country! It is totally worth the drive, mamas. The restaurant has the best kids dishes… and cocktails 😂… maybe get an uber.

“From the canopy of our butterfly-filled, four-story rainforest to the bioluminescent depths of the little-known "twilight zone," explore the world's most vibrant, vital ecosystems from the heart of San Francisco.”

”The largest land animals that ever lived have arrived at the Academy! Get ready for a hot sauropod summer with colossal dinosaur models, hands-on interactives, and programs for junior paleontologists.”
(excerpts from Academy of Sciences)