Muir and Stinson Beaches are located off winding, plunging, picturesque Highway 1, just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. They are good stops if you have your own vehicle and are also visiting Muir Woods. Please note, though, that the waters are very chilly (high 50s/very low 60s) and somewhat rough, especially to someone like me accustomed to the very warm, tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico. I was surprised to find a lack of shells, also—just flotsam and jetsam. I guess I am spoiled by the great shelling of South Padre Island. Swimming or surfing either requires a great constitution or a wetsuit. We had neither, and just wading was painful because of the cold. If you'd like, there is a great lookout point between Muir and Stinson Beaches with a short trail. The location was during WWII the site of an anti-ship gun emplacement. Great photographic opportunities.

Stinson Beach is a very small community between the coastal mountain range and the beach. The beach here is significantly longer and wider than Muir, and we saw many more people here enjoying themselves. I recall in particular a brave? nutty? group of young people wearing regular men's short-type and women's bikini-type bathing suits, "swimming". You could hear their screams from hundreds of feet away as they ran into the chilly surf. Note also that Great White Sharks have been seen in these waters, and attacks are not unknown. Stinson Beach also has a few mom-and-pop-type restaurants and shops. We bought shell jewelry at one of them and paid just $2 each for our necklaces. A great souvenir of a great day.

Please Note: There is no charge to use Muir or Stinson Beaches or to park there; also, those addicted to your cell phones will discover that, due to the mountains, there is no service/signal just prior to entering Muir Woods Park and no service/signal whatsoever on Highway 1 between Muir and Stinson Beaches.

Website: www.muirbeach.com

To get to Muir Beach, drive North on Highway 101 from the Golden Gate Bridge. On your way, stop off and witness the glory of Golden Gate — if it’s a sunny day, the spot offers one of the best photo opportunities you’re likely to encounter. Take the 6-mile scenic drive from the Highway 1 exit and you'll find yourself in the small town of Muir Beach, Marin County. From there, just follow the signs down to the beach. The town is comprised of about 150 homes — you’ll instantly be struck with envy at the residence’s location, for the houses have seaside views of the two beaches. The Miwok Native American Tribe once inhabited Marin County until Westerners arrived in 1700, when Spanish missionaries colonized the area. The Spanish cultural influence can still be recognized, especially in the architecture of Marin County.

The beach area feels condensed — it lacks a sprawling shoreline and is often foggy, but has a wonderful rustic, scenic appeal. The coast is rocky, and it is an ideal place for a picnic. One feels relatively secluded; it’s a contemplative area and trails rise over the bluffs of the Golden Gate Recreation area, so if you tire of peering at the ocean, you can go for a nice hike.