The Weather
Not many hard and fast guidelines about our Northern California coastal climate. For starters, it is rarely hot, and we rarely get a frost, so no extremes! It never rains in the summer. All year round we have sun, fog, clouds, breezes and wind, and hopefully plenty of rain in winter. It is always best to come prepared for cool-ish weather. That way you’ll be comfy, especially walking on the ocean beaches. Think layers. Think cap, scarf, even light gloves. Think rain gear for winter visits. Think casual and good walking shoes. There is rarely any reason to dress up around here. Even the best of our restaurants are accustomed to locals and visitors in casual dress, although of course it’s also fine to step it up a notch for dinner out.
Enjoying the Great Outdoors
This area is so abundant with trails, beaches, vistas, places to hike, picnic, run, bike ride, boat, bird watch, photograph, swim, tidepool, horseback ride and just relax – it would be impossible to list them all! We suggest you follow some online links if you enjoy planning your time here in advance. Or, when you arrive, visit Park Headquarters or Point Reyes Books to pick up maps and guidebooks and get your bearings. Talk to the friendly locals (ultimately the best source of information!). Here are some resources for you. All of the suggestions listed here are within a short (and beautiful) drive of your lodging at Dancing Coyote Beach.
Point Reyes National Seashore Park Headquarters
1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station
5+ miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
http://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm
The Bear Valley Visitor Center (at Park Headquarters) provides an excellent orientation to the park’s roads, trails and beaches, as well as the human and natural history. It’s also a departure point for picnicking and some gentle hikes, as well as a lovely rainy day destination.
http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
Point Reyes Books
http://www.ptreyesbooks.com
11315 State Route One, Point Reyes Station
5+ miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
This award-winning independent bookstore is a good source for books about the area, a wonderful rainy day hang, and a producer of many excellent evening events. Check out their website.
Beaches on the Ocean
The Point Reyes National Seashore is renowned for it’s 80 miles of shoreline. There are drive-to beaches, hike-in beaches, dog–friendly beaches, beaches for tidepooling and beaches where wood fires may be enjoyed with a permit. You’ll find all of those descriptions and details right here:
http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/beaches.htm
Parking areas for all the ocean beaches are between 6-12 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach.
Our favorite ocean beaches include Abbotts Lagoon, Drake’s Beach, Limantour Beach, The Great Beach, Kehoe Beach and McClure’s Beach.
Please note: When visiting some of these ocean beaches, always absolutely respect advisory signs for high surf and sneaker waves.
Beaches on the Bay
Tomales Bay beaches are lovely for swimming on warm summer days, and for picnicking and boating any time of the year. There are also trails through the forest to and from the state park beaches, so you can combine hiking with a bay beach visit.
Treasured local beaches include Chicken Ranch Beach, Shell Beach and Heart’s Desire Beach. Shell Beach requires a short downhill hike to access. Chicken Ranch Beach and Heart’s Desire Beach are drive-to beaches. Shell Beach and Heart’s Desire Beach are part of Tomales Bay State Park, while Chicken Ranch Beach is a county beach.
Heart’s Desire Beach
1208 Pierce Point Road, Inverness CA 94937
4.2 miles to Heart’s Desire Beach from Dancing Coyote Beach
Please note: $8 per vehicle entrance fee, payable by cash or cc.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=470
Shell Beach
End of Camino del Mar
Inverness CA 94937
1.6 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
Chicken Ranch Beach
Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Inverness
1.1 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
Hikes
Point Reyes National Seashore includes almost 150 miles of hiking trails, from short and gentle, to steep and challenging. This link is an excellent guide, describing the hikes and providing directions to the trailheads. All within 12 miles of Dancing Coyote Beach.
http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/hiking_guide.htm
Tomales Bay State Park offers several lovely easy hikes through gently sloping, wind-protected, beautiful woodlands that bring you close to or even across the Tomales Bay shoreline beaches. These trailheads are 5+ miles from Dancing Coyote Beach. Check out the links provided.
http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/tomales.html
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=470
Biking
Road biking is popular on our small, windy and scenic roads. Please be careful in sharing the road. Mountain biking trails abound. http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/biking.htm
Mountain bike rentals are available from:
Point Reyes Outdoors
415-663-8192
http://pointreyesoutdoors.com/bike-rentals
Kayaking
Wonderful kayaking in the ocean, estuaries and on Tomales Bay. A full array of services offered from instruction and guides (private or group), or just renting kayaks to do your own thing.
Blue Waters Kayaking
Point Reyes Station
bluewaterskayaking.com
Office is in Point Reyes Station; lessons and guided tours available from many different launch points.
bluewaterskayaking.com
(415) 669-2600
(415) 663-8192
Horseback Riding
Five Brooks Stable is a full service riding stable with a concession to operate within Point Reyes National Seashore, specializing in guided trail rides for Park visitors.
http://www.fivebrooks.com
Point Reyes Arabian Adventures
pointreyesarabianadventures.us
(707) 477-7181
Guided Hikes, Classes, Nature Education & Wildlife viewing
Point Reyes National Seashore Association – Field Institute
http://www.ptreyes.org/camps-classes-programs/prnsa-field-institute
An excellent array of classes and outings, to deepen your understanding of the natural world and of this area. Includes hikes, and arts and crafts as well.
Point Reyes Safaris
https://www.pointreyessafaris.com/
Wildlife viewing and wildlife photography safaris in beautiful Point Reyes National Seashore.
Point Reyes Tours
www.pointreyestours.com/
Get a tour of the Point Reyes wildlife by a Certified California Naturalist or Certified Interpretive Guide (with a maximum of 8 people). Tours last approximately 4.5 hours. Spotted: gray whales, elephant seals, lots of birds.
Food, Food & More Food
West Marin is heaven for “foodies.” Small organic farms, naturally-raised beef, heavenly oysters, artisan cheese, wood oven-baked bread…. it’s all here - in the restaurants, cafés, markets, and in many cases, right from the source.
Farm Tours
West Marin Food and Farm Tours
Excellent small group outings with Elizabeth Hill, a gracious and knowledgeable guide. Highly recommended for those who like to be taken care of, to kick back and let someone else do the driving!
All tours depart from Point Reyes Station, except the Oyster Lover’s Tour, which departs from Inverness.
http://www.foodandfarmtours.com
Restaurants
Restaurant seating is sometimes in high demand, so we suggest making reservations for the places that accept them, when you are able to plan ahead. Also, double check on days and hours of operation, which fluctuate with the seasons.
Saltwater Oyster Depot (and Restaurant and Wine Shop)
In“Downtown” Inverness, steps away from Dancing Coyote
12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Inverness, CA 94937
415-669-1244
http://www.saltwateroysterdepot.com
Top quality, chill vibe, nice people.. This place is all kinds of wonderful. Intimate room, fine food and wine. Reservations only for parties of 6 or more. Enjoy a glass of wine on the patio if you need to wait for a table or bar seating. Monday prix fixe dinners, Tuesday closed, Wednesday – Friday bar open 4:00-5:00 p.m., dinner 5:00-9:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday lunch 11-3, bar open 4-5, dinner 5-9 p.m.
The Tap Room
Connected to Inverness Park Market, 2.5 miles south of Dancing Coyote Beach
12301 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Inverness, CA 94937
(415) 663-1491
https://invernessparkmarket.com/tap-room-menu/
Serving dinner with a lovely wine selection with small batch, mostly organic wines, beers and such. The whole menu changes daily. Delicious, locally sourced food with a casual vibe.
Monday – Thursday 4 – 8pm, Friday 4 – 9pm, Saturday 11am – 9pm, Sunday 11am – 8pm, Happy Hour Weekdays 4 – 6pm
Station House Café
11180 Highway One
Point Reyes Station
415-663-1515
4+ miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
http://stationhousecafe.com
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this café is a crowd-pleaser, with a broad menu offering something for everyone. Great music in the bar Sundays at 5 p.m. Open 6 days, closed on Wednesdays. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Lunch 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Bar Menu 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., Dinner 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (until 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays).
Café Reyes
11101 Highway One
Point Reyes Station
4+ miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-663-9493
Down home café, featuring really good wood oven-fired pizzas. Reasonably priced. Indoor and outdoor seating. No reservations. Open daily noon to 9:00 p.m.
Picnic Fare, Groceries and Dining In Your Cottage
Inverness Park Market
12301 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Inverness Park
2.5 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-663-1491
https://invernessparkmarket.com/local-food/
Monday-Thursday: 6:30am-8:00pm Friday: 6:30am-9:00pm Saturday: 7:00am-9:00pm Sunday 7:00am-7:00pm
We love this little market! A great place to grab a quick bite - to sit outside on a couple of curbside tables or take with you to beach or trail. Also daily special take out dinner, if you want to dine in, and plenty of grocery selections if you want to cook.
Cowgirl Creamery
Point Reyes Station
5 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
cowgirlcreamery.com
Open Thursday through Monday, 11am-4pm
Premiere cheese selection (tastings welcome!), and a great take-out cantina. You can picnic right there on their lawn, or take it to go.
Palace Market
11300 Highway One
Point Reyes Station
5 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-663-1016
http://palacemarket.com
Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
West Marin’s one and only supermarket. Well-stocked for every need. Deli in the back for sandwiches.
Seafood Shacks and Oyster Farms
Marshall Store
http://themarshallstore.com
19225 Highway One
Marshall
13 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-663-1339
Great oysters (and other options), a seafood shack with charm and soul for days, right on the bay. For the full experience, dress warm to sit outside (although there is seating inside as well).
Hog Island Oyster Company
20215 Highway One
Marshall
13.9 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-663-9218
http://hogislandoysters.com
Open 9-5 daily for buying oysters to go, picnic reservations available daily from 10:30-5, and The Boat, the farm’s oyster bar, is open Friday-Monday 11:30-4 p.m.
Tomales Bay Oyster Company
15479 Highway One
Marshall
9.7 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-663-1242
http://tomalesbayoysters.com
Open every day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Onsite picnicking welcome.
Coffee and Bakeries
Bovine Bakery
11315 Highway One
Point Reyes Station
5 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-663-9420
http://www.thebovinebakery.com
Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
An institution! Bicyclists ride over the mountain with a cup of strong Bovine coffee and a pastry on their minds. Often a line out the door, but it moves quickly
Toby’s Coffee Bar
Point Reyes Station
11250 Star Route One
www.tobyscoffee.com
5 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
tobyscoffee.com
Every day 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
A treasured local hang. Great espresso and fresh pastries (be sure to try a Brickmaiden scone or biscotti). The coffee bar is inside of Toby’s Feed Barn, and everything about this place is worth exploring!
Watering Holes
Vladimir’s
12785 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Inverness
A one-of-a-kind spot across the road from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-669-1021
Open Tuesday 5-10 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday noon to 10 p.m.
Old Western Saloon
11201 Highway One
Point Reyes Station
5 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-663-1661
Thursday-Sunday 12pm-12am
Friday and Saturday 12pm-2am
The real deal rural dive bar - juke box, occasional live music, a small dance floor and pool tables in the back. On the right night, this place becomes an old-school hootenanny.
Station House Bar in the Station House Café
11180 Highway One, Point Reyes Station
415-663-1515
4+ miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
http://stationhousecafe.com
Closes around 9 p.m.
Nice room. You can order food from the café in the bar as well. Really good live music Sundays at 5 p.m.
Annual and Seasonal Events
Our local celebrations are truly small town and delightful. If you are here on these dates, please consider joining us.
Point Reyes Farmers Market
Late June until early November, every Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. An award-winning, all organic, all local market, with great food, music and chefs demonstrations. Not to be missed!
At Toby’s Feed Barn
11250 Highway One, Point Reyes Station
http://www.pointreyesfarmersmarket.org
Western Weekend Parade
First Sunday in June at noon, a great little parade down the main street of Point Reyes Station, followed by the annual chicken barbeque. A classic event!
Path of Lights and Annual Craft Fair
First Friday of December at dusk in downtown Point Reyes Station. Many shops stay open late. Lots going on at Toby’s Feed Barn, right in the center of town. The Holiday Fair opens at the Dance Palace Community Center, is open throughout the weekend.
Point Reyes Open Studios
Memorial Day Weekend and Thanksgiving Weekend
http://www.pointreyesart.com
A chance to experience some of the bountiful artistic talent that thrives in West Marin. It’s fun to visit studios, which can take you up into the hills and to surprising locations tucked here and there.
Far West Fest
Annual summer music festival, voted Best in Marin. Check our local, non-commercial, listener-sponsored radio station KWMR for dates and details.
http://www.kwmr.org KWMR is another great glimpse into our community. Tune in to 90.5 fm, or stream it online.
Inverness Fair
Dates in August TBA. Annual summer event right down First Valley, directly across from Dancing Coyote Beach. You can’t miss it!
Rainy Days
If you bring your raingear, and are feeling hearty, you can still enjoy walking the beaches and trails in a light rain. Or driving out to Point Reyes North Beach, one can watch fabulous surf from the comfort of your vehicle. Here are some of our favorite alternatives to enjoy your time here on wet days. In addition to these, there are many lovely shops and several galleries to visit in Inverness Park and Point Reyes Station, as well as well as our local libraries in Inverness and Point Reyes Station. Here are a few suggestions:
Bear Valley Visitor Center
At Point Reyes National Seashore Headquarters
1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station
5+ miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-464-5100
http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
Open Weekdays from 10 am to 5:00 pm and Weekends and holidays from 9 am to 5:00 pm, and until 4:30 p.m. in the winter months.
Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History
15 Park Ave (inside the Inverness Library), Inverness
One block from Dancing Coyote Beach
http://jackmasonmuseum.org
415-669-1099
Open Monday 3-6 and 7-9 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-6 p.m., Friday 3-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ink Paper Plate
11401 State Rte 1
Point Reyes Station
http://www.inkpaperplate.com/
Gallery Route One
11101 Highway One, Point Reyes Station
5 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
415-663-1347
http://galleryrouteone.org
Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Tuesdays
An excellent non-profit, community-based, artist-run gallery, with several exhibition spaces.
Shopping
Coyuchi
11101 Highway One, Ste 201, Point Reyes Station
5 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
(415) 663-8077
www.coyuchi.com
Open Mon-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Coyuchi is one of our favorite shops in town because it's where we get we get many of our organic linens for Dancing Coyote Beach. The shop has both a retail section and an outlet with deeply discounted items and get 20% off your purchase of $200 or more.
Vita Collage
11275 State Rt One Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
5 miles from Dancing Coyote Beach
www.vitacollage.com
Sat & Sun 10:30 to 5:00 , Mon & Tues 12:00 to 4:00 , Thurs & Fri, 11:00 to 4:30, closed Wed
This is just a beautiful boutique, full of lovely things for your home and your person.
Evenings Out
If you find yourself looking for a little something to do in the evening, check out the excellent cultural offerings of our community center and bookstore, both in Point Reyes Station. Some events are during the day as well.
Dance Palace Community and Cultural Center
http://dancepalace.org
Point Reyes Books
http://www.ptreyesbooks.com