Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - (Page 53) coastaltraveler The origins of Stinson Beach date to the 1870s, when the first dirt road to the beach was completed. Refugees from San Francisco, who flocked to the area after the 1906 earthquake, founded the town’s first hotel and stores. Since then, Stinson Beach hasn’t grown much, but the town’s popularity among visitors has continued to swell. Beachgoing The beach is divided into three areas: the federal beach, with lifeguards and a parking lot; the county beach (open to people and dogs but lacking a parking lot); and a beach owned by the Seadrift subdivision, an upscale community. On the Seadrift Beach, “passive” activities such as strolling are allowed but picnics are discouraged. Surfing is popular; surfboards and other beach gear can be rented at the Live Water Surf Shop or the Stinson Beach Health Club. Caution is warranted, however: strong riptides can sweep swimmers out to sea. Cozy downtown Stinson Beach boasts a small but outstanding selection of restaurants. The Sand Dollar and the Stinson Beach Grill are known for their steaks and seafood. A couple of blocks away and just off the beach is the Parkside Café. Next door, get soft-serve ice cream and milkshakes for the walk to the beach. One of Stinson Beach’s best-kept secrets is the Surfers Grill at the foot of the federal beach’s lifeguard tower. Not just a snack bar, the grill offers calamari, shrimp, scallops, and organic salads, and great fish and chips. The dog-friendly and wheelchair-accessible café is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the summer. Small shops and art galleries line Highway One. The Claudia Chapline Gallery is known as one of the best fine-arts galleries on the North Coast. Stinson Beach Books sells books in a cozy atmosphere. Those in need of provisions can head to Stinson Beach Market to stock up. Sunbathing au naturale For those seeking maximum exposure, Red Rock Beach, located about a half-mile south of the turnoff for Panoramic Highway on Highway One, has been touted as “the friendliest nude beach on the North Coast.” Mount Tamalpais towers over Stinson Beach, and hikers and mountain bikers will have no trouble getting to a network of trails throughout Mount Tamalpais State Park. The Dipsea Trail, just south of town, affords visitors breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The Matt Davis Trail, which departs from the center of town (up Belvedere Avenue from the firehouse), and Steep Ravine Trail (off the Dipsea Trail) climb through forests of coast redwood. Mount Tamalpais State Park rents out cabins overlooking the ocean. Where to stay Just off Highway One in downtown are the Ocean Court Motel, which offers two dog-friendly rooms; the Sandpiper Motel; and the Redwoods Haus Bed and Breakfast. Vacation rentals can be found through Seadrift Realtors, Oceanic Realty and Highway One Properties. Where to Stay The Sandpiper 415.868.1632 www.sandpiperstinsonbeach.com Ocean Court Motel 415.868.0212 Where to Eat The Sandollar 415.868.8977 • www.stinsonbeachrestaurant.com Parkside Cafe • 415.868.1272 • www.parksidecafe.com Surfer’s Grill • 415.868.1777 • www.surfersgrill.com Where to Shop Live Water Surf 415. 868.0333 • www.livewatersurf-shop.com Stinson Beach Bookstore 415. 868.0700 fall coastaltraveler 53 http://www.sandpiperstinsonbeach.com http://www.stinsonbeachrestaurant.com http://www.parksidecafe.com http://www.surfersgrill.com http://www.livewatersurf-shop.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 Coastal Contents Coastal Connoisseur Coastal Picks Coastal Hotel Coastal Reader Coastal Rider Coastal Spa Santa Barbara Pismo & Avila San Luis Obispo Big Sur Carmel Monterey Santa Cruz San Francisco Sausalito Mill Valley Stinson Beach Bolinas Olema Point Reyes Station San Geronimo Fairfax Inverness Marshall, Tomales Sebastopol Petuluma Sonoma Coast Redwood Coast Napa Map Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 (Page 1) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 (Page 2) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 (Page 3) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Contents (Page 4) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Contents (Page 5) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Contents (Page 6) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Contents (Page 7) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Contents (Page 8) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Contents (Page 9) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Contents (Page 10) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Contents (Page 11) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Connoisseur (Page 12) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Connoisseur (Page 13) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Connoisseur (Page 14) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 15) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 16) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 17) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 18) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 19) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 20) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 21) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 22) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 23) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 24) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Picks (Page 25) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Hotel (Page 26) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Hotel (Page 27) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Hotel (Page 28) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Hotel (Page 29) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Hotel (Page 30) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Hotel (Page 31) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Reader (Page 32) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Reader (Page 33) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Rider (Page 34) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Rider (Page 35) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Spa (Page 36) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Spa (Page 37) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Spa (Page 38) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Coastal Spa (Page 39) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Santa Barbara (Page 40) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Pismo & Avila (Page 41) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - San Luis Obispo (Page 42) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Big Sur (Page 43) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Carmel (Page 44) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Monterey (Page 45) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Santa Cruz (Page 46) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - San Francisco (Page 47) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Sausalito (Page 48) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Sausalito (Page 49) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Mill Valley (Page 50) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Mill Valley (Page 51) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Stinson Beach (Page 52) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Stinson Beach (Page 53) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Bolinas (Page 54) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Bolinas (Page 55) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Bolinas (Page 56) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Olema (Page 57) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Point Reyes Station (Page 58) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Point Reyes Station (Page 59) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Point Reyes Station (Page 60) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - San Geronimo (Page 61) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Fairfax (Page 62) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Fairfax (Page 63) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Inverness (Page 64) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Inverness (Page 65) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Marshall, Tomales (Page 66) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Sebastopol (Page 67) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Petuluma (Page 68) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Petuluma (Page 69) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Sonoma Coast (Page 70) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Sonoma Coast (Page 71) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Redwood Coast (Page 72) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Redwood Coast (Page 73) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Napa (Page 74) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Map (Page 75) Coastal Traveler - Fall 2007 - Map (Page 76)
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