Coastal Traveler - Winter 2008 - (Page 63)

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 winter coastaltraveler 63 http://www.sandpiperstinsonbeach.com http://www.stinsonbeachrestaurant.com http://www.parksidecafe.com http://www.surfersgrill.com http://www.livewatersurfshop.com/

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Coastal Traveler - Winter 2008

Coastal Traveler - Winter 2008 Contents Coastal Hotel Coastal Adventure Coastal Gambler Coastal Rider Coastal Skier Coastal Art Santa Barbara Pismop & 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 Iverness Marshall, Tomales Sebastopol Petaluma Sonoma Coast Redwood Coast Napa Map

Coastal Traveler - Winter 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.