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Stinson Beach
Rating Details »
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
1 Calle Del Sierra
Stinson Beach, CA 94970
(415) 868-1922
1 Calle Del Sierra
Stinson Beach, CA 94970
(415) 868-1922
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
142 reviews for Stinson Beach
Love .. Love this Beach..
love the Drive to get there too =D
I'll post pics soon!
I want to go back there like NOW...
will update on my Review soon ..
The atmosphere here is mysterious and brooding. The fog is rolling in, the mist is cool, even on summer days (or fall/winter days like we have now). It should be a scene in a movie, and it has been in some movies. I come here and I wonder, what would it be like to have a house here? Would the sound of the waves be too much every morning and every night? Would the dampness be too much? Would this place get old quickly? Or may be it will stay romantic like it always is when I come here. I always think how nice it would be go for a run on the beach. Except I don't run. Or how nice it would be to come here with a dog and play fetch. Except I don't have a dog. This place inspires wishes and fantasies. We once rented a house on the beach and had a party. Great time, great memories. Every time I come here, I try to recapture them. Next time, I want to build a bonfire.
Negatives - the drive here. Please don't drink either to or from this beach - the road is winding and dangerous. Cold. Gray. Water is freezing. In that sense, if I ever end up living on the beach, it won't be Stinson. I would want to swim at my beach sometimes.
Once firmly on the ground in San Francisco, and after indulging in In-N-Out animal-style cheeseburgers and Mission super burritos, I need the beach. As any Northern Californian knows, trips to beaches in these parts rarely require typical beach accouterments like bikinis and swim trunks. More likely, you'll need a windbreaker and a scarf!
On my last visit, I especially appreciated accelerating into the windy turns in a roadster with the top down (undoubtedly the preferred mode of transport to and from Stinson.)
Most of the time, you'll have plenty of room to stretch out at Stinson (as well as a spot to park your car), so layer up, bring food and beverages (alcohol is allowed, glass is not), a blanket, and make a day of it. Just don't forget the sunscreen; the cool weather and persistent fog can lull you into thinking the UVBs aren't a threat. Oh but they are!
I adore Stinson Beach. I've been a handful of times now and every single trip on that windy road is 100% worth it. Even though this time, I was completely car sick and we had to pull over about 10 mins before arriving there :)
The beach is beautiful. It's the nicest one I've seen in the Bay Area. It reminds me of the southern California beaches. Make sure you come on a beautiful day; otherwise, it can definitely be chilly, windy, foggy, and overcast.
I love San Francisco and city living, but it's definitely nice to have a beach around so you can escape the city life and get away to a fun, beach town for the weekend!
Only downfall is that puppies are not allowed :( Boo.
Love this Beach. The drive is fine once you understand the ins and outs of the road along the cliffs.
The beach is so clean, parking hasn't been an issue and just tons of white sand. Clean bathrooms. Hey, for me it's the best beach in northern ca. Great place for an all day BBQ/Picnic.
No dogs at Stinson Beach, but just a bit North is the private sector -- where people can bring dogs. The Locals are adamant about visitors picking up after your dogs, and based upon the lack of crap laying about, I'd say that both dog owners are being diligent but mostly that the residents get out themselves and keep things clean. Thanks to both parties, I was welcomed by a Local, and he even offered me his own personal parking space after I vowed to pick up any poop I saw, even from other dogs. Once he saw my fists full of poop-bags, he thanked me and I got the best parking space ever.
The beach of course, is gorgeous. The weather perfect, for which I am thankful given our fickle weather patterns. The water warm and cooperative. My dogs did their business; I picked up after them. I scowled at another dog owner who watched his dog take a dump in the ocean (I called one of my dogs out and demanded she do her business on the sand, which she did. Yucky, but I scooped it up), and others who just weren't paying attention. Burt mostly, to tell you the truth, people were very respectful and their dogs well-behaved. And this is why the Locals will allows there without animosity.
My dogs were blissfully happy and sound asleep on the ride home, hubster and I were somewhat sunburned but otherwise very happy. Weather was awesome, not too hot, not too cold -- the water was warmish and I found a few small sand dollar shells, which I've not seen since I was a kid. As it was a Friday, there were not a huge crowd of people, and overall, watching the rolling hills to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West, I was reminded, once again, how blessed I am to be a born and raised a Californian.
Thanks to the nice Local guy who gave me and my stupid dogs the thumbs up and the great parking space. I lived up to my word, dude, and drove back down the 1 with the poop bags in my car until I found a public trashbin.
It will be easier to go next time without the dogs (they'll hate me), but it was an exquisite Friday afternoon surrounded by quiet, beach loving people and our amazing, unpredictable weather.
Stinson Beach is amazing, and it's nice to be at the public beach b/c of the bathrooms and lifeguards, but if you have dogs and can control them, stroll up North a bit and you'll find the same beachfront with fewer amenties, but you will love playing with your dogs. I know I did.
In true Norcal fashion, the weather was pretty fickle this past weekend at Stinson. When we got there at 1pm, it was overcast and foggy. It wasn't too cold, so we stuck it out. I'm really glad we did because the sun came out around 5pm, and it was gorgeous!
A few things that kinda blew:
- No dogs allowed! I think that dogs are happiest when they're on the beach, and it was sad to see some get turned away by the lifeguards.
- The drive there is pretty windy and gets pretty traffic-y at points.
Overall, it was a really chill beach, so we ended up staying a lot longer than we'd expected. When it's not foggy, Stinson Beach is really beautiful.
Tips:
- Be flexible! Dress for different weather conditions.
- Keep your eye out for turnouts on the drive to and from Stinson because there are some great vantage points for pictures.
I have to say that since I haven't been to the beach in quite some time (Minus Santa Monica Pier) this was an awesome place to go, except the weather was a bit on the cloudy side.
No big crowd since we got there around 10 or 11am, can't quite remember, either way it was early. We had a great parking spot, a great blankie spot for Bee D. & Karla E. to chill at while me & the boys romped through the waters, checking out Jellyfish & watchin people build sand castles.
Next time i'm bringing a real picnic and my dog and a kite and even my sandcastle building equipment. LoL!
Weather report @8a - 'Fog, to lift by noon.'
We forged ahead.
At parking lot - weather report at noon: 'foggy, cool.'
Crap.
Cinzia still tried to dig her hole to china [but with more layers than she wore sledding last winter]. Reno snuggled under two towels at my side. But still, Family Day. So yay.
Crazy polar bears running about in bikinis bearing the cold...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/21/2009
Father's Day. Sunday. Family Day. Jack was happy enough with a nice homemade plate of… Read more »
Nina likey this beach!! it's windy drive up is shitty, but once you get there, it's freaking awesome.
Best tan I've received in a long time, too bad I have bad tan lines from it :( but defintely a fun beach to go to, and there are so many restaurants to have lunch at if you'd like to have some nice cocktails, and lunch before laying out....
now let's go boggie boarding :) oh shit the waters cold... don't let the 100 degree weather fool you!!!!
Although it's a bit of a twisty turvy trek to get to Stinson, once there I'm all good. That is, as long as I was in the driver's seat (otherwise, it takes me a solid fifteen minutes to recover from the car sickness). Compared to my other favorite area beach (Bean Hollow), Stinson is almost always warmer. Today's forecast said mid-70s by 2pm. - as we drove over the mountain around 12 and saw a large bank of fog sitting down below, D reminded me how she had *told* me that it was going to be cold. BUT, I insisted that http://weather.com hadn't failed me last time, and by the time we got ourselves down to the sand, the sun was gracing us with his presence.
The beach can get crowded on nicer days, especially the dog side (right) of the beach that we occupy. As long as people control their dogs and kids, it doesn't bother me. (Unlike the people today who allowed their dogs to attack one of ours and said NOTHING!). Most people are really friendly, though.
Leaving here (or any beach) always makes me a little sad, but someday I'll have my own weekend beach cottage.
This is a beautiful spot to come on a quiet winter morning. Or any morning, really. Very peaceful.
The tide was out SUPER far and the beach birds were out in force foraging for food. My stroll took me down to the eastern end of the beach where some large rocks and tide pools were. I collected a handful of intact-but-empty sand dollars for my collection.
The locals flock here on summer weekends when it's hot, but it hasn't felt overcrowded to me yet. Plenty of parking and great local restaurants are close by for refreshments.
I have no problem whatsoever spending gas and money and time to get to this place. I've made it an essential part of my weekly routine to come up here on my days off. Thankfully my schedule is not a boring 9-5, so I can come here on some weekdays when it's not too crowded and get some peace of mind.
I have to say that I do get really irritated when 3 different weather sources give me different forecasts, and when I get there, none of them matches the actual climate. However, that's not Stinson's fault; I get that. I have grown to love the 9-mile drive down to the beach everytime, as I was terrified off driving off the cliff several times the first time I drove out there.
It's great if you're flying solo and just need a great place to relax, eat some food, read a book and hang out fo a while. And it's also great for families/groups for picnics, volleyball, etc. Just watch out for shark warnings, but otherwise you're good. Parking can get crazy on weekends after about 1pm, so be warned.
If you want to escape the craziness, the noise, the drama of San Francisco and the other Bay Area cities, and you crave for the sand, winds and waves of a beach, with a bunch of peace and quiet, then this is the place you want to go.
Stinson Beach is a great place to walk up and down the coast line, check out the sweet Mother of Mercy views, get fresh air, and just get away from it all. The beach is clean and maintained.
The drive here is just as exciting. You go North on the 101, on the Golden Gate Bridge, and then exit to the PCH (Calif State Hwy 1). The PCH is a slower, winding road on top of very high cliffs, in which the views are an introduction to what the rest of your day at Stinson Beach will be like.
The waves can get pretty wild and the water is cold. Ive heard that this part of the Ocean has a lot of Great White Sharks, so be careful if you go into the water.
My husband and I love coming here to relax. We would bring our beach essentials (mat, umbrella, chair), as well as some packed lunch, a blanket, and a pillow. I would just let the sound of the waves lull me to sleep...(can you say heaven?). It can get pretty chilly out there so i always have to have my blanket.
Parking is not a problem on weekdays but during summer weekends when it's 80+ degrees outside, that's a different story. We made the mistake once of arriving around 12 noon, they wouldn't even let cars in the parking lot. No street parking available either. We had to head back home brokenhearted (that is, until we found ourselves literally lost in a really secluded "clothing optional" area....but that's another story).
Overall, it's a great beach for people from different walks of life.
Curvy cliffside drive.
Rocky ridges, wild waves, bright blue ocean.
Rustic roadside town.
Perfect picnic areas.
Cool chocolate milkshakes.
Sweet smelling salty sea.
Soft sand.
Blissful beach sun bathing.
Classic California.
A trip to Stinson Beach is a perfect weekend getaway. Every second is enjoyable, from the windy drive down the 101 to the breathtaking beach views. The best part? It's only a short, scenic, car drive away from the city by the bay. No excuses, you've got to go and spoil yourself in this state's famous landscape!!
I like the town Stinson Beach anytime, but on a hot, crowded day... I'll probably pass on the beach part.
I like the main strip of town a lot. It's this cute, teeny little bite of "downtown" on Highway 1 (Shoreline Highway). It's just nice to walk around here, there's a great grocery store, nice other small businesses- note the restaurant(s) and bookstore!, look-outs to the water, and a lot of green foliage abounds.
But the main beach? Like I said, on a hot day, especially a weekend, and particularly during peak beach hours: I'll pass.
Totally crowded with people, their stuff, and their children (I like people, and I like children, but in nature I like my space). Yes, it is definitely pretty enough to justify being such an attraction.
This is a real mainstream beach. Drive north or south on Shoreline Highway and find your own spot if you want some quiet time by the water.
Beautiful, clean, and actually uncrowded and warm when we went the first time in May. What's not to love? We hope to go back often when we have more time, it was gorgeous.
The drive: long
The beach: wide and busy (if you're an east coaster, think back to the shore)
The weather: brrr!
My pup was in and out of the water shivering. I could believe that kids were in the water, but adults in bikinis? Bring a sweatshirt. That being said, the water was nice and the beach very pretty. I would avoid on the weekends if at all possible- it's really crowded.
My pals organized a day of cheer here at Stinson on a random warm winter day, to rally my crew of layed-off friends. Though the winding drive seemed endless and was slightly nausiating, it was worth it. Tip: If you take over the driving you are less likely to get sick.
The beach was clean and bright. Loved the picnic tables and grass right near by where we grilled up a fantastic meal. We also saw a little gopher pop his head up and my friend yelled "it's a fucking rat!!!" in front of my other friend's parents, which was awesome. oh memories.
Word about dogs seems to be that they are not allowed (from books/websites), but there's tons of them there! Wasn't willing to chance it and have to drive back, but will certainly bring her next time.
Be sure to stop at the Pelican Inn on your way out, it was so packed we didn't get to have a drink but I loved the atmosphere!
This is a perfect little getaway. We came here for a Father's Day BBQ and were so pleased that they have a ton of picnic tables and BBQ grills. The staff even cleaned the grill before we started using it. We did not have to arrive at ridiculously early hour to save a table. Most people arrived at 11AM and there were plenty of nice tables to choose from. Most tables are smack in the middle of the parking lot so you get a view of lots of parked cars. However, at the end of the parking lot, there are additiona, more private tables.
The beach is well maintained (however, we only spend less than 5 minutes on the sand).
The neighboring town is quaint and offers some nice window shopping!
Note to weather forecasters: Every Sunday should be warm and sunny, with clear skies, mid 70's. Got it? Now back to our regularly scheduled review...
This pale Yelper got the heck out of Dodge for the warm and sandy shores of Stinson B. There seem to be two parts to the beach: families only and families w/ dogs. I chose the latter = less crowded and I didn't mind the occasional cute pooch who wandered up to me, thinking I was its long lost owner. Watch your snacks now.
With a three mile beach ahead of you, take a slow walk along the water's edge and admire the kids, dogs, occasional sand dollars and sea glass. Sun-kissed and sandy, I left feeling relaxed and ready to face the world again.
PS. Totally worth getting sand in your shoes, your bag, just everywhere.
PPS. There are a number of very cool trail heads which lead from Mount Tam to Stinson B (Cataract Falls and Bootjack Trails for starters); it's a sweet treat after a long trek through the forest. Another review for another time.
It can be sooooooooo cold, but man it is so beautiful! I love the drive along the edge, if you are afraid of heights it's probably not too fun, but watching the waves crash into the side and the gorgeous ocean view is just freaking amazing! I haven't been there in a while, but there was a time I went almost every day, I miss it! The beach is gorgeous too, really nice on a hot summer day!
Arguably the best beach in Northern California! Once you exit the freeway, the drive to get here is quite a mission. It is a very long, twisty, winding, sloped road that is one-lane in each direction. The drive can actually be very soothing because of the scenery and the cliffs surrounding the road. There are also a few really nice hiking trails nearby if you don't mind driving a few extra miles.
The beach is such a beautiful sight. The water is blue, the sand is very soft and feels clean, and it actually gets warm here. The water is usually pretty cold, except on a hot summer day. But even in spring time it is manageable. There are few things more relaxing than just laying out in the sand, enjoying the panoramic view of the strip while the sun shines over you.
Lots of people go on weekends, but parking has not been a problem for me. The main lot usually fills up, but directly adjacent to it sits a large secondary lot, where the ground is gravel and you just make your own spot. The convenient thing if you park here is that it is only a 1 minute walk from the car to the beach, so if you need to go back and forth, it is not a problem.
I haven't seen it myself, but I believe there is a vendor located somewhere at the beach...I've seen people get food and drinks there. If you wanted to bring your own food to grill, there is a huge barbecue and picnic area with grass right next to the beach.
This is a great place. Really felt like I was on vacation and am in awe of California's constant beauty. All the way from the scenic and breath-taking drive on 101, I couldn't decide which way to look. One look left to see calming ripples of blue waves, one look right and you see the beautiful green foliage and hill elevation. Ocean or mountains?
Stinson Beach is well kept and relatively clean (although they could work on the public restrooms). Sand is very fine and smooth - feels great on the feet. The place doesn't smell. You know, the egg-y or shellfish odors that linger at some beaches. There's even a string of restaurants and stands nearby in case you get hungry. Or, there are picnic tables before you reach the beach part if you've brought your own.
I happened to do a long run so coming to Stinson Beach was extra calming and relaxing. A real treat!
i heart this place! I'm so glad my bf lives 5 minutes away from here. My friends and I came here and the drive was so long (From where we are from) and the cliff--AGH! Scary as he11!! Anywho, this beach is beautiful! We love coming here to play beach volleyball, drink a couple of brewskies, and have a lovely picnic! OH, it's a great place to nap, too, just don't get sunburned! Next time I'm bringing my handsome man! (Biggie, my dog, lol)
This is one of my favorite beaches in N Cal. Went here last weekend when the weather was superb for sunny, lazy beach day and just gotta get out of my neigborhood. The drive to Stintson beach was not bad until you hit the winding roads and the crazy driver's who try to pass you because you don't want to go airborne off the protective railings and fall several altitutes downward into the deep blue...so once you get to the main highway you see the quaint little Stintson inn, local shops, a few restaurants, then manuevuer your way pass the people crossing and park in the park (we got lucky and found parking right away).
The park is lovely with ample parking benches, grills for bbqing (one day i shall get a group of friends and do this)...Then the gorgeous beach just past the park!!!!! Lovely, nice plush, beautiful green mountains in the background, soothing sounds of waves crashing on the beach floor, lots of people but not overcrowded either tenting, testing the water but mostly sunbathing,...they are mostly young folks, families, some surfers...found a spot right away...and check this out...there are two parts too the beach one for pets too!!!!!!! we went to the area with the dogs....it was a little less crowded...jumped into the water then just sunbathed...what a pleasant day! Looking forward to more warmer weather and see ya soon Stintson beach!
Wow, what a beautiful beach and view, and an even more beautiful drive to get there and back, up and around the mountains.
It's not that far from San Francisco, and if you're heading to Muir Woods anyway, drive a little further down route 1 and relax on the beach.
Love it. Great place to find mussel shells, sand dollars, and just walk along the shore for hours. Beautiful, expansive, soft sandy beach and friendly people. Snack bars nearby with cheap burgers and fries, and lots of fun shops to check out up the road. Bring your bodyboard or set up a chair and dive into a good book and have a blast!
Wow! I never new NorCal beaches could be this nice, so I think it's a fluke! The winding road to get here is a little hairy-- but then again, I'm afraid of heights-- but boy do they make an excellent backdrop when you get to the bottom of the hill.
The weather was about 80 more or less when we arrived at 1 p.m., and the skies were clear. Due to a shark sighting a few days earlier, life guards were on patrol and asking swimmers not to stray too far.
Plenty of folks sunbathing, having picnics (like us), and building sand castles. Be cautious if you bring food and plan to stroll on the beach. There are shameless seagulls who have no qualms with jumping on your blanket to steal your meal. Be sure to pack everything up nice and tight before walking away.
We had to pack up by 5 p.m., as the winds started coming in and showering sand on us. Still, a few hours on this beach was the closest thing to island paradise during our staycation.
Went here last Saturday to take advantage of the weather and since I frequent Ocean Beach often, this was a refreshing change.
I love the cleanliness of this Beach compared to dirty old Ocean Beach where everyone has bonfires. There were a lot of people on Saturday sunbathing in their bathing suits, drinking beer, playing volleyball or football, flying kites. Mostly 20 somethings and up, so you don't feel bad for cursing or drinking in front of children. The water was too cold to get in so I just stayed in my bathing suit, tanned and napped.
The only drawbacks of this beach is the lack of parking (we got lucky last Saturday but if we didn't, it would've been a biatch), the winding road to get in and out of here which made me dizzy so I had to close my eyes, put my chair back and try to sleep while my cousin drove, and the $6 toll to get back to the city when we're done.
This is one of the best beaches in Northern California. The sand is soft, the sun was shining, and the people are great. Of course early in the morning there is a slight breeze with a little bit of fog cause hey, it's the San Francisco Bay Area. But around noon all the fog is gone and the weather is great.
The one thing I highly suggest is getting here early because there is only so much parking for the big amount of beach that they have. We got there around 11am and there was still plenty of parking but it was sure going fast. Leaving the parking lot can be a little crazy because everyone is going after your one parking spot.
Another major plus for me was that I actually got to see a whale. I thankfully brought my binoculars because I know this is an area where the wildlife is flourishing. So my one goal of seeing a whale out in the ocean was accomplished on my first trip to Stinson.
Highway 1 is way curvy and can be scary for drivers who aren't confident, but overall it's not as bad as most people make it out to be.
Overall my first tirp to Stinson Beach was a blast and I am definitely going to visit again soon!
Gayle, my son and I came out to Stinson Beach yesterday (Saturday) via the curvy and scenic Panoramic highway. Gayle's friend and her husband were having their annual Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day/Canadian Thanksgiving party at his long-time family house that is right on the beach. I think someone mentioned that the family bought it in the 1950s for around $3000 furnished! The house itself has a nice roomy, comfortable and funky feel that reminded me a lot of our family cabin back on Spirit Lake Iowa.
There were lots of print-related media and banking people there and it was great fun to talk about a lot of interesting political, financial, and local subjects such as the current declining state of the newspaper business. Gayle had a great time catching up with several old friends and I enjoyed the witty and well-read repartee too!
The pot luck food was fabulous and the wine and beer choices were excellent. My son spend most of his time on the beach and sometimes in the water, safe and really enjoying himself. I'm still finding sand on him.
Gayle and I also had a chance to walk along the beach together. And it was a perfect day; clear, sunny and warm even considering a nice cool fall breeze. The beach itself was also nearly empty.
A great day....
A couple friends and I came out here to take advantage of a nice sunny summer day, a rarity in the Bay Area. It was also a random, spontaneous trip. Driving to an unfamiliar place, and being UNPREPARED for a long winding road is not a combination I am willing to try again & to add to that a hungover passenger - SO NOT a good mix. Driving there was full of stops and weird turns OH and asking for directions! "Go this way! NO that way!"
Finally, we get to our destination! Me and another friend take a trip to the bathroom while the others go elsewhere. We come out the bathroom & some low budget, Reno 911 lookin like sheriff/beach cop whatev approaches us & asks, "Have you ladies been drinking?" Umm wtf? First thought: I wish I was drunk right about now. Second thought: You f-in bastard, what made you point us lovely ladies out in this HUGE ass beach full of people? So, friend cusses this jerk out & we go about our damn business.
Other than those few bumps in the road lol, I enjoyed the beach & would visit again. Fun times!
I decided to run away from my beloved Oakland this week end. I had forgotten how beatiful it is up here. We actually found parking, and traffic wasn't too bad. The beach is still nice and clean, people everywhere with their dogs, perfect weather so I spent the entire weekend.
* Warning: There are as many winding curves in the road to this beach as there are Yelpers reviewing Blue Bottle. Or as many cars on the road. Car-sicky people, uh, go to a different beach. Hah! A beach for people who get motion sickness, that'd be hilarious.
ANYwho--- this beach was fabulous - once we got there. It was so relaxing and rejuvenating-- a great stop in the midst of my San Francisco visit. I think everyone stays at the beach longer than they intend to, partially just because they're putting off the snakelike path that will take them home.
This beach is great. Super for kids and picnics but go west and perfect for the dogs. Both of my puppies had a ball. Other dogs came over and played with them. Hoping everytime that they would be friendly- and yes they were. The beach is great to walk on. Super clean although no garbage cans except in the start. Will be back very soon.
We love this place! It has a nice clear water. Safe and really a family place to hang out. The tide are so awesome, we love to use our body board. From the first time we come out here, we just love keep coming' back especially with the whole family. You will not surely get board here. The current is not that strong that's why it's a safe place to swim and another is that even though you're a quite a mile, the water is still in your hips, that's why you don't have to worry especially if you're not that good of a swimmer. Aside from this, you'll gonna love the scenic zigzag drive, so scary but amazing. Try this place and you'll gonna back for more. Just a piece of advice, come early if you want to have a nice parking space or else you'll gonna have a hard time finding one.
There's something beautiful about the beach, and it is 45 min from my place. If you ask me, it's just a hop, skip and a jump. The little shops, quaint little inns and restaurants make Stinson Beach one of those little secret gems that make it difficult to leave.
I used to come here when I was a kid with my friends, listening to Tom Petty in the car on the drive out, and I'd spend all day looking for sand dollars on the beach. Or, sometimes we'd drive to our special tree up on Mt. Tam overlooking the beach. We were so high up I used to think the arc I saw on the beach horizon was the Earth's curve.
It used to be when I was in high school I would drive out here with my girls listening to Bob Marley on the shitty speakers in my friend's 1989 Honda Prelude, smoking cigarettes, completely content to not say much of anything
Then, I used to come out here a little later after that, sometimes in the morning hours, just to breathe a little bit and watch the seals weave through the crests on the waves, even in the middle of winter when it was overcast. I didn't look for sand dollars those days, but instead just sat on the beach, comforted by the sound of the waves lapping on the sand.
I don't much like to go out during those hot summer days when there's usually too many people on the beach. Instead, I like to go right before the sun sets. On the way out there, I drive through sun drenched woods, with dusty, orange, shadows streaming through the wooded pockets. The sunset always looks so majestic, and reminds me that there's always another day that may even be better than today.
Nice beach, nice crowd, great to have picnic, lay back, play some ball, sunbathe, read. There's just litter scattered around. Scary road going there. Another plus factor is that it's just 20 minutes away from Muir Woods.
