Across the Golden Gate from San Francisco, Marin County is an unabashed introduction to Californian self-indulgence: a pleasure zone of conspicuous luxury and abundant natural beauty, with sunshine, sandy beaches, high mountains and thick redwood forests. Often ranked as the wealthiest county in the US, Marin has attracted a sizeable population of wealthy young professionals to its swanky waterside towns, though in the past the region served as logging headquarters.

The modern ferries that travel across the bay from San Francisco can make a great start to a day out. Boats to the chic bayside settlement of Sausalito leave from the Embarcadero ($5.30 each way; Golden Gate Ferry; 7.40am-8pm, half-hourly during rush hour, less often during the rest of the day, and every two or so hours on weekends; tel 415/923-2000, ) or Pier 41 at Fisherman's Wharf (Blue & Gold Fleet Ferries; $6.75 each way; 6-7 trips daily; tel 415/705-8200). Biking over here makes for a beautiful ride over the Golden Gate Bridge (pending fog) and allows you to explore the headlands freely. Bikes are allowed on the ferry back to San Francisco.

Marin County

• Marin County

Explore Marin County

• Marin Headlands
• Mill Valley
• Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods
• Point Reyes National Seashore
• Sausalito

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