Stinson Beach is an idyllic spot with an incredible long sandy beach stretching from one end of town to a channel on the far end where you can see the town of Bolinas across the way. The back drop to the beach is Mount Tamalpais and the rolling marin hills. The drive “over the hill” is precarious but offers some of the most beautiful vistas in California. It’s hard to belief this patch of paradise is less than an hour from San Francisco.

Stinson Beach and the surrounding area gets its name from former landowner, Nathan H. Stinson. He bought the land around Stinson Beach in 1866 and the name was officially changed from Willow Camp to Stinson Beach in 1916. The first road to Stinson Beach was built in 1870 along the Pacific coast from the town of Sausalito, CA. After the Golden Gate Bridge was built, Stinson Beach saw a steady increase of residents and tourists taking day trips from from the Bay area.

The Stinson Beach of today offers some fun shopping experiences as well as a local market, a wonderful bookstore, a post office and a library. Just opened—-Lexianna’s, across the street from Breakers, is an eclectic boutique that has a selection of carefully curated gifts and specialty items to inspire and delight.