01
Best overall pick
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
Alameda Shoreline • Family-Friendly Bay Beach • Closest Full-Service Sandy Beach
A broad, gently sloping bay beach with warm-ish water, steady breezes, and a relaxed neighborhood feel.
For Camino Tassajara residents, Crown Beach is often the easiest place to get that real “toes in the sand” experience without committing to a full ocean drive. The water is calmer and slightly warmer than the outer coast, making it good for kids, paddling, and casual swims when conditions allow. A paved path, picnic areas, and nearby cafes make it simple to turn a quick outing into a full afternoon.
02
Best Golden Gate views
Crissy Field East Beach
San Francisco Waterfront • Scenic Urban Beach • Great For Picnics And Photos
A sheltered city beach with postcard views of the Golden Gate Bridge, kite-filled skies, and a lively waterfront trail.
East Beach at Crissy Field is less about swimming and more about the setting: bridge views, sailboats, and dogs bounding along the sand. It is a favorite for Camino Tassajara locals who want a beach day that can also include a walk to the Presidio or a café stop nearby. Pack layers—the wind can pick up—but on clear days the scenery more than repays the drive into the city.
03
Best for beginner surfing
Pacifica State Beach (Linda Mar)
Pacifica Coast • Laid-Back Surf Beach • Easy Ocean Escape For Surf And Tacos
A crescent of sand backed by bluffs where gentle, consistent waves draw surfers and beach walkers year-round.
Pacifica’s Linda Mar is one of the friendliest ocean beaches for first-time surfers and boogie boarders within reach of Camino Tassajara. Even if you stay dry, there is plenty of room to walk the shoreline, watch the lineup, and enjoy the dramatic coastal backdrop. Food options are conveniently close, so it is easy to grab a hot drink or a bite after chilly water or foggy strolls.
04
Best for long walks
Half Moon Bay State Beach (Francis Beach)
Half Moon Bay • Wide Open Ocean Beach • Ideal For Strolls And Sunsets
A long, wave-washed stretch of sand perfect for slow walks, kite flying, and watching the changing light over the Pacific.
Francis Beach is the most accessible section of Half Moon Bay State Beach for a classic coast experience after the drive over Highway 92. The gently curving shoreline seems to go on forever, and a bluff-top trail gives you big-sky views even when the surf is rough. Many Camino Tassajara locals time their visit for late afternoon, combining a long walk with a stop in town for coffee or dinner on the way home.
05
Classic Marin day trip
Stinson Beach
Marin Coast • Quintessential Northern California Beach • Worth-The-Drive Coastal Getaway
A wide, dune-backed beach in a tiny town that feels worlds away once you wind over Mount Tam.
Stinson is a bit more of a commitment from Camino Tassajara, but it is the kind of place you plan a whole day around. The beach itself is spacious, with room for volleyball, sandcastles, and spreading out a full picnic, and the small cluster of cafes and shops adds to the low-key resort vibe. On warm weekends, arrive earlier than you think for parking and to enjoy the coastal drive at an unhurried pace.