This is the Marin County & the Bay Area chapter from Lonely Planet’s Coastal California guidebook.

The region surrounding San Francisco encompasses a bonanza of natural vistas and wildlife. Visit ancient redwoods and herds of elegant tule elk in Marin, gray whales swim off the cape of Point Reyes and hawks fly in the Marin Headlands.

• gaze up at the majestic redwood canopy at Muir Woods National Monument
• maps
• feast your way through the delectable Gourmet Ghetto in Berkeley
• transportation
• restaurants and accommodations
• hike or cycle the perimeter of panoramic Angel Island

Coverage includes: Marin County, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, Tiburon, Mill Valley, Sir Francis Drake Blvd & around, San Rafael, Mt Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, The Coast, East Bay, Oakland, Berkeley, Mt Diablo State Park, John Muir National Historic Site, Vallejo, The Peninsula, San Francisco to San Jose, San Jose, San Francisco to Half Moon Bay, Half Moon Bay and Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz.