As soon as the last bell rang at my daughter’s school, we were in the car headed to Dillon Beach for some much-needed rest & relaxation. Founded in the 1880s by George Dillon, Dillon Beach hasn’t seen much change since 1926, when the quaint village was promoted by Howard Lawson, of Lawson’s Landing fame, as “the Family Playground of Marvelous Marin County.” Many newer homes were built in the 1970s and ’80s in an area called Oceana Marin. This residential area sits on the hills overlooking the place I love called “the village” of Dillon Beach – an ocean-front community of narrow roads, charming beach houses, and natural beauty.
Located in extreme northwestern Marin County, Dillon Beach is off-the-beaten-path about four miles west of Highway 1 and about 50 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Dillon Beach Resort, owned by Sonoma Valley wine magnates Fred and Nancy Cline, is the only privately owned and maintained beach in Northern California. The beach is open to the public year-round and is extremely dog-friendly.
We happen to catch Dillon Beach on a gorgeous Father’s Day weekend. After stopping at Lagunitas Taproom & Beer Sanctuary to fill our growlers (this is a tradition of ours when heading to Dillion Beach or Bodega) we drove the beautiful hills of Petaluma counting cows, sheep, and quail till we arrived at Dillon Beach.
Now, there isn’t a heck of a lot to do besides enjoy the beach, talk long walks, fly kites, meet the locals, cook tasty meals, and sip your favorite beverage. That all suits me just fine, but if you are looking for some fun things to do, head out towards Occidental to Graton or Sebastopol for a little wine tasting and lunch in one of the many quaint restaurants. You could head on over to Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes, sip a fabulous Tamales Tonic and enjoy fresh oysters at Nick’s Cove in Tamales, or enjoy the charm of Bodega Bay at Gourmet au Bay sipping wine and noshing on a yummy local cheese board. Lots to do in and around Dillon Beach….you will just need to jump in your car. We’ll catch you up on a few cool places to visit in the days to come. In the meantime…Cheers to Summer!
