What To Do
Wine Country
The infamous California wine country is a short drive from Fairfax/San Rafael area (about 40mins to Sonoma and 50mins to Napa). It is definitely worth a day trip if you're looking to spend some time wine tasting, soaking up some hot summer sun and driving through the rolling vineyard hills. Some of our favorite wineries include Hall, Viansa, Silverado Vineyards, Round Pond, Domaine Carneros, Reeve, Abbot's Passage, and Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Some require reservations for tastings so make sure to call ahead.
Sausalito
Sausalito is a special place for us - it was where we went on our first date! Sausalito is about 20min from Fairfax and has a beautiful yacht harbor if you're interested in wandering the docks. There is also a community of quirky Floating Houses to check out, art galleries, and kayaks to rent. If you're looking for some good eats, we recommend Fish restaurant for their amazing crab roll that you can eat right by the harbor.
San Francisco
San Francisco has so much to offer but be warned, the weather is notoriously foggy and cold in the summer, so if you want to venture in make sure you bring layers! Golden Gate park is beautiful and can easily fill up an entire day. On warmer days, you can rent bikes and ride to the ocean or bring a picnic. There are also many museums throughout the park - California Academy of Sciences, DeYoung Art Museum, and the Conservatory of Flowers are all great visits. On warmer days we also love visiting the historic Sutro Baths, walking along the Lands End trail, and lounging by Ocean Beach. If you think you're going to spend a bit of time in SF, let us know and we can give you more specific recos!
Hiking
There are so many amazing hikes in the surrounding areas that range from easy strolls to strenuous full-day excursions. We recommend starting early, as many parking lots fill up quickly on the weekends. AllTrails.com is a great resource to explore different options, but a few of our favorite areas to check out are: Muir Woods: The iconic redwood forest. You can either stroll along the boardwalk to see the biggest trees (great for families), or there are other hikes you can find nearby to go deeper into the forest. Tamalpais: So many amazing hikes in this area. We love Cataract Falls (although the waterfalls might be light in the summer) and the Dipsea/Steep Ravine loop for a combination of forest and coastal views. Both moderate hikes that can get a little steep at times. Tennessee Valley: Also lots of different trails, the Coastal Loop has some amazing views of the ocean, but it does come along with some elevation climbs.