On a Search for Marin County on the East Coast (houses, organic)

[akozy]

Hello! I'm sorry if this is too long. I am trying to convey what I'm looking for and hopefully somebody will come to the rescue. I'm new here. I've visited many times, mostly from Google search results, but it's nice to finally post something. I've been thinking about and searching for this for a while. I would appreciate any help at all.

I recently moved to New Jersey from California. This has been interesting, but there is a certain craving that I have not been able to quell here. I am someone who loves to drive out to the coast and hang out there alone/with a small group of people no matter what the weather is like. While exploring this hobby of mine, I've discovered two of my favorite places: Point Reyes National Seashore and the Big Sur area. Both are gorgeous as can be! The Jersey Shore is nice, but it is not the style of coast I can enjoy in the same way. I am hoping the nice community here can help me!

Here are some of the things in my coastal adventures that I have found I love (maybe someone knows of any places with some/all of these features):

- undeveloped coast/beach (sorta pristine)
- cliffs (rugged/rocky coast)
- lighthouse
- organic farms by the ocean
- small town nearby
- wildlife (elk, sea lions, birds, mountain lions)
- Redwoods (obviously that's impossible, but lots of big trees can compare)
- locavore-type general store
- cool bridges (big and/or small)
- cliffy drive (Hwy 1)
- bonfires (with free permit) allowed on the beach
- isolated (There have been times when visiting North/South Beach in Point Reyes that I (with my group) was the only one in sight for miles.)
I can't remember any more specifics.

I thought that Cape Cod would be like this so once I drove out there by myself. I saw some things I loved, but I didn't spend enough to truly explore. Maybe this is a similar place?

Places out here that look interesting to me so far are:
- Block Island
- Nantucket
- Martha's Vineyard
- Maine

I hope I didn't bore you who have read the whole thing.
I'm curious if there are others here like me. : )
Thank you very much!

[robertpolyglot]

Marin County is a bedroom community area for San Francisco, so if you're looking for the same analogy on the East Coast, it would probably be one of the pricey waterside North Shore suburbs of Boston. But brace yourself for heavy snow, because there is no true East Coast Marin County.

[kanhawk]

Point Reyes is one of my favorite places and it's quite unique. In my travels on the east coast I have seen nothing like it there. The closest you could find to your criteria would be this national park in Maine:

Acadia National Park - Home (U.S. National Park Service)

It is quite a beautiful rugged place.

Remember also, the East Coast isn't just limited to the US! Just across the border into Canada you find even more beautiful rugged coastline with many of the things you like. Try looking at traveling to Nova Scotia, or even the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec which does have the most similarities to Point Reyes.

Gaspe Peninsula

http://images.travelpod.com/users/sk...-peninsula.jpg

http://www.canada-maps.org/quebec/im...ula-quebec.jpg

http://img4.coastalliving.com/i/2006...-l.jpg?400:400

[cBach]

I don't think any place on the east coast allows bonfires like they do in Cali, I used to love those by the way... However, I think a place like Marblehead north of Boston would give you some of what you're looking for. But that is pretty far from Jersey.

To be honest though, there's nothing like Marin County on the east coast.

[akozy]

Thanks for the responses!
I will look into what you've mentioned.

Perhaps the beauty of Marin is that it is Marin alone.

Also the Canada insights are quite interesting. Is it difficult to drive across the border for a day/weekend trip? I've never done it before.

I'm not expecting to find a clone by any means, but it's nice to enjoy some of the traits I love so much. Perhaps my tastes will change or I'll just travel back home to get my fix.

Anybody know of any farms bordering the coast? I always found it fascinating seeing cows by the sea.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by akozy

- undeveloped coast/beach (sorta pristine)
- cliffs (rugged/rocky coast)
- lighthouse
- organic farms by the ocean
- small town nearby
- wildlife (elk, sea lions, birds, mountain lions)
- Redwoods (obviously that's impossible, but lots of big trees can compare)
- locavore-type general store
- cool bridges (big and/or small)
- cliffy drive (Hwy 1)
- bonfires (with free permit) allowed on the beach
- isolated (There have been times when visiting North/South Beach in Point Reyes that I (with my group) was the only one in sight for miles.)
I can't remember any more specifics.

Connecticut allows bonfires on the beach.

While we don't have cliffs, I'd recommend you check out the shoreline in eastern Connecticut. It's full of beautiful, affluent small towns with churches, lighthouses, quaint downtowns, etc.

As for your list:

Undeveloped coast: We do have a pristine coast, but because we're in the BOSWASH corridor, there are homes along it. Lots of large homes and wildlife areas though so you get the feeling of rural as compared to, say, the Jersey Shore.

Rugged/Rocky Coast: Very rocky. Very rugged. Actually there are rocky islands off the coast of Branford called the Thimble Islands. They're stunning.

Organic Farms: Not right on the ocean, but they exist in shoreline towns. Bishops Orchard in Guilford, Three Sister's Farms in Essex, Four Mile River Farm in Old Lyme, Groton Family Farm in Groton.

Small town nearby: So many. Google "downtown Old Saybrook, Essex, Chester, Mystic, Clinton, Guilford, Branford, Madison". All are quaint downtowns with cafes, pubs, boutiques, etc.

Wildlife: So many different types of wildlife in this area that it's hard to type it all.

Redwoods: Nope, but we do have large Oak trees everywhere in Connecticut. They're beautiful.

Bridges and drives: So many nice drives. Take 146 through Branford and Guilford. Also take Bridge Street from Old Saybrook Center to Fenwick. Or Maple Ave. Or Plum Bank Road.

Bonfires: Yes, Connecticut allows them with a permit.

Check it out. Cost of living here is pricey but it's the paradise of the east coast IMO.

[ckhthankgod]

This area may be close, but there will be some give and take: Go Adirondack -Home Page - The Adirondack Coast - Lake Champlain - New York

Perhaps the eastern forks of Long Island as well.

[ckhthankgod]

You may like this area as well: VISIT THE 1000 ISLANDS

[18Montclair]

To the OP, apart from the natural wonders you pointed out the very best atttribute about Marin County in my opinion(btw I moved out of Marin County in 2009) is the fact that residents enjoy all of the amenities and resort-like lifestyle of Marin County AND its only a 1-mile drive across the Golden Gate Bridge from the City, which makes Marin like the perfect suburban county.

[ckhthankgod]

I guess that parts of the Hudson Valley area could fit as well.