Shuttles/Buses to Bolinas & Things to do there (San Francisco: rental car, rental)

[Caladium]

Some friends are renting a house in Bolinas and have invited me to join them. None of us have ever spent time there, but it looks like a beautiful place.

1. I'd rather not rent a car if I can help it. Any suggestions on a shuttle or bus that I can take from SFO to there? I found a limo service, but I really don't need anything that fancy. I also found a city bus service, which would be ok except that I'd have to make a connection and I wonder if I'd have to wait a long time at some bus stop. Any thoughts?

2. Interested in any suggestions for things to do, favorite coffee shops or restaurants, etc. We love hiking, kayaking, and other outdoors activities, also museums, photography, going to hear a local singer in a coffee shop, and things like that. Not into partying or drinking--we're more the bird watching & beach strolling type.

3. Any other things we should know. Someone has warned us that driving is difficult because the residents hide all the street signs. Anything else we should know?

[humboldtrat]

Marin Transit West Marin Stage Route 61

[Ruth4Truth]

Golden Gate Transit from San Francisco. You'll find plenty of hangouts when you get there. Also take a look at the coffeehouses and funky shops in Stinson Beach, nearby. If you have a kayak, you could kayak in the Bolinas Lagoon. There's a hiking trail that goes up to Mt. Tamalpais. Google hiking trails in the area. Back when I used to visit Stinson, bars/drinking weren't even an option, I don't know about now. These are family-oriented beach communities.

As for directions, your friends should be able to give you workable directions that don't depend on street signs.

If you're taking the bus, it runs once/hr. You can get off at Muir Woods, and take an hour to stroll through the redwood park, before reboarding the bus, if you want. It's a great bus ride, I've done it many times. It's worth the trip. I hope you enjoy your stay.

[mayorhaggar]

Bolinas is groovy but really small, you'll want to branch out. I'd really consider getting a rental car for you and your friends if they don't have anything, Marin is not really a public transit kind of place and it's a really cool place to drive, though the mountainous hairpin turns are pretty crazy. There's lots of places to go in Marin and having a car would really help you get to them. A rental car split between several people would be pretty affordable. Marin's just not San Francisco or Berkeley.

[pch1013]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

As for directions, your friends should be able to give you workable directions that don't depend on street signs.

Presumably the bus drivers know where Bolinas is.

The problem with street signs is not so much within Bolinas itself, but on the road there. Whenever a sign is erected on Highway 1 pointing the way to Bolinas, local residents tear it down, thinking that will deter visitors to their rustic paradise. But judging from the amount of riffraff and graffiti I saw on the beach there when I visited, it's not working.

(For the record, the turnoff to Bolinas is 4.7 miles north of the intersection of CA 1 and Panoramic Highway.)

[Caladium]

OK, got my initial ride from airport to Bolinas covered. Next question: day trip to SF. Sounds like taking the bus could be amusing (although time consuming). If I take the bus to the Sausolito Ferry, then take the ferry into SF, will I be within walking distance of anything worth seeing? We can walk a mile or two, as long as it's a relatively safe area.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by Caladium

OK, got my initial ride from airport to Bolinas covered. Next question: day trip to SF. Sounds like taking the bus could be amusing (although time consuming). If I take the bus to the Sausolito Ferry, then take the ferry into SF, will I be within walking distance of anything worth seeing? We can walk a mile or two, as long as it's a relatively safe area.

Take the Blue & Gold Fleet ferry Bay Cruise San Francisco | Best of the Bay Cruises with Blue & Gold Fleet from Sausalito to Pier 41 at Fishermans Wharf in SF. Walk around the wharf and visit Pier 39 PIER 39, San Francisco. From Fisherman's Wharf you can take the "F" line of old antique street cars to the downtown area. You can walk to the far west end of Fisherman's Wharf to Ghirardelli Square Ghirardelli Square | and catch a cable car (at Beach & Hyde) to the downtown.

You'll find Fisherman's Wharf to be a total tourist trap! Have fun! The area is safe - it'll be just you and a million other tourists

[pch1013]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

You'll Fisherman's Wharf to be a total tourist trap! Have fun! The area is safe - it'll be just you and a million other tourists

And several thousand aggressive panhandlers. Take a page from Nancy Reagan and just say no.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by pch1013

And several thousand aggressive panhandlers. Take a page from Nancy Reagan and just say no.

Yikes, that many? So, sounds like a good day to "dress poor" and not carry a camera.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Yikes, that many? So, sounds like a good day to "dress poor" and not carry a camera.

Haven't been to Fisherman's Wharf in a LONG time but I wouldn't worry about the panhandlers. Just keep walking and they'll go after the next tourist right behind you. Many collect spare change by "entertaining" the tourists. Some are mimes and musicians and except for a few who bang away on bongo drums, some are good.