Most people don’t even know the towns of Tomales and Marshall exist. Consisting of not much more than a general store, two churches, and a superb little bakery, the tiny ranching community of Tomales looks pretty much as it did a hundred years ago. It’s in a prime location, though--only 30 minutes’ drive from Point Reyes National Seashore, yet far enough away to avoid the traffic and commotion. The 4-mile drive from Tomales to Dillon Beach (via Dillon Beach Rd) is one of the most scenic routes on the Marin coast. There is a $7 day-use fee at the beach. The fishing pier and dune campgrounds at Lawson’s Landing (707/878-2443) also attract visitors.

Tomales and Marshall are popular stops for fresh raw and barbecued oysters. The Tomales Bay Oyster Company (15479 Hwy 1, Marshall; 415/663-1242; www.tomalesbayoysters.com; open 8am-6pm every day) has been in business since 1909. They sell them by the dozen or in a sack of 100. Those in the know bring their own knives, lemons, cocktail sauce, and even bags of charcoal for the nearby barbecue pits.