Explore Marin
This curated bucket list for older youth is packed with things to do from San Francisco to Petaluma! Find an idea that resonates, grab some friends, and go.
We are crowd-sourcing this work-in-progress. If you can create a bucket list for your town in Marin or Sonoma, we'd love to add it. Send us an email and we'll tell you how!
Where would you like to have an IRL adventure?
In MILL VALLEY…
Hike with donuts from Bob’s. Grab a friend, pick up Bob’s Donuts, and hike or bike out to Tennessee Valley for a picnic. While you are at Bob’s, try the Donut Challenge.
Listen to live music at Sweetwater. Rally some friends to watch live music at Sweetwater Music Hall.
Jump in a local pool or swim hole. Plan an indoor pool day at MVCC, or if it’s warm out, have an adventure with friends at Three Wells (a swim hole located in the creek about 100 yards below the parking lot at Cascade Falls).
Walk the famous Dipsea Trail. Follow the Dipsea Trail from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach and take the 61 bus back.
Go thrifting in Mill Valley. Check out local thrift shops that sell clothes for teens: Diamonds in the Rough (448 Miller Ave), Mt Carmel Salvage Shop (45 Lovell Ave), and Vintage Ruse at the Junktion (in Tam Junction next to Bob’s Donuts).
Green your bedroom at Sloat. Add a plant to your bedroom from Sloat Gardens.
Explore local farmer’s markets. Make a salad or snack with fresh produce from a local farmers market:
Every Tuesday from 10:00am - 2:30pm: Strawberry Village Farmers Market in the parking lot of Strawberry Village near Starbucks.
Every Friday from 9:30am - 2:30pm: MV Farmers Market in CVS Parking Lot off Blithedale.
Go to a teen or all-ages event at Tam Junktion. Bring your friends to an upcoming event at the Boomerang Lounge at the back of Tam Junktion. They host live music, Trivia Nights, Open Mic Nights, bike tune-ups, arts and crafts, sewing machine projects, yoga, and more!
Explore a new Mt Tam trail. Open a map of Mt. Tam, close your eyes, and randomly point to a trail to explore with friends or family.
Check out non-books from the MV library! Get creative or adventurous by borrowing from the Mill Valley library a Make It Take It Kit - options include a sewing machine, weaving loom, telescope, microscope, bongo drum, ukulele, go-pro camera, Arduino, and more! Someone 16+ needs to officially check out these items but they can be used with care by all ages.
Get moving at the MV Community Center. Check out the gym and/or fitness classes at the Mill Valley Community Center. Well-behaved 11+ youth are allowed to use the gym without parent supervision after attending an orientation.
Watch a movie. Sequoia Cinema downtown has great options!
Play a round @ MV Golf Course - Get 1 to 3 friends to play a 9-hole round of golf (or 6-holes of putt putt!) with you at the Mill Valley Golf Course. It’s best to book a tee time by calling 415-888-2690. [Teens allowed without adults if responsible, respectful, and can independently golf.]
Play tennis under the lights - grab a racket and some friends and play under the stars at Boyle Park.
Get a boba in town. Walk, bike or drive to ALOH-O in Strawberry Village, or Banh Mi Zon in Tam Junction next to Vintage Ruse, or Mamahuhu located downtown across the street from Throckmorton Theatre.
In MARIN COUNTY…
Get a boba. Head to Teaspoon in Corte Madera or Oddcha in San Rafael.
Enjoy live music. Grab friends and watch some live music at: The Lost Church in Santa Rosa or Hopmonk in Novato.
Bike around Angel Island. Take the ferry to Angel island and BYO bike to explore the island.
Bike to Sausalito’s local beach. Grab some friends and a towel and head to Schoonmaker Beach in Sausalito. Or catch a ride and BYO paddle board, kayak or floaties!
Organize a bonfire at Muir Beach. Snag an available fire ring and enjoy the sunset!
Hike down to Muir Woods and explore the trails and redwoods.
Take a class at College of Marin and explore a new topic or interest!
Take the 61 bus to Stinson or Bolinas Beach. Spend the day with friends or family surfing and boogie boarding. The 61 bus runs to Stinson/Bolinas.
Find some fresh produce from a local farmers market. Find locations here.
Go thrifting Check out some good finds at Sugar, Bloom, Emma’s Shop, Willow Grove, and Encore in Marin, and Opera House Collective in Petaluma.
Bike to Kirby Cove. BYO picnic and enjoy the view at Kirby Cove.
Explore Marin by bus and train. See what fun destinations you can get to by bus (e.g., the Marin City shopping center, the Northgate shopping mall/movies). Build a route and get exploring! Marin Transit, SMART train, Sonoma County Transit, Santa Rosa city bus, and Petaluma transit.
Check out the Karma Club - a free hangout space for teens in the Northgate Mall in San Rafael.
Bike from Blackie’s Pasture to downtown Tiburon, enjoying the view along the bay.
Play mini golf at McInnis Park Golf Center. They also have a full golf course and batting cages.
Find better weather at a swimming pool a tad north (seasonal). Organize a pool day with family or friends at Marinwood (San Rafael), McNears Beach Park Swimming Pool (San Rafael), Terra Linda pool (San Rafael), College of Marin (Novato), or Hamilton Pool (Novato).
Ride the Smart Train for FREE to Larkspur Landing. Bring your bike - ride along the Larkspur Corte Madera Creek , Grab a Burger at the Shake Shack , and get Johnny Doughnuts at the Marin County Mart
Ride the Smart Train for FREE to Santa Rosa. Hang out at Santa Rosa Plaza , visit Historic Railroad Square , and check out some thrift stores
In PETALUMA…
Play Billiards or Ping Pong at Buffalo Billiards
Go for a hike in Helen Putnam Park or Schollenburger Park
Hang a rope swing or build a fort out of fallen branches and Eucalyptus bark at West Haven Park & Open Space
Get Boba Tea at Quickly Bubble Tea
Go thrifting in Petaluma.
Shop for vinyl at Paradise Found Records
Listen to FREE live music at Putnam Plaza - Petaluma or Theater Square
Go Swimming at The Petaluma Swim Center or Cavanaugh Center
Go Fishing - get a Fishing License and try your luck at one of these fishing spots:
Go on a Picnic. Grab a sandwich at Ray’s Deli, Petaluma Market, or Charley’s Wine Country Deli, and bike to Wickersham Park. Bring a slack line and practice your focus and balance. Or bring your picnic to RiverWalk Park and sit in the shade of an umbrella.
Rent a watercraft at The Floathouse Petaluma.
Check out books at the Petaluma Regional Library or attend a free event - check the calendar of events
Get your bike tuned up or rent a bike at Big Bowl Bike Shop and go for a bike ride on one of the many paths and trails.
Grab a racket and some friends and play tennis under the stars at McNear Park or pickleball at Luchessi Park
Green your bedroom - add a plant from Cottage Gardens
Visit a Farmer’s Market - there are many to choose from
Cool off with an Ice Cream from Angela's Organic Ice Cream, Once Upon A Slush, Baskin Robbins or Fruta
Go Bowling at AMF Boulevard Lanes
Go to the Gym at 24hr Fitness or Planet Fitness
Thank you to Meghan Brand Stauf for creating this Petaluma list!
In SF…
Go thrifting on Haight Street. Several thrift shops are near each other: Held Over, Buffalo Exchange, Indigo Vintage, Goodwill, Second St.
Do karaoke in Japantown. Wander around the iconic Japantown, and then spend an hour doing karaoke at Do Re Mi Music Studio which allows minors.
Do an Urban Adventure Quest. Get a group of 2-5 friends and complete this scavenger hunt that takes you through the city!
Try roller skating in SF at the Church of 8 Wheels.
Sip tea and savor Japanese gardens. Enjoy a cup of tea in the beautiful gardens of SF’s Japanese Tea Garden
Ride a ferry to SF’s ferry building. Take the Golden Gate ferry from Sausalito to San Francisco’s ferry building! Wander the ferry building and find macarons, exotic cheese, books, and other goodies. A close walk away is the spectacular Exploratorium.
Be a tourist for the day at Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39. Take the Blue and Gold ferry from Sausalito to Pier 41 (right by Pier 39) and visit the old-school arcade, the infinite mirror maze, snack on a mix of candy, climb the musical stairs, visit the 7D experience, watch the sea lions bark, and eat clam chowder in a bread bowl!
Walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy the views and some people watching.
Go bowling. Check out the recently renovated Presidio Bowl and grab lunch or dinner!
See a show in the city. From ballet to theater, check out this list of upcoming productions.
Paddle around Stow Lake. Grab some friends and rent paddle boats at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park.
Explore Ghiradelli. Packed with unique shops, an arcade, mini-golf, and GamedayVR. Top it off with an ice-cream sundae. Then walk 2 blocks and snap some pics in Umbrella Alley.
Explore Chrissy Field for the day. Meander along the paths by the bay, and take a break for a snack at the warming hut. Go climbing at Movement (formerly Planet Granite) or jump and play dodgeball at House of Air.
Explore the Presidio Tunnel Tops. The tunnel tops is a great afternoon adventure for all ages! And during the summer there are tons of delicious pop up food options.
Take a tour of Alcatraz Island via this ferry and tour service provider from San Francisco. See where Al Capone was imprisoned. They also provide a night tour!
Play Disc Golf. Borrow equipment and play an 18-hole round of disc golf on the Golden Gate Park course. It’s free, open to the public, and doesn’t have tee times.
Spend a Sunday afternoon watching live music in Golden Gate Park (seasonal). The Golden Gate Park Band plays a variety of music every Sunday at 1pm for free in Golden Gate Park - including classic band favorites, operas, Broadway show tunes, folk music, and big band swing music.
Ferry directly to a Giants game (seasonal). Take the ferry from Larkspur directly to a Giants game.
