Marin County is only a short drive north from downtown San Francisco, but it's a world away from the city. Towering redwoods, cascading streams, lush ferns and moss, sandy beaches along the bay, Marin County is perfect for a day outdoors with kids.

Marin Headlands, Tennesee Valley, and Muir Woods National Monument are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area , the largest national park in an urban area. You'll need a car to explore Marin, but hiking in this spectacular scenery is an unforgettable family experience.

Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of family hotels, all styles and price ranges, convenient to fun things to do with kids in Marin County:

A vacation rental has lots of advantages for families – full kitchen and dining area, room to spread out, washer and dryer, and more.