Marin County

Just across the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin County combines affluent suburban communities with stunning natural beauty -- from the redwood groves of Muir Woods to the trails of Mount Tamalpais and the beaches of Point Reyes National Seashore. San Rafael is the county seat and largest city; Novato anchors the northern end near the Sonoma County line. Mill Valley, Tiburon, and Sausalito are among the Bay Area's most exclusive waterfront communities with views of San Francisco across the Bay. Marin lacks BART or rail service; Golden Gate Transit buses and the Larkspur Ferry provide connections to San Francisco. The county's strict land-use policies have preserved open space but limited housing supply, keeping prices among the region's highest.