Cypress Tunnel at sunset.
STAY
Nick’s Cove
Hotels
A new hotel with it’s own restaurant Due West - the most full service lodging in the area.
Charming little cottages perched over the bay and next to their restaurant with great BBQ oysters on a quaint pier.
Airbnb
Instagram-worthy A-frame in the woods of Inverness. You’ll be lucky if you can snag an available date in their very booked calendar.
A place I’ve had my eye on for years. I’d love to do a group vacation with friends here one day and hang by the bocce court and hot tub.
EAT & DRINK
The joy of Point Reyes is their oysters and the cheeses by Cowgirl Creamery from cows roaming the seaside hills nearby. My ideal lunch when not having BBQ’d oysters is to gather provisions from places like Cowgirl Creamery Cantina, Bovine Bakery, and Inverness Park Market for a picnic to enjoy on a beach or hike.
Maybe my favorite restaurant in the world and totally worth planning your trip around their limited hours. You order at the counter and grab a stool overlooking Tomales bay while the best BBQ oysters are being grilled. They also have alcohol and really great clam chowder. Confirm hours ahead of time but usually open Friday to Monday 10am-4pm, no reservations.
Lovely and hip restaurant with unusual takes on grilled oysters that are always rotating like “Umami” and “Katz.” They also have really nice local fish entrees and desserts. Reservations are a must.
A good place to buy oysters and other provisions for a picnic or your airbnb.
Revamped in 2017 by Hog Island Oyster Co., really delicious food with some tables overlooking the bay. Closed Wednesdays.
When you need a seafood break this is the spot for wood-fired pizzas and patio dining, open for lunch and dinner.
A good choice for a romantic dinner out. Not the best BBQ oysters on the seashore but still really solid and a big menu. Next to the cottages available to rent and on a very photogenic pier. Make your reservation for around sunset and bring your camera.
Old Western Saloon
Out of a movie, this local hangout with pool tables is so classic and the opposite of mixology. You’ll often see horses tied up out front.
Tasting room of meads which is wine made from honey instead of grapes.
The Marshall Store
Picnic of local oysters and cheese.
Nick’s Cove Pier
Raw oysters and wine at Marshall Store.
DO
Most of the Point Reyes Seashore is nationally protected land with around 150 miles of hiking trails. Below are my favorite hikes and places to visit but I also recommend stopping at the ranger station where helpful park rangers can give you a map and trail recs.
Estero Trail
This trail is so amazing because you go through such varied landscapes that keep evolving. Also a really good place to spot birds.
Abbotts Lagoon
Two sided lagoon with sweet wooden bridges and sand dunes. Also great for bird watching.
Point Reyes Lighthouse
Picturesque spot for photos especially at sunset.
McClures Beach & Elk Reserve
When you park at McClures Beach you can walk down to a beautiful windswept beach and have a picnic or head north to the Elk Reserve via Windy Gap. You could really make just this area into a whole day.
Shipwreck
Very photogenic shipwrecked boat that is best photographed at sunset. See my photo and tips for this below.
Cypress Tree Tunnel
Old morse code station with cypress-lined driveway that is best photographed at sunrise or sunset.
Limantour Beach
Sand dune backed beach that is another great spot for a picnic on a warm day. Bring a sweater because the winds here can make it very chilly.
Tomales Bay Kayaking
By Hearts Desire Beach, you can rent a kayak or canoe from Tomales Bay Expeditions. Just don’t go on a windy day otherwise you’ll really have your work cut out for you.
How I Got That Shot (x2)
Food Styling - Make It Messy
There is just something boring about a perfect dish that looks completely untouched. I’m more of a fan of messy, authentic looking food shots where there is a crumb of bread on the table, an overturned oyster shell, a messily folded napkin. I start by taking a photo of the food looking perfect and then progressively eat and shoot my way through it. Also, short glasses are your friends! Tall wine glasses will overpower an overhead food shot.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, Focal length 45mm, ISO400 f/11 at 1/160th
Sunset photos - Save the Highlights
Here I have included both the before and after editing of my photo of the Shipwreck in Inverness. What’s important to keep in mind with sunset shots is that you can get more information out of dark shadows versus blown-out highlights. A lot of cameras have indicators that will flash white or red when highlights are blown so you can use that or just remember to underexpose or bracket when shooting a sunset. I’ve also added some saturation to the photo.
Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, Focal length 26mm, ISO400 f/5 at 1/125th