Best Family-Friendly Beaches in San Rafael

Located in the city of San Rafael, China Camp Beach is a long and wide beach that is a part of China Camp State Park.  China Camp Beach is situated north of China Camp Village that features a visitor center and exhibits about the nearby area from the late 1800s. China Camp Beach is surrounded by the San Pedro Open Space Preserve and Harry A. Barbier Memorial Park. China Camp Beach is filled with cyclists and runners – and is a perfect destination for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Marina Green Beach is also an awesome spot for swimming, camping, and windsurfing. The beach is a family-friendly spot and is a 25-minute drive from the Exploratorium, a science museum for kids at the Palace of Fine Arts.  China Camp Beach welcomes dogs on leash on the beach and in China Camp State Park. 

Located in the city of San Rafael, McNears Beach Park has a half-mile long, narrow, and rocky beach situated on the muddy part of the bay of San Pablo. McNears Beach Park is a part of the McNears Beach County Park and is a well-known fishing and beachcombing spot.  McNears Beach Park is also a great place to launch canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards.