Photo: Roger Lee
Photo: Roger Lee
Photo: Raja N
Schoonmaker Point Marina
★4.6(122 reviews)FreeActivity
🕑 1.5-2.5 hours👶 Best for ages 2-10. Toddlers and preschoolers love the calm, shallow waters and sandy beach play, while elementary-aged kids enjoy exploring tide pools, searching for crabs and sea stars, and watching boats come and go from the marina.🧡 Saved by 45 families
About
Schoonmaker Point Marina offers a delightful small sandy beach tucked along Sausalito's picturesque waterfront, where families can enjoy gentle bay waters perfect for young children. This hidden gem combines the best of marina views with excellent tide pooling opportunities and abundant seabird watching, making it an ideal spot for introducing kids to marine life and coastal exploration.
Highlights
- ✓Tide pool exploration with crabs, sea stars, and anemones
- ✓Calm, shallow bay waters safe for young children to wade
- ✓Watching sailboats and yachts in the active marina
- ✓Seabird spotting including pelicans, gulls, and cormorants
- ✓Small sandy beach perfect for sandcastle building
Pro Tips
- 1.Arrive early in the morning when tide pools are most accessible and before the limited parking fills up on weekends
- 2.Bring a bucket and small net for tide pool exploration,kids love observing hermit crabs and small fish in shallow containers before releasing them back
- 3.Pack layers and a windbreaker even on sunny days, as Sausalito's waterfront can get breezy, especially in the afternoon
- 4.Note the 4:00 PM closing time and plan to wrap up activities by 3:30 PM to avoid being rushed out
- 5.The sandy beach area is small, so this is perfect for a morning stop before exploring downtown Sausalito rather than an all-day beach destination
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings between 8:00-11:00 AM offer the calmest conditions, fewer crowds, and better low tide access for exploring tide pools. Spring and early summer provide the most comfortable temperatures without the stronger afternoon winds typical of late summer.
What to Know
The marina operates 7:00 AM, 4:00 PM daily with free public access to the beach area. Parking can be limited near the beach, so arrive early or be prepared to walk from nearby street parking in the marina area.
Seasonal Notes
Best visited during spring and summer months when weather is warmest and tide pools are most active. Check tide charts before visiting,low tide reveals the best tide pooling opportunities. Winter visits can be chilly and windier but offer excellent seabird migration viewing.
Nearby Eats
Fish Restaurant (5-minute drive) offers kid-friendly seafood options with harbor views, while Lappert's Ice Cream in downtown Sausalito (1.5 miles away) makes a perfect post-beach treat stop.
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