The Best Cheap Date Ideas in Marin

Drive up Conzelman Road and stop at one of the overlooks for views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline. The pull-outs make an easy place to linger as the light changes over the bay.

There is no entrance fee, and the Headlands are part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Spend the day along the coast at Point Reyes National Seashore, where Drake's Beach gives you a long walk beside the Pacific. You can also hike, look for wildlife, visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse, or pack a picnic.

The seashore has no entrance fee, and parking at its beaches, trailheads, and visitor centers is free.

Take the Sun Trail from Panoramic Highway to Mountain Home Inn, a mostly level walk of less than a mile above Muir Woods. The route moves between sun and shade before ending at the inn.

The walk itself is free, so the only cost is whatever you order once you get there. Check the inn's website before you go for occasional closures.

Pack a picnic for China Camp State Park, where bluffs look out over San Pablo Bay and trails run through oak woodland and tidal marsh. One hike leads to a lookout with views of five bridges, while kayaking gives you another way to explore the shoreline.

The park covers 1,514 acres along the bay.

Take the ferry from Tiburon to Angel Island and spend the day exploring on foot. With no roads or bridges connecting the island to the mainland, the ferry ride and walk around the island feel like a small getaway.

The ferry leaves from 21 Main Street in Tiburon and arrives at Ayala Cove.

Walk the short trail from the parking lot to Muir Beach Overlook, set high above the Marin coast and open Pacific. Go around sunset for the best light, or in winter when you may spot migrating whales.

The picnic area can get windy, but the views make it worth bringing an extra layer. Parking and access are free.

Wander beneath the redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument, where trails wind through the forest and can turn into a longer hike toward Mountain Home Inn for lunch.

Every vehicle and shuttle rider needs a parking or shuttle reservation through GoMuirWoods.com, which carries its own fee.

Catch an independent film, documentary, classic, or retrospective at Smith Rafael Film Center, a restored three-screen nonprofit theater in San Rafael.

Taste mead at Heidrun Meadery in Point Reyes Station with a guided flight, or order a bottle on ice and take it out to the patio. Bring a picnic and settle in among the flower meadows, with Point Reyes National Seashore nearby if you want to make a longer day of it.

The meadery is open daily from 11am to 5pm, and each three-bottle purchase waives the fee for one flight.

Head up Mount Tamalpais for a hike or picnic with views that can stretch to the Farallon Islands, San Francisco Bay, and Mount Diablo. There is no main entrance fee, making it an easy way to spend a few hours outside together.

The East Peak, Pantoll, and Bootjack parking areas charge for parking. The park is open daily from 7am to sunset.