Come to McNear's Beach for a family stroll, a picnic lunch, to fish on the pier, or all of the above! Your kiddos will love finding sea glass on the shore, and bring bikes and the lot to use on the paved path. This is a good place to bring remote control cars, kites, beach toys, bbq and more. There is a lot of lawn, bay shore, and a nice pier. Our family always enjoys McNear's. Bring jackets!
We had a reunion here and had a blast. The kids could play in the sand on the beach. The park is on the edge of the San Pablo Bay, so the water is in the 60's in the summer. There are no big waves because your not on the ocean. If the water's too cold for you to swim, there is a pool that is open in the summer (I think it's $4 per person). We have flown kites there on the grass. There is a picnic area that is shaded where you can enjoy a nice lunch. Parking is $8 per vehicle. The views are nice. If you're looking for a fun place to have a gathering for a large number of people, this is a good choice. You can reserve your spot ahead of time and should if you know you are going.
What?! A beach right here in central marin? Sweet! We love McNear's beach. The only reason I wouldn't give it a five-star rating is because it costs eight dollars to park here and I hate paying to park somewhere. It is fabulous to get to play at a kid friendly beach. Since it's the bay, the water is calm and kids can play in it. There is also a pool (with a beloved snack shack) which costs four extra dollars. We just enjoy the beach and the park (manicured lawn close to the water's edge for your picnic blanket).
We've seen birthday parties at the pool...might be something to look into if you want an outdoor party.