Tomales, CA

Set among the rolling pastureland of West Marin just a few miles northeast of Tomales Bay, Tomales is a quiet, historic village surrounded by open ranch country. Charming 19th-century buildings still line the main stretch of Highway 1, giving the town an easygoing feel that is hard to find in the busier parts of the Bay Area. It is a small, tight-knit community where coastal fog drifts across the hills and daily routines move at a relaxed pace.

ATTRChris06 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Tomales also serves as an important anchor for families spread throughout this rural region. The local district runs both Tomales Elementary and Tomales High School right in town, drawing students from neighboring coastal areas between Point Reyes and Bodega Bay. For bigger grocery runs, medical care, and retail shopping, Petaluma sits about twenty minutes inland along quiet backroads. Moving here gives you easy access to Dillon Beach, local bakeries, and miles of scenic open country, all backed by neighbors who genuinely know one another.