Inverness, CA

Inverness sits on the Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, along the west side of Tomales Bay where the bay narrows into a long, quiet inlet. San Francisco lies roughly forty road miles to the south, and Point Reyes Station, the nearest town of any size, is 3.5 miles southeast. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is the one road that ties the community together, running from the water into forest and out toward the national seashore. The community splits into two neighborhoods with different moods. The village itself sits on the water, with its small center, the library and museum, and beaches below the ridge. Inverness Park is the longer, looser stretch toward Point Reyes Station, a run of hillside streets and roadside lots that backs onto Point Reyes National Seashore and its trailheads. Homes are mostly modest. Cabins from the days when this was a summer destination for people from the Bay Area still stand, and later hill subdivisions added houses angled toward bay and ocean views. Both eras sit side by side on the same streets. Outdoor time is the main event here. Tomales Bay State Park has bishop pine forest and sheltered beaches, the Bear Valley Trail leads toward Arch Rock, and Inverness Ridge connects the two for longer walks. Walkers can stay on the shaded forest side or drop down to the water, whichever the weather suggests. Eating out is a short list. The Inverness Park Market has a deli counter and an espresso bar, with a Tap Room attached that serves dinner, while a newer waterfront spot at Tomales Bay Resort, the Bayside Bar and Lounge, opened in May 2026 and mixes seafood with pub fare. Beyond those, people head to Point Reyes Station. Getting anywhere means a car. Errands run along the Point Reyes Station loop, hours are short and evenings are quiet, which suits some routines far better than others. The bay, the ridge and the national seashore all sit close at hand, and the day here tends to be organized around them.