When two of the most common New Year’s resolutions are to get a fitter body and a fatter bank account somehow simultaneously, it can feel kind of disheartening to realize that those goals are often completely oxymoronic.
This is especially true in places like the Bay Area, where the pursuit of wellness and health seems to rely, in part, on one’s wealth.
But when it comes down to it, the $12 green juice smoothies, $100 gym memberships and $200 running shoes—the ones still sitting in the back of the closet almost entirely unused despite being three years old at this point…well, it all seems a little bit silly to spend so much when all anyone needs to get fit in Marin is a will and, well, the bay!
From the highest of Marin’s mountain peaks to the lowest sea-level patches of sand to sprawl a yoga mat across and to all the picturesque places to break a sweat in between, Marin may very well be the best county in California to get fit for free—minus a few pesky transportation fees, at least.
So, before that New Year’s resolution resolve declines, it’s time to answer the question on everyone’s mind: “Where the health does one go for wellness in Marin?”
Take a Hike
When it comes to free fitness, few options can compare with the freedom of an open trail—especially if that trail just so happens to have an incline so steep that it may as well require a climbing rope and possibly calling in a few favors to convince gravity to lighten up a touch.
But with hills like these, reaching those fitness goals for free in Marin can be as simple as making it to the top of Mount Tam or taking a short hike up Mount Burdell. Or, for those who enjoy the natural whimsy West Marin has to offer, perhaps consider a trip out to Point Reyes to take on its many hiking trails to keep those fitness goals for 2024 going strong.
And despite Point Reyes having some seasonal closures of certain places to allow for those adorable elephant seal pups to laze about the beaches, that’s no reason to join them in the all-day snooze-fest. Instead, try whatever nature trails and natural splendor the National Park Service website says are open across its specified 150 miles of hiking trails…all for absolutely zero dollars and with a better view than any fitness center.
Even for the already incredibly fit citizens of Marin County, hiking all these trailing paths up, down and across Marin is as good a workout as any treadmill money can buy…especially for those who are open to adding a bit of extra weight on their person and/or going a bit faster or further.
Who Needs a StairMaster?
In this day and age of beauty standards, it seems as though everyone and their mother wants those coveted sculpted lower body muscles that can crush melons and conquer mountains…but instead of doing just that, the most popular way to get those glutes still seems to be with weighted squats and StairMasters. But in Marin, all anyone needs for the same effect is to visit one of the surprisingly plentiful staircases sprawled across the county.
The most prolific and perfectly free places in Marin to put a StairMaster to shame are at the Point Reyes Lighthouse and the Dipsea Steps in Mill Valley—the ones that lead up to the Dipsea Trail. Though the path down to the lighthouse in Point Reyes may seem too stunning to be considered exercise, those 313 stairs are no joke…especially on the way back. And don’t worry about when that gets too easy for this year’s fitness goals either, since the Dipsea Steps offer over double that, with 680 stairs to climb in the name of exercise.
A fun fact for free fitness in Marin: Mill Valley is a little bit famous for its stairs, so take advantage of the hundreds upon hundreds of stairs this city has to offer and enjoy the most sculpted glutes and incredible stamina with a view money can’t buy.
The Beach Is a Sandbox
It will come as a surprise to absolutely no one that Marin County is surrounded by water on just about every side, which means there are a million and one water-related activities to tackle in 2024. So, if someone wants to get fit for free, consider hitting the beach. After all, simply running across the beach from one’s car to their tanning towel can feel like a workout because of the sand drag. The beach is also a fantastic place to lay out a yoga mat or even get involved in more in-the-water activities, including swimming in some of the safer zones—just be sure to watch out for riptides and other natural hazards.
And although wetsuits, surfboards, boats and other water-related equipment aren’t exactly without an upfront cost, those who enjoy watersports will probably find that these few tools are well worth the money spent for the memories and muscle gained in such an investment. And since Marin is a great place to break out those kayaks for a day of play out on the water, it’s safe to say they won’t go to waste—just keep an eye on the free and for-sale marketplace.
Active Hobbies Pay the Way
In the case of active hobbies, it is well worth considering killing two birds with a single stone and simply writing off the cost of an active hobby as a buy-one-get-one-free scenario. Sure, buying a bike may be a behemoth of an upfront cost—especially for those who want to save some money—if that bike is something someone uses daily, year after year. It brings joy, excitement, activity, fitness and possibly friendships as well. Then even after only a few months, the return investment on that piece of equipment quickly and obviously pays for itself.
The same can be said for, say, plein air painters who spend a pretty penny on paints but then make a point to climb to the highest peaks of Marin to view the world in a way only an artist at the top of their literal mountain of inspiration may—that experience, along with the exercise it brings, is priceless.
So, let that imagination run free and get creative when it comes to finding and meeting those health and wellness needs post-2023.
