West Marin Food and Farm Tours, Point Reyes Station

In the spring of 2012, culinary school student Elizabeth Hill brought some of her classmates on a retreat to Inverness. She gave them a tour of West Marin, drawing from childhood experiences ranging from boating trips with her grandfather on Tomales Bay to afternoons spent picking berries for her grandmother. As she led her friends on this in-depth exploration of the local creameries, farms, and wineries, they observed that she could do this for a living.

Following their advice, Elizabeth formed Food & Farm Tours. She still holds on to her country roots; on each of her regular tours, she leads visitors through the region's rolling hills while revealing its history from an insider perspective. She also incorporates her culinary know-how. She may lead guests to sample local organic produce, grass-fed meats, and baked goods, or embark on private tours and tastings at creameries, wineries, and oyster farms. During many of the tours, Elizabeth gathers visitors for picnics on the shores of Tomales Bay, where they dine on locally made foods.