Marin is home to some of the most interesting members-only clubs worth checking out, though getting in may be another story:

Marin Rod and Gun Club - Guns and guts in Marin! If you are missing your redneck days, this is the place for you. Bonus points if you come in your big pick up truck with a hitch. Organized in 1926, this is one of California largest outdoor sporting clubs. It was originally formed for the purpose of conservation, preservation and propagation of fish and game. The club has over 55 acres of wetlands and tidelands on San Pablo Bay at San Quentin. There’s a clubhouse and bar and there are monthly meetings, holiday and social events along with community building events. They have a fishing pier that stretches a half mile into the bay, a boat ramp along with acres of picnic and bbq grounds. The club has been a leader in supporting legislation beneficial to outdoorsmen, conservation, scholarships and philanthropy.

2675 East Francisco Blvd.
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-456-3123

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Nature Friends Tourist Club - Wilkommen! Otherwise known as the Tourist Club or Die Naturfreunde founded in Vienna Austria in 1895. The San Francisco chapter was formed in 1912 by 5 Austrian and Germans. Lederhosen and dirndls not required. The main lodge that stands today was built in 1917 and was named the Muir Woods Clubhouse. Adjacent land and buildings have been bought and built over the intervening years. Members bond around their love of hiking, mountaineering, camping, skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, socials and festivals. The club is only accessible via hiking trails and members are required to volunteers a certain amount of hours at the club to maintain the property. The members enjoy their social events especially their annual fests held in May, July and September and feature authentic German music, food, beer, decor and ambiance. They also organize club hikes, camping, backpacking, climbing, bicycling, and other outdoor activities. To join the club, The Tourist Club recommends participating in work days (held on the second Sunday of each month) alongside current and prospective members to get to know each other.

30 Ridge Avenue
Mill Valley, Ca 94941
Answering machine: 415-388-9987

Presidio Yacht Club - This is one of the best locations in the Bay Area, just under the Golden Gate Bridge. The club is the perfect place for parties, cruises and meet ups. Founded in May 1959, it was originally for military personnel and their dependents in Fort Baker where the club is located. Fort Baker was closed in 1994 and Travis Air Force Base assumed management of the Marina and Presidio Yacht Club. The club is now over 55 years old. It is a community of boating enthusiasts and servicemen. Membership is open to the public. It is also closely associated with the Travis Marina and Travis Air Force Base. The club has all volunteer work days every second Saturday of the month followed by dinner. Sailing lessons, rentals and volunteer skippers are available to military personnel and membership is open to the general public.

Visit them at Horseshoe Cove in Fort Baker
415-332-2319

Sausalito Cruising Club - Sitting on the dock of the Bay...this boat is moored in the mudflats and isn't cruising anywhere anytime soon. Welcome to the Sausalito Cruising Club! The club is a surplus WW2 munitions barge that has been moored alongside Dunphy Park for more than 55 years. The Cruising Club is a member of the Pacific Inter-Yacht Club Association. It has reciprocal rights with many yacht clubs on the West Coast, Hawaii and throughout the world. The club is a private social club and selective in it’s membership and has over 500 members. To become a member, it’s best to be introduced by a friend who is already a member. You also must be endorsed by two other members and your application will be reviewed by the Board of Directors for approval. The club offers nautical activities, nightly live entertainment, a full service food galley and full bar for the enjoyment of the members and their guests.

300 Napa Street
Sausalito, CA 94965

Elks Club-Elks Lodge #1108
Charity l Justice l Brotherly Love l Fidelity
Order of Elks is a members organization that offers support and service for it’s members and families. The Lodge has views of Mt. Tamalpais from the historic and picturesque Victorian mansion called the Maple Lawn Estate near the San Rafael Mission in San Rafael. Elks is a fraternal organization that promotes patriotism, a belief in God and does good work for the local community. Elks in San Rafael has over 500 members. They actively support many non-profits in Marin and Northern California, host philanthropic events and provide scholarships. They also have a full bar, meeting, party and wedding spaces, a historic carriage house, a swimming pool, huge lawns with picnic tables and a large terrace.