Drive six bucolic miles from Highway 101 to the tiny enclave of Muir Beach and you’ve entered another world. The town’s 150 homes, many with commanding ocean views, perch on a hillside overlooking Muir Beach Cove.

With its limited supply, Muir Beach homes for sale can be hard to come by. The community is entirely surrounded by the magnificent Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which boasts miles of hiking trails. Mount Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, and Green Gulch Farm Zen Center are close by. Muir Beach’s mainly full-time residents include lawyers and doctors as well as authors and artists. Community members gather for beach volleyball, tai chi, potlucks, and full-moon hikes.

Muir Beach Cove is a popular spot for boogie boarding, kayaking, and fishing. Trails lead from the cove to high bluffs -- with breathtaking ocean views. When evening falls and visitors head home, Muir Beach residents enjoy quiet sunset walks along the beach, while the surrounding hillsides come alive with fox, birds, deer, and coyote.

The only commercial enterprise in Muir Beach is The Pelican Inn, a Tudor-style, authentic English pub and hotel. On a rainy afternoon, Muir Beach residents can be found having a cup of hot tea in front of its massive brick fireplace. Homes in Muir Beach don’t hit the market often, but locals will tell you that the wait is worth it. Seaside homes offer dramatic ocean views, and some have a separate guest cottage. Anywhere you live in Muir Beach, you’re just minutes from all of the amenities of a major metropolitan area, yet far from its hustle and bustle.