Get your oyster fix in Marshall

Does your palate long for a briny treat? If so, do not delay. Head straight to Marin County's town of Marshall on Tomales Bay, where oysters are harvested in great quantities.

Oyster farming is, in fact, a major industry in Marshall. So whether you're trying to buy some oysters or you're planning a full-on picnic, Marshall is oyster central. The two largest producers are Tomales Bay Oyster Co. (15479 Highway 1) and Hog Island Oyster Co. (20215 Highway 1), and they both have picnic grounds on the east shore offering pristine views.

The town of Marshall is the epitome of small-town charm. With a population of about 400 people, Marshall is a quiet patch of civilization with plenty of weathered dairy farms. Marshall is located on the northeast shore of Tomales Bay.

The town was named after four brothers called Marshall, known for setting up a dairy industry there in the 1850s. Beginning in the 1870s, Marshall was becoming a bigger player in Northern California, including hosting a stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad that connected Cazadero to the Sausalito ferry.

While there are still some dairies in the area, oysters and clams have take center stage in commerce. Marshall also acts as a center for tourists visiting Tomales Bay and the neighboring Point Reyes Peninsula.

Nick's Cove (23240 Hwy. 1, Marshall) is a popular restaurant for foodies with its seafood specialties; it also appeals to the sea traveler craving the waterfront with its 1930s cottages on the property.

If you're just in for the day, be sure to make a reservation at the restaurant. The not-to-be missed entrees, according to reviewers, are the oyster sampler and the decadent crab mac and cheese.

For those who want to explore the great outdoors, Nick's Cove also offers a public boat ramp where watercraft can be launched.

The bay is where water sports reign: sailing, kayaking and motor boating. Kayaking is especially popular, and Blue Waters Kayaking in Point Reyes Station offers a kayaking tour of the bay.