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Marin County
Marin County, lying north of San Francisco and the Golden Gate
Bridge, has one of the most beautiful countrysides in Northern California, and
one of the finest climates. Marin's hilly interior provides shelter from
chilly ocean breezes, except along the coast, where fog prevails during summer
months. Generally, temperatures are moderate and vary little from season to
season. San Rafael fluctuates between 30 and 55 degrees in January, and between
59 to 88 degrees in July. The County is usually thought of as suburban, a
primarily residential and recreational area, with ranching and dairy in the
more rural area of West Marin. The Pacific Ocean forms Marin's western
boundary, with rugged coastlines, redwood forests and strong currents. The
County's eastern boundary is the San Francisco Bay. The 520 square miles of
Marin offer a wide variety of topography, climate and vegetation. From the
tidal flats of the coasts to the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais State Park, from the
dramatic cliff-sides to the gently lapping lagoons of Point Reyes National
Seashore, the beauty and diversity of Marin County can be experienced and
enjoyed by all.
Marin is an easy commute to San Francisco via Golden Gate
Transit commute buses, or via ferry service, available from Sausalito, Tiburon
and Larkspur to the downtown financial district of San Francisco.
Marin's health services include three modern hospitals: Marin
General Hospital in Greenbrae, Novato General Hospital in Novato and Kaiser
Permanente in San Rafael. In addition to these general hospitals, there are
fourteen convalescent hospitals.
Shopping facilities of all varieties abound, from the very
popular boutiques in Sausalito, Tiburon, Mill Valley, San Anselmo and Larkspur,
to large modern shopping centers such as Strawberry's Town and Country Village
in Mill Valley, The Gateway in Marin City, The Village at Corte Madera,
Northgate Mall in San Rafael, and Vintage Oaks in Novato.
With all the attractions of Marin County, the most outstanding is
the variety of homes-traditional, ranch and contemporary blend into the
surrounding hills. Mountains, forests and water create a picturesque area
offering many desirable family oriented communities.
Belvedere
www.tiburon-belvedere.com
Belvedere is an island a mile long and less than one-half mile
wide, connected to Tiburon by a causeway. Although the two towns have
become very much alike, with their premier real estate prices motivated by
spectacular views, they grew up differently. There were distinct differences
between the towns; while Belvedere was home to the rich, Tiburon, in its day as
home base for a railroad, was considered "the other side of the tracks."
Belvedere celebrated its 100th year as a city in 1996. Marin's
smallest incorporated community is also one of the most exclusive. There is
just enough room for some of the most expensive homes in Marin and the historic
San Francisco Yacht Club.
Belvedere is a treasure trove of different architectural
styles; from the tremendous Queen Anne and Mission Revival homes of the
late 1800's to more modern Japanese style and Mediterranean villas. The two
elementary schools and one middle school in the local Reed Union School
District are rated in the top one percent among California schools.
Belvedere, which translates in Italian to "beautiful view",
was well and aptly named, with exceptional views of San Francisco Bay, the
Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island and Belvedere Lagoon. The beauty is quite
breathtaking.
Corte Madera
www.cortemadera.org
Corte Madera was once part of the original land grant, Corte
Madera del Presidio, given to John Reed in 1836. The area was used to
supply lumber to build the San Francisco Presidio. By 1860 all of the old
growth redwoods had been harvested and the hills were then used for ranching
and dairy by a new generation of settlers.
At
the turn of the century Corte Madera had attracted a number of families from
San Francisco who came for the summer. Christmas Tree Hill was subdivided
in tiny 25'x25' lots for use as tent sites on the weekends. After the 1906
earthquake, many of these tent sites were used to build permanent homes, where
some of the tiny cabins remain to this day. Corte Madera became a town in 1917.
Typifying the relaxed outdoor lifestyle of Marin with its pleasant
climate, bordering wetlands, and lush open space, there is a strong
community commitment to preserving the area's wildlife and habitat. This
commitment to the environment is exemplified by the Corte Madera Reserve
Sanctuary for Migrating Birds, the Shorebird Marsh wildlife habitat, and The
Ring Mountain Preserve, located at the southeastern end of town. The preserve
borders Corte Madera and the neighboring community of Tiburon.
Home to three distinctly different malls, the town provides
shopping as a favored pastime for guests and locals alike. Fine shops,
unique boutiques and a variety of excellent restaurants can be found at The
Corte Madera Town Center, The Village at Corte Madera, and The Marketplace.
Extending from San Francisco Bay on the east side to Mt. Tam on
the west, Corte Madera illustrates the wonderful Marin County blend of
nature along with all the amenities of city living.
Fairfax
Fairfax was originally part of a Spanish land grant conferred to
Domingo Sais in 1839. Sais gave the area now known as the Marin Town &
Country Club to Marin County's first physician, Alfred Taliaferro of Virginia,
who subsequently passed the property along to fellow Virginian Charles Snowden
Fairfax. Lord Fairfax, tenth Baron of Cameron, Scotland, moved here with his
wife Ada in 1855, lured west by gold fever.
After the death of Charles Fairfax, the property changed
hands, eventually becoming the site of the renowned Pastori's Restaurant in
the 1890's. Madame Pastori, once a singer at the La Scala in Milan, Italy, was
visited in Fairfax by many great figures in the opera world. The restaurant,
which was rebuilt on a grander scale after a fire in 1911, still stands.
Convenient railroad service early in this century made Fairfax a
favorite weekend and summer retreat for city dwellers. Fairfax Park hosted
thousands on weekends. Fairfax was the setting for dozens of early Western
movies from 1910 to the early 1920's. Construction of Alpine Dam in 1917
brought a large Italian population to the area, adding to Fairfax's colorful
history.
Fairfax came of age in February of 1931 when the town was
incorporated as a city with a five-member council government. Fairfax
today, with a diverse population of 7,000, is a community of fine neighborhoods
nestled in the hills and small valleys of the Upper Ross Valley. Located 16
miles north of San Francisco, within easy reach of numerous State and National
Recreation Areas, Fairfax offers the best of both work and play while retaining
its small-town atmosphere and charm.
Kentfield
www.kentfield.org
Because the town of Kentfield is unincorporated, it is governed by
the Marin County Board of Supervisors, who are known to pay close attention
to the wishes of the residents, especially concerning development. An upper
middle class to wealthy community, Kentfield is nestled at the base of Mt. Tam,
bordered by Larkspur and Ross.
The name "Kentfield" is taken from the family of Albert Kent, a
Chicago meat packer who, along with his wife Adaline, settled in the area in
1872. Adaline donated twenty-three acres of land for a community recreation
center; which later became the site for the College of Marin, which is part of
the California Community College system. Albert and Adaline's son William, who
became a U.S. congressman and an ardent conservationist, donated Muir Woods as
a national park.
The homes in this area are generally set well back from the
streets which meander among pine, redwood and manzanita. The low-profile
roofs of these spacious homes, mostly set on large lots, are designed to blend
in with the natural surroundings and offer a wooded, country feeling.
Larkspur-Greenbrae
www.ci.larkspur.ca.us and
www.greenbrae.org
The wife of a major developer, Charles Wright, named this
beautiful area for the lupine she found there, mistakenly identifying it as
Larkspur.
The downtown/Magnolia Avenue area is listed in the National
Register of Historic Places as an irreplaceable American "turn of the century
home town." Larkspur residents have been quite successful in preserving the
small-town ambience. A medley of specialty shops, boutiques, Queen Anne
Victorians, cafes and first-class restaurants can be enjoyed by taking a
relaxing stroll down Magnolia Avenue. Not to be missed are the Escalle Winery,
built in the 1890's by the young Frenchman, Jean Escalle, who planted the
northern hillsides of Larkspur with wine grapes; and the exquisite Murphy
mansion, constructed in 1888 and now home to the world famous restaurant, the
Lark Creek Inn.
Larkspur extends north to the unincorporated area of
Greenbrae, home to the Bon Air Shopping Center, which offers boutiques,
restaurants and gift shops. Greenbrae is well known for its tastefully
landscaped custom homes, many of which have views of the bay, Corte Madera
Creek and lowlands, and Mt. Tamalpais. A special effort was made during the
development of this area to preserve the hundreds of majestic oak trees that
grace the hillsides. Greenbrae residents enjoy a one-minute drive to the
freeway and two minutes to the Larkspur Landing Ferry Terminal.
Novato
www.novato.org
The City of Novato is located 29 miles north of San Francisco,
just off Highway 101. Incorporated in 1960 and encompassing 43 square miles
with 3,500 acres of open space and parks, Novato is an agreeable mixture of a
variety of neighborhoods. Waterfront communities, horse farms and beautiful
mansions are all part of the eclectic collection that is Novato.
The area that comprises Novato is rich in Native American
history. It was inhabited by large tribes of the Coastal Miwok Indians and
was a major trading center. With the coming of the Spanish, the lands were
divided into three large ranchos; Rancho de Novato, Olompali, and the southern
territory now known as Ignacio. Olompali State Park contains a re-created Miwok
village, as well as the remains of an adobe hut dating from 1837.
The city hall, community center, chamber of commerce, and history
museum are among the oldest buildings in the complex of historic buildings
known as Old Town, which also contains a variety of quaint shops and
restaurants. Marin County's newest shopping mall, the Vintage Oaks, located on
the east side of Hwy 101, contains over 70 specialty shops, boutiques, cafes,
and restaurants, as well as an eight-screen movie theater.
Hamilton Air Force Base, decommissioned in 1974, will shortly
be transformed into a beautiful community with a mixture of high-end homes and
affordable housing, as well as parks, office buildings, and retail space.
Truly a diverse community, Novato's future has been carefully
planned to accommodate reasonable growth combined with care and consideration
of the environment.
Ross
www.ross.org
In
1857 a Scotsman from San Francisco, James Ross, bought a large Mexican land
grant named Rancho Punta de Quentin, which extended from what is now Corte
Madera to Red Hill in San Anselmo. In the town that bears his name, Ross built
his home on the property that is now the Marin Art & Garden Center; a
beautiful ten-acre site that, in addition to housing several non-profit
community groups, also offers many classes and activities. Also located here
are the Ross Valley Players, the state's oldest repertory company. Trees,
ponds, and gardens make the grounds a delightful place to visit.
Shaded roads and lanes enhance this lovely town of grand estates
and luxury custom homes. Large properties in park-like settings often have
accommodations for horses, as well as tennis courts and swimming pools.
Centered around the Ross Common is a small, very quaint commercial area
featuring restaurants and shops. One enterprise, the Ross Grocery, has been
operated by the same family since WWII.
Residents are universally proud of, and offer support to, the
local elementary school. In 1991, Child Magazine named Ross Elementary
School as one of the top ten schools in the nation. The academic ranking is in
the 99th percentile, the highest any school can achieve.
Ross, often characterized as the suburban ideal, can easily be
portrayed as a bastion of gracious living.
San Anselmo
www.sananselmo.com
San Anselmo is a charming community of older homes amid diverse
architectural styles, on shady, tree-lined streets. The downtown area is
very "small town" in appearance, but offers a variety of shops and restaurants.
In
the 1870's, what is now known as The Hub in San Anselmo was the spot were a
spur track to San Rafael was added to the Sausalito-Tomales run of the Pacific
Coast Railroad. San Anselmo was incorporated in 1907.
The most visible landmark in town, a beautiful stone castle that
overlooks San Anselmo, is actually the San Francisco Theological Seminary,
established in 1892 to train Presbyterian clergy. From the ivy-covered chapel
with its enchanting bell tolling the hours, to the turrets and towers, this
beautiful facility has an ethereal, fairytale look.
San Anselmo Avenue, the town's main shopping area, is a
curving boulevard of awning-shaded shops, cafes, galleries, restaurants and
boutiques. Known as the "Antique Capital of Northern California", there are,
within a half-mile radius of downtown, more than 150 antique dealers who
attract collectors from all over the West Coast.
Love of family and a sense of community are common bonds shared by
those in the more affluent areas as well as by those in the more modest
homes at the west end of town. The Annual Art and Wine Festival, the Antique
Dealers Fair, and the Country Fair Day, are all very well attended by local
citizens. San Anselmo also boasts one of the County's most successful community
volunteer programs.
San Rafael
www.sanrafael.com
Mission San Rafael Arcangel was established on December 14,
1817, by Father Prefect Vicente Francisco de Sarria, three other friars,
and an escort of soldiers. The mission is on 5th Avenue between Court and B
Streets. Although the buildings are replicas, a treasure trove of historical
artifacts can be seen in the museum.
Marin's premier city, San Rafael, is the oldest and largest city
in the County and it is also the seat of County Government. Marin's second
most popular tourist spot (after Muir Woods), the Frank Lloyd Wright Civic
Center, was the last major structure and the only government building designed
by the world famous architect. It is now a national historic landmark.
Other notable places to visit are China Camp State Park, which
rims a picture perfect shoreline and is wonderfully secluded, yet only minutes
from town; the lovely Dominican College Campus, founded in 1888; and the
Falkirk Cultural Center, a handsomely preserved, 17-room Victorian mansion that
is set on 11 acres of formal grounds just a block from downtown.
San Rafael offers a wide assortment of housing; from Peacock
Gap's Golf and Country Club's contemporary homes and condominiums overlooking
the Bay, to spacious traditional homes in the prestigious Dominican section.
California Land Title Company of Marin, originally founded in 1955 by Dr. Earl
Young as Trans Western Title Company, has deep roots in Marin County. The
company's main office is conveniently located at 700 Irwin Street.
San Rafael has 14 parks, yacht clubs, outstanding docking and
launching facilities, tennis/swim clubs and bicycle trails. It is truly a
community where families can enjoy an active lifestyle and partake of a rich
historical and cultural heritage.
Sausalito
www.sausalito.org
Beautiful and unique homes ornament wooded hills that fall steeply
to Richardson Bay. Condominium apartments offer marvelous views of San
Francisco and the Bay. Regular ferry service from San Francisco makes the town
easily accessible for both commuters and tourists.
Located on the southeastern tip of Marin, just across the Golden
Gate Bridge from San Francisco, Sausalito was first settled in the mid-19th
century and incorporated in 1893, making it one of the oldest established
communities in the North Bay region.
Early Spanish explorers named the area "Sausalito" for the
"little willow trees" they found growing along its streams and underground
springs.
The Sausalito of today, a colorful waterfront town framed by
steeply ascending hills, reminds many of a Mediterranean fishing village.
Bounded on three sides by Richardson Bay and the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area, it has grown little over the years, still occupying a land
area of just 2 ¼ square miles.
This unique urban village has long been a popular visitor
destination, known worldwide for its natural beauty, its incomparable arts
community, the variety of unique shops and restaurants, and its easy
accessibility from San Francisco by bridge and ferry. It is also a prized
residential and business location, boasting temperate climate, old world charm,
and some of the region's most spectacular views.
Tiburon
www.tiburon-belvedere.com
What is now the Tiburon peninsula was, in the beginning, home to
at least fifty Indian villages. Shell mounds, petroglyphs on the rock face
of Ring Mountain, and the occasional find of mortars and cooking stones are
testimony to this portion of Tiburon's history.
John Reed established his rancho on the lands where Mill
Valley, Belvedere, Tiburon, San Quentin, and Corte Madera are now. In addition
to his thriving cattle herds, Reed also established salt yards, a brickyard,
and a stone quarry.
In
the 1880s, the coming of the broad-gauge railroad transformed the
peninsula. The town was created as a result of the railroad, and a long
line of ferries carrying passengers and rail cars the six miles across the bay
to San Francisco. The first elegant homes were built, mostly by wealthy San
Franciscans, as summer retreats. Main Street Tiburon was rebuilt twice after
being laid waste by fire.
Incorporated in 1964, Tiburon is now a beautiful enclave of
historical landmarks, parks, world-class restaurants and shopping areas.
The residential architecture is a mix of small cottages, many of them
beautifully remodeled, contemporary showplaces located in the hills with
spectacular views, and sensational examples of engineering that jut out over
the water. The San Francisco and Corinthian Yacht Clubs provide berths for
hundreds of sailboats for local yachtsmen; public and private tennis and
swimming facilities are also available to residents.
Visitors from around the world come here to enjoy the natural
beauty and many varied activities that this delightful harbor community
provides.
West Marin
www.pointreyes.org
The West Marin area is, debatably, the most spectacular region in
a county known for its scenic wonders. A truly rural section of Marin
encompassing miles of open ridge tops, wild coast lines, and pastoral dairy
farms, this area is home to such diverse wildlife as gray whales, tule elk,
elephant seal, bobcat, fox, hundreds of bird species and the occasional
mountain lion. Containing the Point Reyes National Seashore and the Golden Gate
National Recreation Area, almost all of West Marin is protected.
With the exception of Inverness, which is on the Point Reyes
Peninsula, the coastal towns, from southernmost Muir Beach, going north
through Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Olema, Pt. Reyes Station, Marshall and Tomales,
dot Highway One all the way up to the Marin/ Sonoma County border. The small
inland hamlets of Nicasio, Woodacre, Forest Knolls, San Geronimo and Lagunitas
are all unique and remarkably beautiful in their various settings that range
from redwood forests to open grasslands and rolling hills.
Muir Beach is a tiny enclave surrounded by GGNRA parklands.
With the exception of the Pelican Inn, where residents and tourist alike go to
dine, drink ale, and play darts, there are no commercial enterprises here (not
even a gas station nor a grocery store). The residents seem to prefer it this
way, holding very dear to their out-of-the-way lifestyle.
Stinson Beach, the most often visited of the coastal towns, is
home to a lovely, three-mile long beach which is well kept, clean and
accessible. Swimming, surfing and sunbathing are the favorite activities here,
but Stinson is also the finish line for the famous Dipsea Race. Right next to
the beach is a wonderful park area with trees, lawns, picnic tables and
barbecues available for day use.
Bolinas, located just past the Audubon Canyon Ranch north of
Stinson Beach, is a small town of about 1,100 residents; some of whom do
their best to keep Bolinas a well guarded secret by continually removing the
directional road-signs to the town. Bolinas is also home to Smiley's Schooner
Saloon, the oldest, continuously operated saloon (this bar was open even during
Prohibition) in California.
Olema, holding the distinction of being the epicenter of the 1906
San Francisco earthquake and currently the gateway to Point Reyes National
Seashore, was once a roaring pioneering town with seven bars, a racetrack, and
a stagecoach that brought visitors from San Rafael on the weekends. Some of the
old buildings still remain, including the Olema Inn, founded in 1876.
Nicasio is a very small town located between Highway 101 and San
Geronimo Valley. George Lucas, famous producer of "Star Wars," built
Skywalker Ranch nearby as the headquarters for his film operations. Also to be
found in the area a variety of estate homes on many ranches. The rural beauty
of Lucas Valley makes for a pleasant drive for the patrons of popular Rancho
Nicasio, who come from all over Marin to enjoy country dining and dancing.
Inverness, located on the west shore of Tomales Bay, was once a
weekend retreat. Inverness is now home to many year-round residents that
include artists, builders, tradespeople, and professionals who commute to the
city. Although a few homes can be seen from the streets, most are tucked back
among the trees. During the peak whale watching months of late fall to early
spring, the numerous bed and breakfast establishments in and around Inverness
are often full.
Point Reyes Station had its beginnings as a railroad town when the
first train came through on its way to Tomales in 1875. The railroad
disappeared in 1933, and although Point Reyes Station is now the largest town
in West Marin, it is still only three blocks long and a couple of blocks deep.
Within this quiet little town, coffee houses, galleries, bookstores, antique
shops and restaurants lend a cosmopolitan flavor.
Marshall, Tomales, and Dillon Beach are popular tourist stops en
route up the coast to Sonoma County. Marshall, which grew up as a resort
for hunters and fishermen, today is well known for its oyster companies.
Leaving the coast from Marshall and following the path of the long-gone trains,
the road winds into Tomales. With many restored old homes and the steep-roofed
Lady of Assumption church, built in 1860, the Victorian charm of Tomales
beckons. Driving north on Highway One, Dillon Beach is the last town before the
Sonoma County border. The community was named after George Dillon; arriving in
the 1880's, he was the first settler in the area. Today, Dillon Beach is
popular for its wonderful beach, sport fishing, crabbing, and clam digging.
Marin Parklands
www.marinfo.org
National Parks
Point Reyes National Seashore
Bear Valley Visitor's Center
415-663-1092
Point Reyes National seashore, where the land juts out to
meet the ocean, gives visitors a feeling of stepping out to the end of the
earth. Seventy thousand acres of awesome wilderness and graceful beauty include
rich open meadows of wild flowers and windswept hillsides, and rocky coastline
with thunderous surf and hidden beaches. Over 45% of the bird species in North
America have been sighted, and nearly 20% of California's flora is represented
on the peninsula. Bird watching, whale watching, horseback riding, hiking, and
kayaking are favorite activities for both residents and visitors.
Created in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed legislation
to preserve the nation's dwindling undeveloped coastline for future
generations, Point Reyes Seashore is both a natural and historic attraction for
travelers from all over the world.
One hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge, some of the special
places to visit are the Bear Valley Visitor Center, Morgan Horse Ranch, Kule
Loklo Indian Village, Point Reyes Lighthouse, Historic Pierce Point Ranch, Tule
Elk Reserve, and Drakes Beach.
 Muir Woods National Monument
Visitor's Center 415-388-2596
Muir Woods National Monument, located 12 miles north of the Golden Gate
Bridge in the lower slopes of Mount Tamalpais, is one of the Bay Area's last
uncut stands of old-growth redwood trees - some known to be 1,000 years old.
Congressman William Kent donated the land to the Federal Government, insisting
the parcel be named after conservationist John Muir, who called the woods "the
best tree-lovers monument that could be found in all the forests of the world."
John Muir also said, "Saving these woods from the axe and saw, from the money
changers and water changers is in many ways the most notable service to God and
man I have heard of since my forest wanderings began." Cathedral and Bohemian
Grove contain the largest redwoods, the tallest is 252 feet and the thickest is
nearly 14 feet across. Redwood Creek is home to seasonal trout and salmon.
Opens daily at 8:00 a.m. Guided tours are available on weekends.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Information 415-331-1422
The 73,000 acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), one of
the nation's largest urban parks, works with the National Park Service to
preserve wildlife and the natural beauty of this open space for future
generations. The GGNRA's Marin County holdings are characterized by open
terrain, small coves and large beaches, forested ridges and trails that lead to
spectacular vistas. The Marin Headlands at the north shore of the Golden Gate
offers one of the world's most famous views - the San Francisco skyline through
the orange cables of the Golden Gate Bridge. Some of the special places to
visit are the Marin Headlands Visitor Center, Point Bonita Lighthouse,
Headlands Center for the Arts, Marine Mammal Center, Rodeo Beach and Lagoon,
Pacific Energy Resources Center, Miwok Livery, Tennessee Valley, Muir Woods,
Mount Tamalpais, Muir and Stinson Beaches and the Olema Valley.
State Parks
Angel Island State Park
Information 415-435-1915
Angel
Island is a hilly, grass and forest covered island, the largest in San
Francisco Bay. It provides spectacular views of Marin County, San Francisco,
and the Golden Gate, as well as more distant views of the entire Bay Area. In
addition, it is rich in historical significance. For thousands of years, it was
used by Miwok Indians as a fishing and hunting site. For almost 100 years,
stretching from the Civil War to the Cold War, the island housed a variety of
military installations. It also played a major role in the settlement of the
West, serving as the West Coast's equivalent of Ellis Island. Today, trails and
fire roads cris-cross the land, providing easy access to the entire island,
including its many historic sites and breath-taking views. Angel Island can be
reached by commercial ferry service from Tiburon, San Francisco, and Vallejo.
Picnicking, visiting historic sites and buildings, camping, hiking, biking,
fishing, sunbathing, and enjoying an audio tour on a tram ride around the
Island are some of the varied opportunities available to visitors.
 Mount Tamalpais State Park
Information 415-388-2070
Mount Tamalpais (Tamal-pie-us) State Park, located in the heart of
Marin County, is just north of the Golden Gate. With its dramatic combination
of urban and natural scenery, the view from the 2,571' peak is among the most
spectacular of its kind in the world. One can often see the Farallon Islands
some 25 miles out to sea, and occasionally it is possible to look inland,
across the Central Valley to the snow-crested Sierra Nevada, some 200 miles
away.
The well-maintained trails of "Mount Tam" are one of its greatest
attractions. More than fifty miles of trails lie within the park and
connect to an even larger system of trails (200 miles) on adjacent public
lands. Deep canyons filled with solemn redwood groves alternate with
chaparral-covered ridges, grassland, oak woodlands, and other natural
environments. The park features a variety of campgrounds that are open all year
(reservations required).
China Camp State Park
Information 415-456-0766
China
Camp State Park is located on the southwest shore of San Pablo Bay, just three
miles from downtown San Rafael. Visitors usually stop first at the site of the
old village. It is the historical center of the park and offers a variety of
recreational activities. A small museum exhibit is open daily and provides
information on the history of China Camp, which was one of the twenty or thirty
fishing villages that once dotted the shore of San Francisco Bay. The history
of the Chinese and of their culture in California are an integral part of the
park. Several historic structure have been preserved and along with the museum
exhibit, make it easy for visitors to imagine a way of life that has been
generally forgotten in California history.
The 1,512-acre park has a variety of natural scenery and some fine
trails along San Pablo Ridge that feature magnificent panoramic view of the
north bay area including San Pablo Bay, the north bay counties of Napa, Solano,
and Sonoma, the East Bay Hills, Mount Diablo, Angel Island, the San Francisco
Peninsula, and Mount Tamalpais. Acquired by the state in 1977, China Camp State
Park is one of the most undisturbed natural watersheds remaining along the
shores of San Francisco Bay. Hikers, bicyclists and equestrians can travel
trails along inter-tidal, salt marsh, meadow, and oak habitats, and even some
small redwood groves that are home to a variety of wildlife. Camping facilities
and day use picnic areas are also available.
Olompali State Historic Park
Information 415-892-3383
Olompali State Historic Park, located 2-1/2 miles north of the City of
Novato and 35 miles north of San Francisco, is a 700 acre park featuring
several historic buildings, including the Camilo Ynitia Adobe, registered as a
California Historical Landmark and on the National register of Historic Places.
In addition to historic sites and buildings, the park offers beautiful views of
the coast mountain ranges, the Petaluma River basin and San Francisco Bay.
The Coast Miwok inhabited at least one site within the area of the
present-day park continuously since about 500 A.D. By 1300 A.D. it was a major
Miwok trade center. Archaeologists have found tens of thousands of
artifacts within the park area. Perhaps the most spectacular of these
discoveries was an Elizabethan silver sixpence dated 1567, one of the earliest
known artifacts representing contact between European and North American Native
American cultures. Visitors enjoy hiking, picnicking, horseback riding and
touring the historic grounds.
Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Information 415-488-9897
Samuel P. Taylor state Park is located just north of San Francisco in
the steep rolling hills of central Marin. The natural landscape of the
2,882-acre park includes some sharp contrasts. Along the canyon bottoms and up
the north-facing slopes there are cool, shaded, fern-filled groves of coast
redwoods. A wonderful variety of flowers and lush green ground covers thrive in
these groves. On the canyon's dry north side is a more open grassland area
where oak, tanoak, madrone and other hardwoods are the dominant trees.
Black-tailed deer, raccoons, skunks, gray foxes, and a variety of other small
animals are often seen, while badgers and bobcats are seen occasionally. Turkey
vultures, kestrels, red tailed hawks, and other large raptors soar wild and
free over the rolling countryside. Samuel Penfield Taylor arrived in California
in 1849, seeking his fortune in the gold rush. By 1852, he had acquired 6,173
pennyweight of gold dust ($5,691.99 worth) which gave him his start in
California. Taylor entered the lumber business and purchased 100 acres of
timberland along with what is now Papermill Creek within the present state
park. However, Taylor did not go into the logging business. Instead he built a
paper mill with a paper making process that utilized only scrap paper and rags
gathered from San Francisco and other coastal towns. In 1874, when a
narrow-gauge railroad was built through the canyon, Taylor built a resort hotel
beside the new railroad, and opened Camp Taylor, one of the first areas in the
United State to offer outdoor camping as a recreational pursuit. Today the park
offers hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, camping and picnicking
facilities, in addition to the Devil's Gulch Horse Camp.
Tomales Bay State Park
Information 415-669-1140
Tomales Bay State Park is located on the eastern edge of the Point Reyes
Peninsula, forty miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The park is a lush
wilderness of forests, beaches, fields, hills, meadows, and marshes. One of the
finest remaining virgin groves of Bishop pine in California is preserved in the
Jepson Memorial Grove. Four gently sloping beaches on the shore of Tomales Bay
are the primary recreational attraction within the park. Heart's Desire Beach
features piped drinking water, a picnic area with fire places, dressing rooms,
and flush toilets. Picnicking, swimming, hiking, clamming, and boating are
popular activities within the park.
County Parks
Parks &
Open Space...415-499-6387
John F. McInnis Park
Information 415-499-3646
Located
one mile east of Hwy 101 on Smith Ranch Road in San Rafael, this 441 acre park
contains softball fields, soccer fields, a canoe launch, tennis courts, a group
picnic area, and nature trails. This park also includes the McInnis Park Golf
Center boasting a 9-hole course, driving range, miniature golf, batting cages,
clubhouse, pro-shop and restaurant.
Marin Open Space Preserve
Information 415-499-6387
The
more than 25 open space preserves throughout the county offer hiking, biking
and horseback riding opportunities, plus much more. Maps of these areas are
available through the Marin County Open Space District office in San Rafael.
McNears Beach Park
Information 415-499-7816
Located
off North San Pedro Road along the shore of San Pablo Bay, the County's most
popular park offers a swimming pool, tennis courts, family and group picnic
sites, a sandy beach, lawn areas, snack bar, and a 500 foot long fishing pier.
Paradise Beach Park
Information 415-499-3646
Located
on Paradise drive along the east shore of the Tiburon Peninsula, this 19-acre
park offers family and group picnic sites, lawn areas, a horseshoe court, sandy
beach, and a fishing pier. Some boaters anchor out and row ashore to picnic.
Stafford Lake Park
Information 415-897-0618
Situated
on the shore of Stafford Lake, three miles west of Novato, this 139-acre park
offers lake fishing, a nature trail, picnic areas with barbecue facilities for
groups of up to 500 people, a popular children's play structure, lawn areas, a
softball field, volley ball and horseshoe courts.
Civic Center Lagoon Park
Parks & Open Space
415-499-6387
The Marin Civic Center, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright,
serves as a backdrop to this 20-acre informal park. The park offers picnic
areas, children's play structures, and fishing: non-motorized boating is
permitted in the 11-acre lagoon.
Deer Park
Parks & Open Space 415-499-6387
Located
off Porteous Avenue in Fairfax, this 54-acre park provides picnic areas and
nature trails in a natural, wooded setting.
Agate Beach
Parks & Open Space 415-499-6387
Located off Elm Road in Bolinas, this 6.6-acre park provides access to
almost two miles of shoreline at low tide. Together with the adjacent Duxbury
Reef, the site provides a rewarding opportunity to explore tidal pools filled
with marine life (collecting is not permitted).
Tiburon Uplands Nature Preserve
Parks & Open Space
415-499-6387
This 24-acre wooded, upland preserve is located on
Paradise Drive south of Paradise Beach Park. A loop trial allows visitors to
enjoy a variety of native plants and animals, as well as excellent bay views
from the higher elevations.
Black Point Boat Launch
Parks & Open Space
415-499-6387
This one-acre site contains parking and a 2-lane ramp for
boat launching onto the mouth of the Petaluma River.
Miller Park Boat Launch
Parks & Open Space 415-499-6387
Located on Hwy 1 at Tomales Bay, 3 miles north of Marshall, this 6-acre
park provides parking, a 2-lane ramp for boat launching, and excellent fishing
opportunities.
Bolinas Park
Parks & Open Space 415-499-6387
Located on Brighton Avenue in Bolinas, this 2-acre park contains a
tennis court, rest rooms and picnic tables.
White House Pool
Parks & Open Space 415-499-6387
This 24-acre site located on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. one mile west of
Point Reyes Station, provides fishing access to the mouth of Lagunitas Creek as
well as the opportunity to view a variety of birds.
| REAL ESTATE TRIVIA |
| Q |
What house is considered to be the first house with running water in America?
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| A |
John Headly's home built in Newport, RI in 1723, was equipped with an underground pipe from the nearby spring.
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| More Real Estate Trivia |
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