Corte Madera, Mill Valley and Sausalito California real estate listings, home buying, selling and relocation information

Welcome to Paradise
in Marin County!

Click on the City name for more information!

Marin County is often referred to as the Rivera of California. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, and the San Francisco Bay on the east and south, Marin offers a mild climate and an astounding variety of settings for those fortunate to live here - sea, mountains, farmland, intimate villages, suburbs, and proximity to one of the most treasured cities in the world, San Francisco.

Muir Woods

Marin County is truly one of the most beautiful and irresistible places in the world- you'll feel like you are on vacation all the time. There is a perfect blend of the past and present as you travel throughout the county. From the diversity of our clients’ homes, you can appreciate the wide selection of houses that are available:

A new townhouse in a meadow in East Corte Madera:
A converted 1918 church in Sausalito
A three-story, modern loft in San Rafael
A 16-acre mountain-top estate in the hills of San Anselmo
An aerie under the redwood trees in Mill Valley
A level family home with views of the bay
A renovated farmhouse in San Anselmo (with a creek!)
A beach-front home with a views of San Francisco

Madeline has the reputation of finding you what you want, from the usual to the sublime.

With more than two-dozen small cities, towns, and unincorporated villages spread over 521 square miles, Marin offers many choices. You can enjoy elegant suburban living just a hop from the San Francisco Opera and Symphony, friendly family neighborhoods with the finest schools, or the complete privacy of a home set in quiet forests or fields.

Madeline enjoying
a bike ride

Marin has been a long-time haven for personalities in the arts and music. This history, plus outstanding schools, safe neighborhoods, and a relaxed life style are attracting many entertainers to create a "Hollywood North." The people who are looking for the best are finding it in Marin.

For recreation, get ready to enjoy 250 square miles (48% of the county!)* of parks, open space, and watershed, including the majestic Mount Tamalpais. Water sports, hiking, bike trails, windsurfing, bird watching, and more … take your choice. Travel west a short way to Point Reyes and the Golden Gate National Seashore. Check out Marin Trails - Your Guide to the Great Outdoors in Marin County. You'll be amazed at the natural beauty and the quiet!
* Marin 101, A User's Guide to the County, published by the Marin Independent Journal.

Go north about 30 minutes to the famous wine-growing regions of Sonoma and Napa. It's like having your own version of Tuscany in your back yard!

Madeline hiking
on Mt. Tamalpias

People spend a lifetime exploring Marin County and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area. We hope that you will choose Madeline Schaider Real Estate to help you start your personal adventure in Marin County and beyond.

And, don’t forget, within minutes you can be across the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco, enjoying the arts, theater, world-class dining, and more. Living in Marin is like living in a close suburb of London, Paris, or Rome.

We have supplied you with great links to all of Marin. Connect to the Local Resources Page for more links.

When you travel north from
San Francisco across the Golden Gate
Bridge, you'll pass these cities:

Sausalito

Sausalito Home

World Class view from Sausalito

Marin's southernmost town is often compared to the French Rivera. This small seaside town, with its striking vistas of San Francisco to the south and Mt. Tamalpias to the west, was originally settled by Portuguese and Italian fisherman. Many people have appreciated its splendid setting, with water on three sides: William Randolph Hearst once owned a large property at the south end of town where he intended to build a second San Simeon.

Before the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito was a stopping place for sailing ships to buy firewood and fresh water from its mountain springs. From the beginning it has been a mixture of a good-time town and a private retreat.

Today, Sausalito provides a wide mix of houses, from restored Victorians with world-class views to cozy condos.And, there is a unique community of about 600 houseboats on Richardson Bay that range from funky to spacious and elegant.

Sausalito is a tourist town, but tourists concentrate at the southeast end of the peninsula and rarely go into the adjacent neighborhoods. Most of Sausalito is quiet and residential. Adding variety and charm to the city, there is a Bohemian element descendent from the 60’s and 70’s, when Sausalito was a center of the Beat movement.All the residents of Sausalito seem to appreciate that they are living in a rare location, and they are fiercely proud of their town.

Downtown Sausalito has a ferry terminal for an efficient but addictive commute to the Financial District in San Francisco.

The Best Sausalito Web Site

Access to all official city information. Also provides information on parks, a list of schools, photos, weather, and more.

Favorite Places to Visit

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is at the south end of town. You have beaches and breath-taking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. If you like a moderate walk (some steep uphill on the way home), visit Kirby Cove.
The houseboat community is at the north end of town. You can start at Gate 5 Road and walk down the boardwalks between the boats. The boardwalks are lush gardens most of the year, the houseboats are richly imaginative, and the locals are very friendly.
Bridgeway Street at the south end of town is where the tourists go, for good reason. The views are wonderful, many of the galleries and boutiques are great, and the restaurants are good. This is an outstanding walking area.
Caledonia Street. This is an upcoming shopping area for locals, with good restaurants.
The waterfront and marinas---anywhere in Sausalito.
The Bay Model is an impressive hydraulic model of the San Francisco Bay, simulating tidal flows.

Restaurants

Sushi Ran on Caledonia Street is a world-class Japanese and California restaurant with a massive collection of sake and fine wines. 332-3620
Angelino’s on Bridgeway has classic Italian food. 331-5225
Poggio is a newer, slick Italian-themed restaurant on Bridgeway with good food and charming street-side seating. 332-7771
The Spinnaker, in the marina close to downtown, has one of the best locations in town, jutting far out into the water, but ordinary food. The large bar is a great location to appreciate Sausalito. 332-1500
Fish is a café that sells great seafood plus bait and tackle for the early-morning fisherman leaving the nearby docks. This is an friendly, informal place worth a trip to the north end of town.When you see Molly Stone’s Market, make a right turn and go down to the water. Fish is to your right. 331-FISH
Café Davino is a small café on Caledonia with a truly Italian atmosphere. The food is good and the atmosphere relaxed during the day and party at night. On most Friday nights, you can enjoy the Norris Clement Trio playing excellent jazz. 331-9355
Fuki Sushi on Caledonia Street serves consistent and hearty Japanese food. The owners could not be friendlier.
Kitti’s Place on Bridgeway at the north end of town serves very good and unpretentious Thai food with a California twist. It is best when Kitti is cooking, usually at dinner. 331-0390

Special Occasion Places

Ondine’s at the south end of Bridgeway is a restaurant that opens only for weddings and special parties. With its views and décor, you can’t find a classier place for your party. To learn more, check with Horizon’s Restaurant downstairs. 331-1133
Alta Mira is a refurbished small hotel on the hill above the downtown that specializes in wedding and parties. It is worth checking out.

Hotels

Inn above Tides is tucked away off the main downtown square. Your room hangs over the bay and gives you a direct view of San Francisco and the East Bay. Can’t get much better than this.
Casa Madrona is in the hill above Bridgeway. It has beautiful garden cottage suites and newer hotel rooms with views of the water.
Hotel Sausalito is a small, charming, and renovated hotel on the square in the center of town.

Check our Photo Gallery for great snapshots!

Mill Valley

Redwood Grove

Situated at the foot of Mount Tamalpias – affectionately called the Sleeping Lady and rising 2,700 feet above the town – Mill Valley abounds in charm. The first time we wandered off the freeway and “discovered” Mill valley, we thought we were in a Bavarian village set in a Redwood grove!

There are a great variety of neighborhoods to choose from:

Mountain ridges with views of the Bay and San Francisco
Forested canyons with seasonal streams
Level streets within walking distance of the town square

The downtown area is situated between two creeks, and because the fog rolls in from Richardson Bay, the town is pleasantly cooler in the summer than many parts of Marin. It is a short drive or hike to Muir Beach and Tennessee Valley Beach. A 10-minute drive up out of town takes you onto Mt. Tamalpais with a great diversity of hiking trails and recreational areas. If you are a runner or hiker, you can take the spectacular Dipsea Trail from downtown Mill Valley over the mountain to Stinson Beak (and back?). It would take you years to see all of Mt. Tam---and a lifetime of enjoyment!

Mill Valley's film festival is one of the most prestigious in the country, and people travel from all over the world to attend. More on the Mill Valley Film Festival. And the Mill Valley Arts Festival , happening every September in the redwood grove of Old Mill Park, is a top notch place to see the best in County arts and crafts. Perhaps the best known of Mill Valley Happenings is the Mountain Play, held every May in an open amphitheater on Mt Tam. This year's play is Oklahoma!

The Best Mill Valley Web Sites

Access to all Mill Valley City Info: Parks, schools, city news, and happenings
More Mill Valley Info: may not always be up-to-date !
About Mill Valley Schools.Everything you need to know about where to register your student and what school serves your neighborhood.
Chamber of Commerce news.
Community Activities.

Favorite Places

Whole Foods Market, 414 Miller Ave, a wonderful place to shop.
The Depot, 87 Throckmorton , great bookstore and coffee shop. The best people watching patio around. 383-2665
Gourmet Garden To Go, 419 Miller Avenue, has the fanciest and tastiest take-out gourmet food. Each day they offer 8 different Mediterrean entrees plus everything from soups to salads to desserts and home-baked breads. 381-4267.
Pete’s Coffee, 88 Throckmorton, the usual good cup of java. 381-8227
142 Throckmorton Theater, Tuesday Comedy Nights, 8 pm. 383-9600
SweetWater, 153 Throckmorton, the best all-round nightclub in Marin. 388-2820.
Mill Valley Market,, fresh flowers, fresh food, a great market.
Robert Greene Fine Arts, 154 Throckmorton, is one of the best little galleries in Marin. 381.8776
Green Jeans Garden Supply, 690 Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley, high quality plants and unusual selections.(415) 389-8333.

Restaurants

Frantoio, 152 Shoreline Highway (in Howard Johnson's) serves great Italian food. 289-5777.
The Buckeye, 15 Shoreline Highway, is a traditional roadhouse gathering place with great food. 331-2600.
Vasco's, 106 Thockmorton, serves reasonable Italian food. No Reservations.381-3343.
Pizza D'Angelo, 22 Miller Ave, has a great hang-out bar, average food but a happening place. 388-2000.
Stefanio's Pizzaria, 8 East Blithedale, serves great pizza. 383-9666.
High Tech Burrito, 118 Strawberry Village, serves tasty Mexican fare.388-7002.

Special Occasion Places

El Paseo Restaurant, 17 Throckmorton, is a long-standing Mill Valley tradition of good food and cozy European elegance. There is also a separate room for private cocktail parties. 388-0741.

Hotels

Mill Valley Inn, 165 Throckmorton, is a lovely place to stay.
The Mountain Home Inn, 810 Panoramic Highway, is a romantic place to stay near Mt. Tam hiking trails or just for a wonderful meal and great views.

Check out our Photo Gallery for great Mill Valley shapshots!

Belvedere and Tiburon

Tiburon Peninsula

With over 17 miles of continuous shoreline and two islands, Tiburon and Belvedere residents usually have one eye on the water. If you are looking for a home with a water view, the Tiburon peninsula is one of the most luxurious places to live in Marin. Belvedere and Corinthian Islands provide world-class elegance with intimate views of San Francisco. This is where well-to-do San Franciscans built their country retreats in the late 19 and early 20^th centuries. Each home seems more charming and elegant than the last.

The Tiburon Hills supply the best in modern living with superb views of the water, San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Tam, and all of Marin. The Belvedere Lagoon, connecting Tiburon and Belvedere Island, is a serene and sunny water setting for many elegant homes---it is like beach front without the waves. In downtown Tiburon, once home to massive railroad yard that was a departure point for San Francisco, the main streets are lined with charming old store fronts, cabin houses from old sailing ships, and fine restaurants. It is common for residents to take a quiet stroll downtown to listen to the foghorns and enjoy the views.

From the ferry dock in downtown Tiburon you can commute to work in San Francisco or take a day trip to Angel Island State Park. The Tiburon-Angel Island Ferry serves Angel Island. The Blue and Gold Fleet connects Tiburon to downtown San Francisco.

Best of Belvedere and Tiburon Web Sites

Access to City information: parks, city business, events.
A free newsletter about the Tiburon area.
Tiburon's Chamber of Commerce. Tiburon's International Film Festival.

Favorite Places

Blackie's Pasture is at the sharp turn in Tiburon Blvd. You can't miss it on your trip from Highway 101 to downtown. Named after the horse that grazed here in retirement for many years, the pasture is the start of a magical bayside walk that takes you to downtown. You’’ have views of Sausalito, Richardson Bay, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge. There is no better level walk in Marin.
The Arc Row Shops are at the end of Main Street, Go right at the old bank building and they are on your right. This delightful collection of shops includes the unusual Baobab Gallery selling direct imports from Zimbabwe.
The waterfront promenade from Main Street along Paradise Drive to the west is short but spectacular. This walk passes the area that was once the bustling railyard that at the end of the Marin line. From here, ferryboats took the rail cars across to San Francisco.
Angel Island Ferry leases from the dock in front of Guaymas Restaurant at the end of Main Street. Angel Island is a good day trip for hiking or cycling.

For more highlights of Tiburon, go to the Sam’s Anchor Café web site. It gives you a good architectural tour of old Tiburon, plus the best attractions.

Restaurants

Sam’s Anchor Café is a wonderful place to dine casually over the water with views of the boats, Belvedere Island, and San Francisco. The food is good and the service is friendly. The deck can be hot when the sun is out and cool when it is not, but it is hard to complain . There is also plenty of indoor dining with a view and an old-fashioned bar.
Guaymas on the corner of Main Street provides great views and upscale Mexican food. The drinks are good but the food is uneven; the view and atmosphere are great. They serve outstanding salsa with their chips.
Sweet Things is a great bakery in the Cove Shopping Center, about a third of the way from Highway 101 to downtown Tiburon. 383-8583
Let’s Eat, next to Sweet Things in the Cove Shopping Center, has excellent take-out food. A friend recommends their couscous, grilled eggplant, turkey salad and more.
383-3663
Sweden House Café Bakery on Main Street has a small waterfront deck that is a good hangout on a sunny day. You'll find many Europeans there. 435-9767
Servino’s on the waterfront has live music at night. This is a good place for drinks and snacks in a sophisticated atmosphere. The food is uneven. 435-2676

Special Occasion Places

Caprice Restaurant on Paradise Drive, just a short walk to the east from Main Street, has wonderful views, a quiet, refined atmosphere and, good food. 435-3400
Old St. Hilary’s Church – 1888, a deconsecrated church building owned and maintained by the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society , may be reserved for any appropriate function such as weddings, name day celebrations, memorial services, concerts and recitals. You can see the church un the hill above the downtown.
The China Cabin on Beach Road in Belvedere (a short walk west of downtown Tiburon) was the Social Saloon of the SS CHINA (1866) beached on Belvedere Cove in 1886. The gilded and well restored Victorian drawing room was salvaged before the sidewheeler was burned for scrap metal. It is open to the public on Wednesday and Sunday from 1 to 4 pm, April through October. You can rent this waterfront cabin from the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society for special gatherings.

Hotel

Waters Edge Hotel on Main Street is an elegant retreat on Main Street with stunning views of San Francisco across the water. If you want to do Tiburon in style, this is the place to stay.

Check out Belvedere and Tiburon in out Photo Gallery.

CENTRAL MARIN COUNTY

Greenbrae

Sleeping Lady - Symbol of Marin

Greenbrae is a relative newcomer to central Marin County. This 75 acres of landnorth of Sir Frances Drake Boulevardwas annexed, in part, to Larkspur in 1949. The rest of Greenbrae is part of the unincorporated community Kentfield. Large homes were developed in the 40's to grace wooded streets that wind through gentle hills. A minority of the Greenbra homes are on the level streets close to Sir Frances Darke. Most of the homes climb the hill to the north, enjoying panoramic views of the North Bay, East Bay, and Mt. Tamalpais.There is renaissance in the Greenbrae hills as owners remodel and modernize these solidly built homes.

Situated just minutes from Highway 101, the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, and the Richmond-San Rafael bridge, Greenbrae (along with the Twin Cities of Larkspur and Corte Madera) is an ideal location for commuters.

Along Sir Francis Drake Blvd. is the Bon Air Shopping Center offering cafes, an excellent grocery store, specialty boutiques, services, and businesses. Further to he east along Sir Frances Drake is the Larkspur Landing Shopping Center, with popular, bustling restaurants and a variety of shops.

The Larkspur portion of Greenbrae sends its children to Larkspur-Corte Madera schools. The Kentfield portion uses the Kentfield elementary schools; both districts have excellent reputations.

With great weather and excellent schools, Greenbrae may be the perfect location for your next home.

Best Greenbrae Web Sites

Greenbrae community news
Local schools
Schools foundation

Favorite Places (in development...)

     Bon Air Center is the central meeting place for this area and a great diversified group of shops, eateries, and hang-outs. The following are our favorites:

         Victoria Pastry sells the most luscious bake goods...
         Z Cafe serves wonderful salads, crepes, and all sorts of fresh foods...461-9444
         Starbucks, wonderful coffees as ever...461-2695
         Mollie Stones, one of the best markets in a County of great markets....
         Noah's Bagels....925-9971
         Jamba Juice offers a wide array of juices and drinks, our favorite being the orange.
         Arch Rival carries a great selection of athletic shoes and has a very knowlegable staff..

Corte Madera

Corte Madera is located in the heart of Marin County and stretches from bayside to airy ridge-tops on Mount Tamalpais. Named in Spanish "cut wood," Corte Madera, like other towns in Marin, supplied redwood lumber to build San Francisco homes.

As you enter west Corte Madera, you’ll find older, ranch-style homes--many on beautiful lagoons that are fed from Mount Tam and the Bay via the Corte Madera Creek. A little farther west is a neighborhood of California cottages, Victorian homes, and hillside homes with views of the Bay. The Old Town Square, where Madeline Schaider Real Estate is located, sits at the foot of Mt. Tamalpias. The square is built at the site of the former Corte Madera train stop.Climbing the slope of Mt. Tam on the west side of the square is Christmas Tree Hill with its narrow winding streets and diverse and interesting houses with water views. At the top of the hill, trails lead hikers to the open expanse of Mt. Tam.

Bayside (east) Corte Madera enjoys protected marshlands, the Ring Mountain Nature Preserve, and proximity to the Tiburon peninsula. Madeline lives in East Corte Madera and has become the number-one real estate expert in this area.

Like most of Marin, bayside Corte Madera has a mixture of level land and hills. The bayside houses on level land are older ranch-style homes, some with bay frontage and wonderful views to the east and south. Dividing Corte Madera from Mill Valley and Tiburon is Ring Mountain with its protected Nature Preserve. On the edges of Ring Mountain are many curving, climbing streets with nautical names and often spectacular views of the Bay, the Easy Bay cities, and Mt. Tamalpais. Since bayside Corte Madera was “discovered” a few years ago, many homeowners have modernized and upgraded these older homes.

Bayside boasts two new, modern housing developments built in the past fifteen years, Meadowcreek Station and Madera del Presidio. These provide a wide diversity of single-family homes and condos in a beautiful setting at the edge of Ring Mountain.

Best Corte Madera Web Sites

Town of Corte Madera

Corte Madera Chamber of Commerce
Corte Madera Town Band
Corte Madera History
Friends of Corte Madera Creek

Favorite PlacesFor shopping and eating, the Town Center, on the west side of Highway 101, contains a wonderful mix of local businesses. These are among our favorite stops:

A. G. Ferrari a real Italian deli with a staff that knows about Italian food and wine.
Bryan’s Fine Foods provids a high quality, full service meat and fish department, great take out food, and more.
Columbine provides a classy collection of home accessories, including bed linens, dinnerware, glassware, candles, and more.
The Home Chef is a friendly and well stocked store for cookware and kitchen equipment. They also give cooking classes. 927-3290
Meadowlark Gallery has beatiful jewelry and decorative home items. If you want a fine gift, you can probably find it here.
Featherbed & Bath is the finest bed and bath shop in Marin. They have great linens, towels, and accessories. 924-2244
Pier 1 Imports is a shopper’s dream.

The Village at Corte Madera provides a large number of standard shopping mall stores such as the Gap, Macy’s and Nordstrom’s department stores, Sharper Image, and Williams-Sonoma (for kitchen and dining ware). This is a major shopping destination for all of Marin. Check their web site for a complete list of stores.

Other Areas of Corte Madera

Ricks Wine Cellar is the best wine bar in Marin with daily (except Monday) wine tasting, and wine sales. The wines are carefully selected from choice small wineries in California. The atmosphere is extra friendly, thanks to the owners Rich and Candy. This place can become a good habit. Rick’s is on the Old Town Square at the top of Tamalpais Drive.
The Book Passage is a real neighborhood bookstore with discriminating taste and a constant program of lectures by authors, some very well known, and classes.
Paradise Foods on Paradise Drive is a fine, high-end grocery store with a great take-out deli. (415) 945-8855.
Passion Flowers on the Old Town Square is great for sophisticated flower arrangements. They are cutting-edge in their designs. They furnish flowers for weddings and parties. (415) 927-3983
Tamalpais Paint on the Old Town Square carries the best products and provides excellent service. There is no sense going anywhere else to save a few dollars on a can of paint. They also have a great wallpaper department. (415) 924-7321
The Best of World Cinema is one of the best video rental places around. They carry a complete line of new and old tapes and CDs, well organized.

Health Clubs
Corte Madera is the home of three outstanding heath clubs and gyms:

The Bay Club Marin in the Town Center is an upscale club with a large variety of facilities. 945-3000
Gold’s Gym at the Lucky Drive exit from Highway 101 is the site of the former skating rink. It is a good, down-to-earth exercise club with a large following. 924-4653
The World Gym in east Corte Madera, in the Paradise Shopping Center, is a serious place for exercise, with a staggering array of machinery and weights. 927-9494

Restaurants

Marin Joe's on the freeway frontage road in west Corte Madera is in the tradition of San Francisco’s neighbor “Joe’s” restaurants. Always busy, and reliably middle-American in atmosphere, it a great place for grilled and braised meats and grilled fish. Avoid the pastas and salads. The waiters have been there forever and are a treat. 924-2081
Benissimo on the Old Town Square is a pleasant neighborhood Italian restaurant and bar.
Stefano’s Pizza on the Old Town Square is a hangout for teenagers and a destination for hungry working folks on their way home. The pizza is quite good, but you should order a fresh-baked pizza rather than a slice of pizza. 415-924-9666
California Pizza Kitchen in the Town Center is a popular, busy, and noisy place. Their thin crust pizza is great for take out, especially if you ask them to slightly over bake it. 415-945-0401

Special Occasion Paces

Stellar Spa, located in the former horse barn on the Old Town Square, is an upscale provider of beauty treatments and massages.

Check out Corte Madera in our Photo Gallery!

Corte Madera is proud of its great schools, in the top percentile nationally. Click here for more information on Marin's excellent schools!

Meadowcreek Station
See the Meadowcreek page for
information on homes in this desirable
Central Marin neighborhood.

Larkspur

Magical Larkspur, nestled at the eastern edge of Mount Tamalpias, enjoys the finest weather in Marin County. The wooden canyons were once favorite hunting grounds of Spanish settlers, for bears, wild cats, and so on. In the late 19th century, subdivisions offered ideal sites for vacation homes, plus homes for permanent residents.

In the last 15 years, homebuyers have discovered quiet, sunny Larkspur homes with diverse architectures, including log cabins, Victorians, Spanish, mission-style, New England, Tudor, and modern. Settings range from deep canyons lined with Redwood, Bay, and Madrone trees (on the west side of Magnolia Ave.) to level creek-side settings on the east side of Magnolia. Thirty years ago, Larkspur was the poor man’s Mill Valley; now it is equal in lifestyle and property values.

Larkspur is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, featuring a small downtown with charming, historic shops, homes, and landmarks. See the historic walking tour on the Internet. Stroll down Magnolia Avenue and enjoy dining in world-renowned restaurants, shopping in high-quality specialty stores, or a latte in one an intimate coffeehouse. The Lark Theater, a late art deco movie house in the heart of town is under restoration, adding to the charm of Magnolia Ave.

The meandering town limits of Larkspur take include part of Greenbrea to the and the Larkspur Ferry terminal to the east---for luxurious commuting to San Francisco---and the Larkspur Landing Shopping Center with bustling restaurants.

Baseball fans: Special service from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal delivers you directly to SBC Park for Giants home games.

Larkspur offers a wide variety of activities from hiking on the winding trails of Mt. Tamalpias, windsurfing in the bay, tennis, or swimming at a convenient club.

Best Larkspur Web Sites

Larkspur Chamber of Commerce
City data
Larkspur Historical Society
Larspur events
Larkspur Ferry

Favorite Places

If you love to shop in a small old-fashioned hardware and home-supply shop, visit Jim Corbet's Ace Hardware. It’s fun just to look around and, although small, it’s well-stocked with your hardware needs.1155 Magnolia Avenue. 415- 461-5330
Joanie's on Magnolia has been creating elegant coiffers for the heads of Marin since 1982. Situated in the old train station in downtown Larkspur, it's easy to find. While you have your hair done, you can hear all the local news - Joanie is the president of Larkspur's Merchants Association. 924-3808.
Pearl at 1020 Magnolia Ave offers high-end women’s clothing. 415-464-1808.
The old Lark Theater has been renovated with comfortable seating. It screens independent and art films. 924-5111.
The Silver Peso, right downtown, is one of the oldest, funky neighborhood bars in Marin, complete the pool tables and shuffleboard. It’s a good place to meet long-time Marinites. 924-3448.

Restaurants

Ambrosia's Pizzeria is an informal, old-time Italain restaurant, located in a strip mall at the north end of Larkspur.People make this a weekly destination. (415) 925-9292
Emporio Rulli is the best for people watching and to taste the sweetness of Italy – an authentic Italian pastry shop--offering coffee, gelato, wines, Italian foods, and interesting kitchen pottery. Good selection of Italian wines.
Lark Creek Inn is in a Victorian building among the redwoods at 234 Magnolia Avenue. The lovliest dining is on the patio on a warm afternoon. The food is good but not consistent– go there for the atmosphere. 415- 924-7767
Left Bank has French cuisine grandmere. The food is inconsistent, but the atmosphere is good and the happy hour, weekdays from 4-6, has some great deals in food and wine. (415) 927-3331
Ristorante Fabrizio is, without a doubt, one of the best Italian Restaurants in Marin. It is open for lunch and dinner. If you can dine outside on a warm day, you'll be in Italy. 455 Magnolia Ave. 415-924-3332
Tabla Cafe is hidden away at 1167 Magnolia Ave., just to the right of Corbett's Hardware (corner Estelle St.). The food is exceptional: fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and light. They are open for lunch and dinner till 7:30. 415-461-6787.

A Larkspur photo gallery
( in development: visit again soon.)

San Rafael

Frank Lloyd Wright's Civic Center

San Rafael, the largest city in Marin, boasts the northernmost of the California Missions, founded by the Franciscan Fathers in 1817. Just five miles from Corte Madera, San Rafael was featured in George Lucas's film, American Graffiti; residents can still enjoy a cruise down "the Miracle Mile."

At first appearance, San Rafael is an all-American town. Fourth Street, the main thoroughfare, has many fine restaurants and the recently restored Rafael theater, which co-hosts the famous Mill Valley Film Festival. When you get to know central San Rafael, you'll find many beautiful family neighborhoods with Victorian and Mediterranean-style homes. Gerstle Park, for example, close to downtown San Rafael, is the most attractive Victorian neighborhood in Marin.

South San Rafael

The freeway corridor in southern San Rafael contains the industrial and valuable shopping area of Marin with auto dealers, body shops, plumbing supply shops, excellent hardware stores, and more. In addition, there are two modern strip malls with a variety of shops. On the bayside of San Rafael are Home Depot, Circuit City, UPS, FedEx and other valuable service providers.

Tucked away in south San Rafael are unexpected neighborhoods that are rural and private. Our favorite is the Bret Harte area on the hill that separates San Rafael from Greenbrea.Heavily wooded streets without sidewalks have a variety of homes with wonderful views of San Rafael and the bay.

East San Rafael

Just east (and north) of downtown San Rafael is the Dominican area (adjacent to the lovely campus of Dominican University) with world-class mansions on quiet, wooded streets. Further to the east is Point San Pedro Road, which winds past rolling hills of elegant older homes (the Country Club area), and the Peacock Gap area with roomy ranch-style homes on large lots, many with bay views.

At the east end of Point San Pedro Road, you’ll reach NcNear’s Beach looking east acreoss the bay and China Camp State Park, an expansive park that was once the site of a Chinese settlement and shrimp fishing enterprise.

North San Rafael

The famous Marin County Civic Center, designed by architect, Frank Lloyd Wright spans three small hills in northeast San Rafael. Completed in 1961, this building is considered Wright’s last masterpiece. The citizens of Marin provided overwhelming support to build this adventurous project, in the face of disruptive political forces that would have blocked it, and are still proud of this building. It is worth a visit.

On Sundays and Thursdays, the Civic center parking lots host the largest Farmer’s Market in Marin, with vendors from all over northern California. For more information, see

To the north of the downtown, San Rafael sprawls to east of the freeway to Santa Venetia. This quiet neighborhood along the Gallinas creek has modest, older cottages and a variety of town homes and condos.

Much of northeast San Rafael is set aside for extensive parks that add to its natural beauty: San Pedro Mountain Preserve, Barbier Memorial Park, China Canp Sttae Park, and McInnis County Park.

The Terra Linda And Marinwood neighborhoods in northwest San Rafael are comprised of a large number of ranch-style homes and condos set along friendly streets. Classic Eichler homes are again fashionable because of their open, classic California floor plans and their setting against the beautiful oak-covered hills.

Lucas Valley Road through Marinwood leads to yet another unique setting in Marin.On its long course westward to Nicasio, Lucas Valley Road travels through wooded canyons and grassy hills that are typical of rural, coastal areas of Northern California. Once extensive ranchland, there are now scattered homes, ranches, and the Skywalker Ranch of filmmaker George Lucas. This is truly beautiful country.

Like northest San Rafael, the northwest sector preserves its natural beauty with extensive parklands: the Terra Linda-Sleepy Hollow Preserve, the Pacheco Valley Preserve, the Lucas Valley Preserve, and the Ignacio Valley Preserve.

There are more residential neighborhoods in San Rafael than we can easily describe. Whether you want a condo or an estate with views to the water, San Rafael provides an amazing diversity of choices.

Best San Rafael Web Sites

City information including parks, schools, city meetings.
Chamber of Commerce
Farmer’s Market
Mission history
City data
Police department
Chamber of Commerce

Restaurants

Il Davide, Italian trattoria with nice atmosophere. 901 A Street, 454-8080
Italian trattoria, with nice atmosophere.
La Toscana, Joe's-type Italian, one notch better. 3751 Redwood Hwy, 492-9100.
Seafood Peddler, Great seafood dishes plus fresh seafood counter to buy and take home. 100 Yacht Club Drive, 460-6669.
Sol Food Real Puerto Rican thing, very small, best to take out. 732 Fourth St, 902-7816.

Recommendations

Window Accents, Inc Huge selection, friendly service. 836 W Francisco, 459-7838.
Electrics Lighting and Designs High-end lighting fixtures. 530 W Francisco, 258-9996.
McPhails High-end kitchen aplliances. 530 W Francisco, 453-6070.
Bay Area Built-Ins High-end kitchen appliances.1345 E Francisco, 457-2226.
Home Consignment Center Good turnover in furniture, great jewelry department. 863 E. Francisco, 456-2765.
Walton Saw Works Knife and tool sharpening. 437 Du Bois, 456-6320.
Whole Foods Market. Fresh produce, best in meat and fish. 430 Third St, 451-6333.
Trader Joe's Great prices. 335 Third St, 454-9530.
Sloat Garden Center Great selection. 1580 Lincoln, 453-3977.
Falkirk Cultural Center, Wonderful historic mansion and great art shows.1408 Mission, 485-3228.

Hotels

Panama Hotel Very cozy, wonderfully decorated. 4 Bayview Street, 457-3993.
Gerstle Park Inn Small beautiful place to stay. 34 Grove Stree, 721-7611.

Also see our Calendar of Events at the end of this section!

San Anselmo

View of Downtown & the Seminary

Toward the west end of the Ross Valley, San Anselmo is the place to shop for antiques and dine in informal street-front restaurants and cafes. Many of the locals enjoy strolling to the downtown area. A shady town with many mature trees, San Anselmo has a diversity of home styles, from California bungalow to Mediterranean. San Anselmo is the home of the San Francisco Theological Seminary with its beautiful stone towers and buildings, overlooking the downtown.

The Hub at the center of town is the major intersection of Sir Frances Drake Blvd. and Red Hill Ave that connects San Anselmo to downtown San Rafael. This the primary commute route to Fairfax and West Marin. Near the Hub are many shops and services, including two large supermarkets.

The flatlands of San Anselmo are distinctly charming, with a mix of California cottages and beautiful gardens. The hills surrounding the downtown and to the west provide a wide variety of homes from early 20^th century houses to warm contemporary homes with sweeping views.

At the western limits of San Anselmo is the Brookside neighborhood with its charming Mediterranean-style cottages and the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood with large and elegant ranch-style homes on large lots.

San Anselmo weather is warmer than towns to the south, but moderated by ocean fogs.San Anselmo is a family town with excellent schools.

Best San Anselmo Web Sites

City site
Community News
Chanber of Commerce

Favorite Places

Restaurants

Comforts- great reputation for interesting take-out. 355 San Anselmo Ave. Catering 454-9842.
Cucina -best Italian food in Marin. Interesting dishes and friendly service. 510 San Anselmo Ave. 454-2942
Debbie Does Dessert - beautiful cakes and tarts. Great lunch dishes. 556 San Anselmo Ave. 721-2901.
Insalata's - superb food, always fresh and bright with a Middle Eastern bent. 120 Sir Francis Drake. 457-7700.
Fork - excels in French-inspired dishes, small servering, but tasty. 198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. 453-9898.
Orchid Thai - always our favorite Thai restaurant in Marin, and, it seems to be getting better! 726 San Anselmo Ave. 457-9470.

Also. . .
Andronico's Market - incredibly fresh produce, slightly expensive, but great market. 100 Center Blvd. 455-8186.
Sunnyside Nursery - very helpful neighborhood nursery with and interesting selection of plants. Excellent house plants. They have a twice-yearly sale at their growing grounds in Fairfax. 130 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
San Anselmo, the center for County antiquing, has too many antique shops to mention, mostly around the Hub. Park your car and explore. They're all great.

Hotels
San Anselmo Inn - a new and good place to stay in downtown San Anselmo.

Check out our Photo Gallery, located at the end of the Local Info Menu, for views of San Anselmo!

Novato

Historic Landmark in Novato

Novato, Marin's latest addition and the northern-most city, sprawls along the Highway 101 corridor. Graceful oak-studded hills separate Novato from the cooler coastal climate of West Marin. Summer daytime temperatures are the highest in Marin, but the cool coastal influence penetrates inland late afternoons and evenings.

With over 90 housing subdivisions, it is the fastest growing community in Marin and covers over 70 square miles. The recent conversion of Hamilton Air Force Base into a bayside community of new homes and the construction of the Pointe Marin subdivisions in southern Novato (Ignacio) have added a large number of spacious, contemporary homes.Novato provides the best housing values in Marin. The tradeoff may be a significantly longer commute to San Francisco.However, Novato is just minutes from the wine country in Sonoma and Napa Counties!

Downtown Novato provides charming bungalows and condo developments. To the west are widely separated, older homes in what was once ranch and farm land. You’ll see many horses in this neighborhood. Further west are canyon and hilltop homes, some with views all the way to San Francisco.

The Ignacio neighborhood in South Novato includes the Marin Country Club, with substantial older homes on wide streets along the golf course and hillside homes with wide views of the hills, bay, and mountains. The new Pointe Marin development along Ignacio Blvd. provides a wide range of well-built homes on level lots.

To the bayside of the freeway in south Novato is the unique Bel Marin Keys community, built into the bay and providing lagoons or open bay in front of every house. This is the place to have a boat or simply enjoy the sunshine and views across the water.

Northwestern Novato blends into the rolling oak-covered hills of the Mt. Burdell Preserve. In the San Marin neighborhood extensive tracts of mostly single-family homes built in the ’60 and later line the streets. To the east of the freeway, the terrain changes dramatically with fewer homes dotting the hills above the extensive marshes along the bay. This is a quiet area with horses and open space.

Best Novato Web Sites

City information
Local newspaper
City data
Chamber of Commerce
Unified School District
Fire Protection
Sanitary district
Novato Mother’s Club
Downtown revitalization project
Golf courses

(The following links are being developed. Please visit again soon.)
Favorite Places

Restaurants

Special Occasion Places

Hotels

A Novato Photo Gallery

Calendar of Yearly Events in Marin (in development: visit again soon.)

April
Opening Day on the Bay is an 86-year tradition to designate the opening of the boating season and involving 95 Bay Area yacht clubs. The event begins with a noon parade along San Francisco's waterfront. The center of Marine's activities is Turburon. You'll find the deck at Sam's Cafe packed with visitors.

May
   Marin Open Studios is a chance to buy some of the best in local arts and crafts. It runs for two consecutive weekends.
   The Mountain Play, held in an open amphitheater on the slopes of Mt. Tam, is world-renowned. This year's show is Oklahoma!
   Marin's Greek Festival in Novato offers samplings of Greek foods along with a bouzouki band, import booths, dancing and children's arts.
   The largest fund-raiser of the year for nonprofit groups is the Marin Human Race. Hundreads of families participate in this run-walk affair.
The Classic Car Parade in San Rafael is a memory lane of old cars. Fourth Stree is shut down and a street dance party brings out thousands of revelers.
May has long been the month for the Mountain Play, held in the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre amid the trees of Mount Tamalpais. Past productions include "West Side Story", "Fiddler on the Roof", and this past year, "My Fair Lady".
   Sausalito's Caledonia Street Fair brings approximately 50 chili chefs to offer their creations and 20 microbreweries have samples on hand to wash it all down. There's also an entertainment area for children.
In May the Shakespeare at Stinson performances begin and last through October. The outdoor stage is set just yards from the ocean so that the dusk performances are a magical occasion.

June
The world-famous Dipsea 7.1 mile cross country foot race from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach.
The Fairfax Festival kicks off with a parade in the morning and leads into a weekend of arts, crafts, food and music.
   The Flower and Food Festival in old town Larkspur shuts down traffic on Magnolia Ave and brings out all sorts of crafts, foods, music and entertainment.
   San Rafael's Italian Street Painting Festival takes place at Fifth and A streets in San Rafael where 400 professional and student street painters come together to celebrate the 16th century art form. Live music, Italian cuisine, wine tasting, and a children's area are featured.
   The Marin Arts Festival at Lagoon Park in the Civic Center Complex has some 200 participating artists, also music and dining on the lawn.
   The Home Show and Benefit Jazz Fest includes some 300 home improvement exhibits at the county fairgrounds with jazz performances, all benefitting the school music program.
    Oganized by the folks at Mill Valley Market, the Mill Valley Wine and Gourmet Food Tasting is held in Lytton Square in downtown Mill Valley.
    Nostalgia Days in Novato is a gathering of clasic cars on Novato's Grant Avenue as well as a sock hop. Also in June, Novato's Festival of Art, Wine and Music showcases
more than 225 artists and craftspeople in Old Town Novato.
    San Anselmo's Art & Design Festival, on San Anselmo Ave. between Bolinas and Tamalpais is where fine arts and crafts, good food and wine, and approximately 130 antique dealers converge. Town Hall has arts and crafts activities for children.
    Downtown Point Reyes is the site of Western Weekend, a showcase of the West Marin Junior Livestock Show, including dancing, and barbecues.

July
Fourth of July Celebrations
The Twin Cities (Corte Madera and Larkspur) Fourth of July Celebration commences with a parade which starts at Redwood High School and ends at Corte Madera Town Park where arts and crafts vendors display their ware. Other cities also having celebrations are Novato, Sausalito, Inverness, Woodacre and Bolinas.
   The Marin County Fair, held at the Civic Center Complex, is the biggest summer event with rides food, entertainment, fireworks, films, and arts and crafts exhibits.
   July through September the Marin Shakespeare Company performs at Forest Meadows Amphitheater on the Dominican University grounds in San Rafael. Call 499-1108.

September
   The Marin Designer's Showcase highlights the work of more than 50 local designers in a Marin mansion. The event benefits volunteer agencies.
    Held over Labor Day Weekend, Sausalito's annual Art Festival showcases 270 juried artists who display more than 20,000 original works, with proceeds benefitting a number of nonprofit organizations. Sixteen different categories of art and crafts are represented, as well as top-notch musical entertainment.
    The Marin Museum of the American Indian holds its annual Trade Feast Festival every September. Visitors are invited to taste Native American food, watch dancers from tribes in California and the Plains states, and learn about the Native American culture. It is held at Novato's Miwok Park.

October
The Mill Valley Arts Festival shows the artwork of about 120 selected artists displayed among the redwoods in Old Mill Park. The festival is widely known for its excellence. Music and food also.
The Mill Valley Film Festival is one of the biggest little film festivals in the country, showing American and international film. Films are screened at Mill Valley's Sequoia Twin Theaters and San Rafael's Film Center.
The annual Ski Swap, held in October at the Marin Center adjacent to the Civic Center, is a great opportunity to buy or trade ski and snowboarding equipment and apparrel.
For more than a century, Sunny Hills Children's Garden Grape Festival has delighted folks with gourmet food, wine, and entertainment, while raising money for Sunny Hills.

November
   The Latino Film Festival screens cinema from all over the Latino world and attracts filmakers, actors and film enthusiasts from around the world. It screens at the Rafael Film Center in San Rafael and at the Lark Theater in old town Larkspur.

December
   San Rafael's Open Studios

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