| As if the sights and sounds of San Francisco | | | | the place. Tiburon is a four-mile-long |
| weren't enough to keep visitors completely | | | | peninsula that is positioned just across the |
| enthralled, Mother Nature invites you to | | | | bay from the city and, because of that, |
| drive just a few minutes north of the city, | | | | offers some of the most sought-after real |
| across the Golden Gate Bridge and into a | | | | estate in the area. The views of San |
| suburban area that seems like the other side | | | | Francisco Bay, the city and the Golden Gate |
| of the planet from downtown. | | | | Bridge are breathtaking. |
| | | | |
| That's why Marin County is an attractive | | | | Be prepared for slow traffic that last four |
| place to live -- as much as half the acreage | | | | miles going into Tiburon � the two-lane |
| is in open space, so residents enjoy an | | | | highway gets busy in both directions, |
| endless selection of trails and visitas, all | | | | especially in summer when there is apt to be |
| quite clost to home. It's expensive to live | | | | some type of road construction activity. As |
| here, all right, but then how many places | | | | you drive along the peninsula, be sure to |
| offer you a multi-cultural city of | | | | look to the south, where what must be the |
| sophistication on one side of the bridge, and | | | | World's Most Expensive Soccer Field is |
| quiet trails and solitude on the other? If | | | | located on a long swath of view property (all |
| you crave recreation in the Great Outdoors | | | | in the spirit, of course, of Marin County's |
| but drive a Mercedes, you just might be a | | | | love affair with open space). |
| Marin County resident. | | | | |
| | | | The town of Tiburon looks almost like any |
| What's nice is that any of us can stop by and | | | | modern suburban town until you get to the |
| experience -- for a weekend, anyway -- this | | | | edge of downtown where a couple of blocks of |
| lifestyle for ourselves. We took a little | | | | historic buildings and nearby marina give the |
| time to visit the southern part of the | | | | feeling of a New England fishing village. |
| county, setting up our base of operations at | | | | It's apparent this is the place locals go to |
| the San Anselmo Inn, a charming | | | | soak up the views, walk or run the shoreline |
| European-style lodging in Northern | | | | trail or, for the less ambitious, just hunker |
| California's antiquing capital, San Anselmo. | | | | down at one of the dockside outdoor |
| It was easy to drive short distances from | | | | restaurants for drinks and maybe a seafood |
| there to explore many nearby attractions and | | | | lunch. Numerous fishing and tour boats are |
| communities; | | | | tied up at the pier, and a popular day trip |
| | | | is to take the regular ferry service six |
| The San Anselmo Inn is on San Anselmo Avenue, | | | | miles over to Angel Island State Park for an |
| an especially enchanting downtown street that | | | | afternoon of hiking and exploration. |
| gently winds its way through the town's | | | | |
| historic buildings. The streets in this area | | | | Tiburon's historic Main Street is known as |
| are narrow and buildings close together, so | | | | "Ark Row" because of the 1890s houseboat |
| the European feeling extends well beyond the | | | | lifestyle enjoyed by the town's earliest |
| inn itself. On a bright fall weekday, a wide | | | | residents. Today, the arks are gone and the |
| variety of shops and stores � including | | | | bay shopping district includes a number of |
| 130 antique dealers -- welcomed locals and | | | | upscale boutiques as well as the occasional |
| visitors alike. It wasn't a busy atmosphere, | | | | tourist shop. The nearby walking path, with |
| but more a casual, relaxed feel that seemed | | | | its views of the city, is considered one of |
| ideal for the many young mothers and babies | | | | the most romantic spots in Bay area. |
| we noticed enjoying a stroll on this colorful | | | | |
| street. | | | | Another nearby city that's just minutes away |
| | | | from San Anselmo is Larkspur, whose downtown |
| Everything in this small town is within | | | | area is officially listed on the National |
| walking distance of the inn. We would explore | | | | Register of Historic Places. If you want to |
| the town's shops, or hike nearby trails and | | | | see what San Francisco's suburbs looked like |
| then return to our comfortable room at the | | | | at the turn of the century, check out the |
| inn. The innkeepers, Julie and Peter McNair, | | | | town's historical buildings, many of them |
| have taken care to give each room a | | | | Queen Anne Victorians. The historic downtown |
| historical feel befitting their building, | | | | area is west of Highway 101. |
| which was one of the first built in the area | | | | |
| as the new railroad line facilitated the | | | | It's also in this area that you can hop a |
| development of San Anselmo and nearby towns. | | | | ferry to San Francisco. A foot bridge over |
| Our room was spacious for a bed-and-breakfast | | | | the highway will take you to Golden Gate |
| inn and featured a four-poster bed, | | | | Ferry terminal where you can get on a ferry |
| marble-top vanity, antique desk, nightstands | | | | departing for the San Francisco Ferry |
| and cabinets and, in the private bathroom, a | | | | Building. The ferry ride is a great place to |
| Jacuzzi style tub. Breakfast was a special | | | | get photos of such attractions as Mt. |
| treat at the inn � a delightful Spanish | | | | Tamalpais, the Golden Gate Bridge and |
| quiche, lots of fresh muffins and pastries, | | | | picturesque Angel Island. |
| waffles, fruit, juices, cereals and all | | | | |
| served in a pleasant and spacious dining | | | | Nearby San Rafael is a bit larger city � |
| area. | | | | in fact the largest in Marin County. The |
| | | | downtown shopping area offers the stores, |
| After breakfast, it was off to experience | | | | ethnic restaurants, large banks and other |
| some local recreation, and one nearby hike | | | | services that aren't found in the smaller |
| recommended to us was the Phoenix Lake Trail, | | | | towns of Marin. It's the only place in these |
| a 2.8-mile that takes visitors around the | | | | parts where you see high-rise buildings |
| lake through a mixture of oak, bay and | | | | � yet there still is a lot of rich, |
| redwood trees. This trail was easy to find, | | | | Victorian architecture that gives San Rafael |
| but you might have to wait for a parking | | | | a feel all of its own. |
| spot. Local joggers and walkers love the | | | | |
| combination of lush redwood forests, lake | | | | One particular point of interest is the |
| views and wide trails, so the 20-plus parking | | | | authentic re-creation of Mission San Rafael |
| stalls were full-up when we visited about 9 | | | | Arcangel. This was founded in 1817 and today |
| a.m. on a Wednesday. No matter, though � | | | | you can visit a replica of the original |
| we only had to wait about 10 minutes. | | | | mission and tour a museum. Also check out the |
| | | | Marin County Historical Society Museum and |
| Another local point of interest is the San | | | | the Falkirk Cultural Center. |
| Francisco Theological Seminary, which | | | | |
| relocated its school here from San Francisco | | | | AT A GLANCE |
| in 1892. You can't miss the seminary with its | | | | |
| castle-like grand stone buildings standing | | | | WHERE: San Anselmo and other nearby Marin |
| above Ross Valley. | | | | County cities are located just a few miles |
| | | | north of the Golden Gate Bridge. . |
| You'll also find history in the many old-time | | | | |
| buildings downtown, which are part of a | | | | WHAT: These southern Marin County communities |
| self-guided walking tour prepared by local | | | | are a little bit off the beaten path for |
| historians. At the inn, you can pick up a | | | | tourists, but each of the cities and towns |
| copy of a very detailed magazine produced by | | | | offers a distinct character and charm, and |
| the San Anselmo Historical Commission, which | | | | are fun to explore. |
| provides an excellent description, history | | | | |
| and photo of each of the town's major | | | | WHEN: Year-round. Bring warm clothing because |
| historical points of interest. Be sure to | | | | it can get cold in the Bay area, which often |
| check out the Robson-Harrington House and | | | | is compared with SEattle for its sometimes |
| Park, the Carnegie Library and the American | | | | damp climate. Even in the warmest summer |
| Legion Log Cabin. | | | | months, the occasional cold weather can |
| | | | settle in. But often you'll find bright |
| About a 15-minute drive south from San | | | | sunshine. |
| Anselmo took us to one of the other scenic | | | | |
| bedroom communities of Marin County � | | | | WHY: This area north of San Francisco is rich |
| Tiburon. | | | | with history and offers an unusual |
| | | | combination of upscale shopping and dining, |
| If you're looking for scenic vistas of the | | | | along with numerous opportunities for outdoor |
| San Francisco skyline across the bay, this is | | | | recreation. |