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