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