Our Neighborhood

Mill Valley is a San Francisco Bay Area destination beloved for its charm, natural beauty, arts, cultural events, and outdoor recreation. Located in Marin County , just north of San Francisco , Mill Valley is surrounded by beautiful national parks, San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean . Mill Valley offers an abundance of outdoor activity, water sports, historical attractions, museums, and magnificent coastal views. Mill Valley also offers an exciting mix of restaurants, specialty shops and art galleries.

Mill Valley has 14 municipal parks, a nine-hole golf course, several tennis courts, hiking trails, playgrounds and picnic areas. The bike path that runs along Richardson Bay from Mill Valley to Sausalito is widely used to bicycle, rollerblade, walk or run. The natural wooded areas bordering the Pacific Ocean attract visitors from around the world.

Mill Valley is situated at the base of Mount Tamalpais, a beautiful mountain that is a dramatic backdrop for the rolling, hilly terrain and canyons that punctuate the landscape. From its 2,600 foot peak, Mount Tam , known as the "Sleeping Maiden", is a favorite destination for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, and picnicking. Ride a scenic train up to the summit, and glide back down in the gravity cars. Muir Woods, located to the east, features 500-year old redwoods, diverse wildlife and miles of hiking trails that offer a variety of habitats and terrain.

The popular seven-mile Dipsea Race that begins in downtown Mill Valley attracts over 1,500 runners every year to race over narrow, winding trails, eventually climbing the dreaded 671 Dipsea Steps, ending up on the other side of Mount Tamalpais in Stinson Beach. The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, held every September in Old Mill Park, attracts artists from throughout California who converge on the shady redwood grove to display jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, sculpture, leather, fiber, mixed media and graphic arts. Each October, the Mill Valley Film Festival draws international attention to Mill Valley as the town becomes host to premiere films, celebrities and audiences from around the world. The two-week event incorporates a variety of screenings, panel discussions and receptions.

Take some time out to explore these wonderful places . . .

Angel Island State Park - An historical state park in San Francisco Bay , Angel Island offers tram tours, bike rentals, camping, and sea kayaking. Angel Island is a microcosm of U.S. history spanning from the Miwok Indian times through the Cold War. Angel Island has served as a hunting ground for the Miwoks, a Civil War encampment, a quarantine station during the Spanish-American war, a discharge depot and recruitment processing center during World War I, an embarkation station and POW camp during World War II, an Immigration Station often referred to as "The Ellis Island of the West" from 1910 through 1940 and a Nike Missile Base from 1955 to 1962. Open daily from 8:00a.m. to Sunset, year-round. Limited ferry service in the winter. For more information, visit www.angelisland.com or call 415-897-0715.

Bacchus & Venus - Experience the California Wine Country in the heart of charming downtown Sausalito with a view of the Bay. Taste wines from Napa, Sonoma, and the best California appellations. Learn how the wines are made, the difference between different wines, vineyards, and styles. They offer wine classes and private parties in the art gallery. Wine and gifts can be shipped to all 50 states. For more information, call 415-331-2001 or visit www.bacchusandvenus.com

Bay Area Discovery Museum - Just under the North tower of the Golden Gate Bridge is a fantastic place where toddlers to ten-year-olds and their families will find limitless opportunities for discoveries in art, science, and media. For more information call 415-487-4398 or visit www.badm.org .

Bay Model Visitor Center- The Bay Model is a three-dimensional hydraulic model of the San Francisco and Delta areas capable of simulating tides, currents and river inflows. The model is over 1.5 acres in size and represents an area from the Pacific Ocean to Sacramento and Stockton including San Francisco , San Pablo and Suisun Bays , and a portion of the San Joaquin Delta. Self-guided tours in five languages are available. For more information, call 415-332-3871 or visit www.spn.usace.army.mil/bmvc .

Bolinas Lagoon Preserve - Great egrets and great blue herons nest here each spring. Harbor Seals are also inhabitants of Bolinas Lagoon. They may be watched from a distance, but approaching the seals or harassing them in any way is a violation of federal law and is strictly enforced.

Charles M. Schulz Museum - Located in Santa Rosa , the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center preserves, displays, and interprets the art and aesthetic of Charles M. Schulz. Exhibitions include many classic strips, the Schulz live animated feature film Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown, and many permanent exhibits, such as Peanuts - Found in Translation. Based on the Peanuts characters, Japanese artist Yoshiteru Otani's new work, will feature more than 40 of Yoshi's ink paintings on handmade Washi paper that incorporate Peanuts characters and Kanji caligraphy in compositions that might be characterized as the visual equivalent of onomatopoeia. For information, call (707) 579-4452 or visit www. inquiries@charlesmschulzmuseum.org .

Golden Gate Bridge - The orange towers of the Golden Gate Bridge , perhaps the best-loved symbol of San Francisco , are visible from almost every high point in the city. The bridge, which spans 4,200 ft, had taken only 52 months to design and build when it was opened in 1937. Some quarter of a million people turned up for a sunrise party to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in 1987; the winds were strong and the bridge buckled, but fortunately did not break. Driving across is a real thrill, racing under the towers, while the half-hour walk across allows you to take in its enormous size and absorb the views. It's also a favorite with the suicidal - in a typical year dozens jump to their deaths. Those jumping are said to hit the water at a speedy 80 m..ph. - few have survived the leap.

Marin Headlands - Close to San Francisco in distance but many moods apart, the Marin Headlands provide a quick departure from urban activity. Windswept ridges, protected valleys and beaches offer nature's ultimate scenery. Covering 12,000 acres, the Marin Headlands features well-marked hiking, biking and equestrian trails that cross high bluffs and grassy meadows. With 15 square miles of beaches, valleys, ridges, and rolling hills, and hiking trails, the Headlands is home to magnificent views and a large population of wild animals. There is also a Marine Mammal Center dedicated to the recovery and release of injured or sick seals and other marine mammals. The Marin Headlands are located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area , which manages the area between the Golden Gate Bridge and Stinson Beach . The Marin Headland's Visitor Information Center is open daily from 9:30am to 4:3pm. Group and individual campsites are available throughout the headlands. For more information and campsite reservations, call 415-331-1540 or visit www.nps.gov/goga/home.htm .

Marine Mammal Center - The Marine Mammal Center recognizes our interdependence with marine mammals, their importance as sentinels of the ocean environment, our responsibility to use our awareness, compassion and intelligence to ensure their survival and the conservation of their habitat. The marine Mammal center works for the rescue and treatment of ill, injured and orphaned marine mammals, through scientific inquiry to increase our knowledge of marine mammals, and through communication and education programs, The Marine Mammal Center is open for public visitation from 10am to 4pm daily. They are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. For more information, call 415-289-SEAL or visit www.tmmc.org .

Mill Valley Golf Course - Mill Valley boasts Marin County 's only municipal golf course. Established in 1919, its nine holes meander through 42 acres of hills, creeks and redwoods, providing a challenge for novice and skilled golfers. The course, which is open to the public, is located at 280 Buena Vista Avenue . For more information, call 415-388-9982.

Mt. Tamalpais - Just north of San Francisco 's Golden Gate is Mount Tamalpais State Park , 6,300 acres of redwood groves and oak woodlands with a spectacular view from the 2,571-foot east peak. Mt. Tamalpais is one of the most scenic mountain sites in California , with unobstructed panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco , and the Bay and Delta waters. There are many popular hiking trails all around the mountain, and Stinson Beach is below . Combined with other spaces in Marin - including the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County Open Spaces, Marin Municipal Water District, and some privately held lands - Mt. Tamalpais itself is said to cover nearly 25,000 acres. On a clear day, visitors can see the jagged peaks of the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea, the Marin County hills, San Francisco and the bay, hills and cities of the East Bay , Mount Diablo , and the Sierra Nevada 's snow-covered mountains 150 miles away. Mt. Tamalpais State Park , located in the heart of Marin County , offers a wealth of activities, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, wildlife viewing, camping, and more. Mt. Tamalpais offers more than 50 miles of hiking and biking trail within the park and connect to a larger, 200-mile-long trail system. Bicyclists are challenged by the twisting road to the top of the park's summit. Mt. Tamalpais State Park also offers free guided hiking programs, astronomy lectures and stargazing sessions, and even public storytelling events. The park has the Bootjack Picnic Area with tables, stoves, piped drinking water and flush toilets. The East Peak Summit features a visitor center, a refreshment stand, phones, picnic tables and a fully accessible restroom. The Park's Mountain Theater (a.k.a. The Cushing Memorial Theater) is a natural-stone amphitheater seating 3,750 people and features the Mountain Play each spring, produced every year since 1913Coastal Miwok Indians lived in the area for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. In 1770, two explorers named the mountain La Sierra de Nuestro Padre de San Francisco , which was changed to the Miwok word Tamalpais. With the Gold Rush of 1849, San Francisco grew and more people began to use Mount Tamalpais for recreation. Trails were developed, a wagon road was built, and a railway was completed that became known as "The Crookedest Railroad in the World." It was abandoned in 1930 after a wildfire damaged the line. For more information, visit www.parks.ca.gov .

Muir Woods - Only a few miles north of San Francisco , in an isolated canyon grows the ancient coast redwood forest known the world over as Muir Woods. Experience the tranquility of a forest of majestic coastal redwoods - some more than 500 years old - and canyon ferns. Follow a gentle trail and enjoy the scenery at your own pace. The park offers solitude, interpretive displays and programs, and numerous hiking trails. Come stroll through 1000 year old giant trees towering 260 feet high and find out why famed naturalist John Muir called this, " the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world." West coast redwood trees dominate Muir Woods' forest. Douglas-fir, big-leaf maple, tanbark oak, and baylaurel grow along side the redwoods. At the lower end of the canyon, red alders line the stream and buckeyes cluster nearby. Baylaurels growing toward the light may assume contorted shapes or topple over. Muir Woods National Monument , 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge , is reached by U.S. 101 and California Hwy 1. Roads to the park are steep and winding; vehicles over 35 feet long are prohibited. No public transportation serves the park though commercial tours are available from San Francisco . Entry fee required - $3 per Adult (17 and older). Open daily from 8am to sunset. For more information call (415) 388-2595, or visit www.nps.gov/muwo/home.htm .

Point Reyes National Seashore - Located half way between Bodega Bay and San Francisco , Point Reyes National Seashore contains unique elements of biological and historical interest in a spectacular scenic panorama of thunderous ocean breakers, open grasslands, bushy hillsides and forested ridges. Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, Point Reyes comprises 100 square miles, including 32,000 acres of coastal wilderness. With 50 species of native land and marine mammals inhabiting the Seashore, its biological diversity stems from a favorable location in the middle of California and the natural occurrence of several distinct habitats. Nearly 20% of California 's flowering plant species are represented on the peninsula and 45% of the bird species in North America have been sighted here. Estuaries, windswept beaches, coastal scrub grasslands, salt and freshwater marshes, and coniferous forests create a haven of 80 miles of pristine, undeveloped coastline. Abundant recreational opportunities include 147 miles of hiking trails, backcountry campgrounds, and beaches for swimming, picnics, and soaking up the sun. Kayaking, biking, hiking, beachcombing, and wildlife viewing also await you. Trails are used by hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders. Enjoy leisurely drives throughout the seashore to beaches and wildlife areas, such as the Pt. Reyes historic lighthouse or tule elk range. The park beaches are excellent places to view the January through April gray whale migration and for bird watching during the fall and spring. Point Reyes Field Seminars provide unique educational experiences with the natural world, as well awareness of the significance of the National Seashore. Explore geology, Coast Miwok culture, and lighthouse history with a Park Ranger. The Miwok Archeological Preserve of Marin provides classes in California Indian craft, such as flintknapping, arrowmaking, basketry, hide tanning, and other native skills. Visit www.nps.gov/pore for more information.

Point Reyes Lighthouse - A 308 step walkway leads to this 1870 lighthouse, built high on a Point Reyes cliff at the Point Reyes National Seashore . Whale-watching is very popular here January through March. More than 70 miles of trails for hiking and biking weave through open pastures, rugged ridges, and coastal cliffs in this 70,000 acre wilderness area. Over 400 bird species have been seen at the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. More information is available at any of the three visitor's centers.

Red Rock Beach - Red Rock Beach is touted as the north coasts friendliest and most popular nude beach. It is located only 0.5 mile south of Stinson Beach , at Milepost 11 on Hwy. One. A roadside turnout provides parking, but no signs are posted. Poison Oak is abundant, so be sure to wear shoes and keep a watchful eye out while making your way down the steep ravine trail to the beach. It's about a 15 minute hike. There are no facilities at Red Rock Beach , but there is a natural spring for drinking.

Russian River Valley Appellation - The Russian River Valley Appellation, formally established in 1983, is the largest in Sonoma County and in the Northern California Wine Country. With 12,000 acres devoted to wine grapes, just 55 miles up Highway101 from the Golden Gate Bridge and 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean by way of the Russian River , the appellation includes over 200 winegrowers and 50 wineries. With 12,000 acres planted to wine grapes, the majority being pinot noir and chardonnay, the rich appellation includes over 200 winegrowers and 50 wineries. Its boundaries roughly follow the low-lying flat plain extending south and west of Healdsburg, following the Russian River as it turns toward the Pacific Ocean . The coastal hills at Guerneville mark its western boundary. Guerneville is at the heart of the Russian River Resort Community. The Russian River Wine Road is a winery association of 102 wineries and 50 lodgings throughout Sonoma County wine country. Explore California 's most diverse and beautiful wine regions...the Alexander Valley , Dry Creek Valley , and Russian River Valley appellations of Northwest Sonoma County .

San Francisco - Old World charm and ethnic neighborhoods combine with a picturesque ocean setting to make San Francisco a unique and hip American city. The orange towers of the Golden Gate Bridge are visible from almost every high point in the city. You will be captivated by the extraordinary charm, character and ambiance of San Francisco and its many eclectic neighborhoods - Pacific Heights , Richmond District, South of Market, Nob Hill, North Beach , The Marina, Mission District, Haight-Ashbury, and the East Bay communities. San Francisco offers a diversity of arts, attractions, nightclubs, museums, art galleries, restaurants, festivals, entertainment and sightseeing tours. Experience all the highlights including, Twin Peaks, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, the San Francisco Zoo, Alcatraz , and Union Square .

San Francisco Seaplane Tours - Fly directly out to the Pacific Coat, and south to the Golden Gate Bridge . After flying over the bridge, you will continue your flight over the Financial District and Downtown San Francisco, along the waterfront, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, then north to Alcatraz, around Angel Island , and along the picturesque cities of Tiburon, Belvedere, and Sausalito . This tour lasts approximately 30 minutes, and offers a great balance of sights from Marin to San Francisco . Call 415-332-4843 or visit www.seaplane.com .

Sausalito Wooden Boat Tours - Take a walking tour along the historical Sausalito Waterfront to view some of the finest and funniest wooden boats in existence. For more information, visit www.butterflute.com/boattour.html .

Stinson Beach - Stinson Beach is located on scenic Highway One, just north of San Francisco , California . Three and a half miles of sand give plenty of access to swimmers, surfers, and sun bathers. Everyone can find so mething to do at Stinson Beach - f rom sun bathing to hang-gliding, surfing to hiking, biking to volleyball. The beach also offers h undreds of miles of hiking trails. The 51-acre park adjacent to the beach offers more than 100 picnic tables (some with grills) and a snack bar that is open April through September. The park is open until sunset.

Water Activities

Water, water everywhere! Sausalito offers many bay excursions and water activities from tall-masted ships and kayaks to seaplanes!