On Easter, I was up in the north Bay and looking for a church to celebrate. I drove over to Mission…read moreSan Rafael for the first time when a beautiful church an amazing history. I set a free prayers in the side chapel just after their service they had quite a community buzz going on as they had live music for the service. Just being on the grounds of Mission San Rafael brought a calmness to me. If you be looking for a spectacular place to pray or reflect. I highly recommend visiting Mission San Rafael.

Nice to be back ..church is the last resort haha ...saloon de Jesus ..don't forget ...get outread more

It's all fun & games till the viagra drops. Fun lil walk to take while waiting for the ferryread more

It was good for me. But I don't know if it was good for everyone else. I feel like the name of this…read morebridge is misleading. It was barely erect. And it's a BRIDGE. We all three just hoped for the best and smiled when the moment had passed us by. We don't think we'll return.

Muir Woods is a must-see oasis in the midst of the Bay Area! Arriving to this specific National…read moreMonument is no easy fiat; it requires you to go thro some windy ups-and-downs to eventually reach the spot. If you suffer from motion-sickness, just drive slowly and mindfully. After arriving, there are several parking lots in which workers will guide you. ATTN: THERE IS NO CELL SERVICE IN THIS AREA & YOU WILL NEED A PARKING RESERVATION BEFORE COMING. Once you past all that --- the best part: the quietness of nature! I was informed the entire trail is about 1 1/2 miles around --- and that if you truly took your time, you could spend 1h30min+ here. I DID! There's something so soothing about the stillness of nature against the backdrop of the busyness of the city just below it. Looking at how grand these Redwoods are, make you realize how small "we" are in the grand scheme of things. It's a perfect visual and reminder that we are part of the great ecosystem of life, and should play our role in it --- to help preserve them & maybe ourselves in the process as well. Definitely recommend!

From city noise to ancient redwood silence in under an hour…read more You'll find flat boardwalks winding through the groves and longer hillside trails if you want a bit more adventure. Redwood Creek runs through the canyon, home to salmon and trout. You can see the highlights in a few hours or stay longer. I always recommend exploring Canopy View to Lost Trail, and Fern Creek for quieter, less-traveled pockets of forest. How lucky are those who live anywhere near this place. I love driving up early in the morning for the most magical fog. Arriving always feels like stepping into a living time capsule from the Middle Ages. Some of the tallest trees on Earth stand here, roughly 1,000 years old and rising over 250 feet. The air shifts as you enter: cooler, darker, scented with earth, cedar, and rain. Standing beneath trees that have survived centuries of storms, wars, fires, and human chaos makes your own worries feel smaller. It's humbling and grounding. Things to know before you go: You need a parking reservation, no exceptions. Entrance and parking fees apply (America the Beautiful Pass is accepted). A shuttle from Sausalito is an option if you prefer not driving on narrow roads. Cell service disappears, so save anything you need beforehand. It's always cooler here, usually 10-20 degrees, so bring a layer. Bathrooms are only at the entrance. Food is extremely limited (one small cafe) so bring water, snacks/lunch. Pets aren't allowed. And always take a moment by the creek, it's the quiet heart of the entire ecosystem.

I came here for the Charlie Chaplin-Buster Keaton Film Fest with live music by the Grand Feature…read moreFilm Orchestra (GFFO). It's a simple theater with lovely art deco architecture. Nothing fancy about it, but the auditorium seats are comfortable and in good condition, and views are great from any seat in the house since it's such an intimate space. I was surprised that the orchestra wasn't hidden below, like at a lot of other theaters, but it was great to see them perform live during the show. Lots of wind instruments, including the flute, clarinet, and trumpet, along with sounds of the violin, organ, and percussion equipment. The show started about ten minutes after the listed ticket time. The three films shown were enjoyable, especially with the orchestra doing an impressive job. Sound and picture quality were ideal. Buster Keaton had me thoroughly entertained in two of the films shown, "The Scarecrow" and "One Week". And Charlie Chaplin was delightful to watch as usual, in "The Rink", with the iconic actor in hilarious scenes at the roller rink, which I found even more amusing cuz I had just come from the skating rink myself (and had witnessed a good amount of crashing and tumbling) prior to attending this film fest. There's a lot to love about this place. Not to mention, they serve yummy milkshakes at the concessions stand. Bonus points for that!

The Lark Theater is a gem that was recently renovated with fresh seats, paint, and new food items…read more I love the staff and appreciate all the volunteers who keep this special place alive. The memberships offer nice perks that will keep you coming for more. This theater also participates in The Mill Valley Film Festival. They show new movies, bring back old favorites, and even offer special showings from opera, ballet, and more. The popcorn is a must but they offer other tasty treats as well. I love their wine and beer selections as well as the candy offerings. Make it a date and choose this theater for your next movie adventure.

I had no idea that they did tours at the Marin County Civic Center. The information about Frank…read moreLloyd Wright was very interesting. The tour was very informative. There were areas that I've never seen and the history was fascinating. I highly recommend people take the tour because the history of the building is fascinating. I didn't know that there was a library there it's built in such a way that it absorbs the noise so it's very quiet and peaceful in there.

107/2024 Have been…read moreplanning to visit here for the longest time! Considered the state and National Historic landmark located in San Rafael, California! Finally got to see Frank Lloyd Wright's last major design in 1957. He was a famous American Architect known for his creative structure modern design concept. In his 70 years practice, he designed more than 1000 structures including residential. ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright) Most buildings are highrise but this civic center was designed horizontally with a span of almost 450 meters long consisting of 3 -4 stories high. This building was built spanding on the top crowns of 3 separate hills. An archway creating for entrance to the buildings , and a road access to parking areas. Limited hours parking on site available with Parking lots in sections. Beautiful Landscaping done in this 82 acre complex with a lagoon adds to the wonderful ambience of the center. This civic center was built in 1960 and houses the county's different community services departments like: Agriculture , Weights & Measures County Clerk Board of Supervisors Community Development Agency Child Support Services Cultural Services District Attorney Departure of Finance Court Collections Fire Department Civil Grand Jury Human Resources Human & Health Services Housing Authority Information & Technology Free County Library Superior Court Public Administrator Public Works Public Defender Registrar of Voters Recorder Retirement Sheriff Tax Collector We were able to walk inside building enjoying the arts on display , and also visited the library. Restrooms are well maintained. The center roof Skylights covering brightens the long hallways while giving sunlight to the center opening overlooking landscaping at the ground level. Group tours also available on Fridays from 10:30 to noon. Have to purchase tickets and be ready to a mile walk for 90 minutes. For more info email tours@marincounty.org

The Marin Civic Center is a beautiful Frank Lloyd building. As a Marin county resident, I am always…read moreso thrilled to go to one of our civic offices so I can walk around the spaces. It is a living, functional part of our daily lives. How many people are lucky enough to have a place to do your county business that also gives you something beautiful in return? The farmer's markets are also fantastic.

I attended the funnest outdoor event on Halloween, 2020. It was a thoughtful alternative to regular…read moredoor-to-door trick or treating. I stopped by the Civic Center for an evening walk and found a drive up holiday event. There was a charge to drive into the area and cars then processed by giant spiders etc. to a drive-up option for hot dogs, and beyond. It looked fun but since there is a charge it does not seem equitable for those who could not pay over $10 per car.

Best experience ever! I had 8 relatives from Japan come to visit my mother who is in Memory Care…read more Valley Vacay was responsive and bent over backwards to accommodate us. From picking us up at the airport, to driving us all over the Silicon Valley and San Francisco, the service was amazing. Edward, the owner, was our driver on the longest day 6:30am to 11pm, and he kept the group happy and met their every request--even a visit to Home Depot!? I cannot rave enough about Valley Vacay's services.

Edward is amazing and couldn't more highly recommend valley limo…read more We had a trip from SF to Sonoma for the day and the crew was on time, helpful, and so easy to work with. The car was new, had Bluetooth for music, and they had no problem getting to our favorite spots, even if they were off the beaten path. Will be booking again soon :)

This was an interesting find in Tiburon, it looked like a small castle…read more A short walk up a small hill from the downtown area, Lyford's Stone Tower sits right on the coast with a direct view of Angel Island. Inside the Tower, there is a plaque explaining it's history, which is actually quite interesting. In front of the Tower, there are some benches if you want to enjoy the scenery for a bit , which is what we did while we were here.

Well worth a visit! A 10 minute walk from Main Street and the plaque shares its fascinating…read morehistory. Check it out when you are in the area!

Just past SF this park has so many different trail options perfect for all hiking levels. The…read moredownside is this place gets PACKED! My sister and I arrived before 8am at the Watershed parking lot and barely found a space. We did the trail that took us to the West Point Inn for the pancake breakfast and round trip was close to 5 miles so it was a great workout. There's gorgeous views and well! On the way back to the 101 however it's a mess. The road on the way down is crowded with parked cars, which makes driving through challenging. That's the only thing about this park, other than that I'd love to come back in spring when everything is green and vibrant!

My first association of Mt Tam is from Cowgirl Creamery's best seller, Mt Tam Triple Cream with…read moreHeart cheese. Ever since then, I've wanted to hike this peak, today I have achieved my wish. Early June with mild coastal temp, 50s-60s. Started up Matt Davis Trail in the foggy forest, to Pantoll Campground, to West Point Inn where we can look down to the top of the fog layer, to the Fire Lookout building at the Peak. Then we came down reverse but split off to Steep Ravine and Dip Sea trail after the campground. I've also always wanted to climb that ladder. This hike provided views of the Pacific ocean on the West as well as views of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the East side. I thoroughly enjoyed the cool lush forest, but actually my favorite section was the single track along the slope of the open area after the Mt Tam State Park sign.