about marin
Marin County
Located just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, Marin County is both vibrant and tranquil at the same time. Marin offers visitors and residents alike a plethora of opportunities to explore, adventure, shop, unwind, and otherwise experience life to its fullest, all in one county.
Most of the county's residents and shopping experiences are nestled between Mount Tamalpais and San Francisco Bay, while unparalleled vistas and dazzling Pacific Ocean sunsets can be found throughout West Marin. Our county is a truly spectacular place to live, work and play.
Just a few of our more famous destinations and attractions include the Majestic redwoods of Muir Woods, the world famous Sausalito Art Festival, Point Reyes National Seashore, Mount Tam, and America's oldest cross country race (the Dipsea), which itself attracts thousands of athletes each year.
Belvedere
Surrounded on three sides by San Francisco Bay, Belvedere consists of two islands -- the larger being Belvedere Island, the smaller being Corinthian Island (which is shared with neighboring Tiburon and connected to Tiburon by a causeway)-- and a lagoon (Belvedere Lagoon) situated between the two islands. Narrow, winding roads circle the two islands, with hedges and lush foliage along the route, and momentarily opening onto spectacular water views.
Although both Belvedere and Tiburon have become very much alike, with their premier real estate prices motivated by spectacular views, they grew up differently. There were distinct differences between the towns; while Belvedere was home to the rich; Tiburon, in its days as home base for a railroad, was considered 'the other side of the tracks.'
Belvedere celebrated its 100th year as a city in 1996. Marin's smallest incorporated community is also one of the most exclusive. There is just enough room for some of the most expensive homes in Marin and the historic San Francisco Yacht Club.
Belvedere is a treasure trove of different architectural styles; from the tremendous Queen Anne and Mission Revival homes of the late 1800's to more modern Japanese-style and Mediterranean villas. The two elementary schools and one middle school in the local Reed Union School District are rated in the top one percent among California schools.
Belvedere, which translates in Italian to 'beautiful view', was well and aptly named, with exceptional views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, and Belvedere Lagoon. The beauty is quite breathtaking.
Corte Madera
Corte Madera was once part of the original land grant, Corte Madera del Presidio, given to John Reed in 1836. The area was used to supply lumber to build the San Francisco Presidio. By 1860 all the old growth redwoods had been harvested and the hills were then used for ranching and dairying by a new generation of settlers.
At the turn of the century Corte Madera had attracted a number of families from San Francisco who came for the summer. Christmas Tree Hill was subdivided in tiny 25' x 25' lots for use as tent sites on the weekends. After the 1906 earthquake, many of these tent sites were used to build permanent homes, where some of the tiny cabins remain to this day. Corte Madera became a town in 1917.
Typifying the relaxed outdoor lifestyle of Marin with its pleasant climate, bordering wetlands, and lush open space, there is a strong community commitment to preserving the area's wildlife and habitat. This commitment to the environment is exemplified by the Corte Madera Reserve Sanctuary for Migrating Birds, the Shorebird Marsh wildlife habitat, and The Ring Mountain Preserve, located at the southeastern end of town, the preserve borders Corte Madera and the neighboring community of Tiburon.
Home to three distinctly different malls, the town provides shopping as a favored pastime for guests and locals alike. Fine shops, unique boutiques, and a variety of excellent restaurants can be found at The Corte Madera Town Center, The Village at Corte Madera, and The Marketplace.
Extending from San Francisco Bay on the east side to Mt. Tam on the west, Corte Madera illustrates the wonderful Marin County blend of nature along with all the amenities of city living.
Fairfax
Fairfax was originally part of a Spanish land grant conferred to Domingo Sais in 1839. Sais gave the area now known as the Marin Town & Country Club to Marin County's first physician, Alfred Taliaferro of Virginia, who subsequently passed the property along to fellow Virginian Charles Snowden Fairfax. Lord Fairfax, tenth Baron of Cameron, Scotland, moved here with his wife Ada in 1855, lured west by gold fever.
After the death of Charles Fairfax, the property changed hands, eventually becoming the site of the renowned Pastori's Restaurant in the 1890's. Madame Pastori, once a singer at La Scala in Milan, Italy, was visited in Fairfax by many great figures in the opera world. The restaurant, which was rebuilt on a grander scale after a fire in 1911, still stands.
Convenient railroad service early in this century made Fairfax a favorite weekend and summer retreat for city dwellers. Fairfax Park hosted thousands on weekends. Fairfax was the setting for dozens of early Western movies from 1910 to the early 1920's. Construction of Alpine Dam in 1917 brought a large Italian population to the area, adding to Fairfax's colorful history.
Fairfax came of age in February of 1931 when the town was incorporated as a city with a five-member council government. Fairfax today, with a diverse population of 7,000, is a community of fine neighborhoods nestled in the hills and small valleys of the Upper Ross Valley. Located 16 miles north of San Francisco, within easy reach of numerous State and National Recreation Areas, Fairfax offers the best of both work and play while retaining its small-town atmosphere and charm. Two of our Cal Land Title employees live in Fairfax and they absolutely love it!
Greenbrae
Greenbrae, also known as Green Brae in some circles, is a delightful "pocket community" nestled in between Larkspur, Ross, and San Rafael. With great shopping found in the Bon Air Center, with fifty shops offering specialty foods, designer fashions & accessories, unique gifts, and service-oriented businesses.
Greenbrae is well known for its tastefully landscaped custom homes, many of which have views of the bay, Corte Madera Creek and lowlands, and Mt. Tamalpais. A special effort was made during the development of this area to preserve the hundreds of majestic oak trees that grace the hillsides. Greenbrae residents enjoy a one minute drive to the freeway and two minutes to the Larkspur Landing Ferry Terminal.
Kentfield
Because the town of Kentfield is unincorporated, it is governed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, who are known to pay close attention to the wishes of the residents, especially concerning development. An upper middle class to wealthy community, Kentfield is nestled at the base of Mt. Tam, bordered by Larkspur and Ross.
The name "Kentfield" is taken from the family of Albert Kent, a Chicago meat packer who, along with his wife Adaline, settled in the area in 1872. Adaline donated twenty-three acres of land for a community recreation center; which later became the site for the College of Marin, which is part of the California Community College system. Albert and Adaline's son William, who became a U.S. congressman and an ardent conservationist, donated Muir Woods as a national park.
The homes in this area are generally set well back from the streets which meander among pine, redwood and manzanita. The low-profile roofs of these spacious homes, mostly set on large lots, are designed to blend in with the natural surroundings and offer a wooded, country feeling.
Larkspur
Halfway between Sausalito and San Rafael, nestled between Mount Tamalpais and the Bay, lies a place of almost magical charm and sweeping beauty called Larkspur. Larkspur presents very special places to play, to relax, to shop, to dine and to enjoy many of the loveliest things Marin County has to offer.
The wife of a major developer, Charles Wright, named this beautiful area for the lupine she found there, mistakenly identifying it as Larkspur. The downtown / Magnolia Avenue area is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as an irreplaceable American "turn of the century home town."
Larkspur residents have been quite successful in preserving the small-town ambience. A medley of specialty shops, boutiques, Queen Anne Victorians, cafes and first-class restaurants can be enjoyed by taking a relaxing stroll down Magnolia Avenue. Not to be missed is the Escalle Winery, built in the 1890's by the young Frenchman, Jean Escalle, who planted the northern hillsides of Larkspur with wine grapes; and the exquisite Murphy mansion, constructed in 1888 and now home to the world famous restaurant, the Lark Creek Inn. Larkspur extends north to the unincorporated area of Greenbrae.
Mill Valley
Just ten minutes north of San Francisco, Mill Valley sits along the eastern slope of Mount Tamalpais. Much of this township offers a truly peaceful and rural feel, as you are surrounded by majestic redwoods, or nestled along a winding road set far enough back from the main 101 corridor that you feel like you've trekked 1,000 miles from the main populace.
From the spectacular vistas atop Mount Tam, back-woods hiking, or a lazy weekend drive to the beaches, Mill Valley is an out-door lovers paradise.
The history of Mill Valley began with John Reed. Subsequent to the acquisition of a large land grant in 1834, Reed built a sawmill in 1836 on Cascade Creek to provide wood for the construction of his house. The mill, which gave Mill Valley its name, is now restored and stands among the towering redwoods in Old Mill Park, a few blocks from downtown.
In 1896 a mountain railway, nicknamed "The Crookedest Railroad in the World," carried passengers from town to the mountain's summit and to Muir Woods. Although the tracks were removed in 1930, the Old Railroad Grade is currently very popular with hikers and bikers.
Shortly after the town was incorporated in 1900 two town traditions began. The Outdoor Art Club was founded in 1902, a group whose purpose was, and still is, to preserve the beauties of Mill Valley. The Dipsea Race was first run in 1905 and has been held almost every year since. It is the second oldest race in the country, behind the Boston Marathon. The race is 7.1 miles long, from Lytton Square in Mill Valley over Mt. Tam to Stinson Beach.
The Fall Arts Festival is one of the cultural events that occur in Mill Valley each year. It is the longest running festival in the County, celebrating its 41st year in 1997. The Mill Valley Film Festival, also held in the fall, draws thousands of film enthusiasts and artists from around the world.
Bordered on three sides by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Muir Woods National Monument, Mt. Tamalpais State Park and watershed, Mill Valley offers spectacular recreational opportunities. But this is only part of its attractions. The people that have chosen to live here, from rock stars, artists, and nationally known authors, to business executives and political radicals; all are part of the eclectic mixture of talented folks who came for the pleasure of normalcy and anonymity to live in this incredibly beautiful and charming town.
Novato
The City of Novato, one of the Bay Area's premier communities, is located in Marin County 29 miles north of San Francisco. Novato is the second largest city in the county. Incorporated in 1960 and encompassing 43 square miles with 3,500 acres of open space and parks, Novato is an agreeable mixture of a variety of neighborhoods. Waterfront communities, horse farms, and beautiful mansions are all part of the eclectic collection that is Novato.
Novato began as Rancho de Novato, a Spanish land grant given in 1839 to Fernando Feliz, but its roots are far deeper.
Olompali State HIstorical Park, just north of the city, is named for a key Miwok settlement, Olemaloke, that dates to 1300. Scholars debate the significance of an Elizabethan coin found nearby. Did it belong to Sir Francis Drake's crew that hit the coast in 1579.
The only battle of the Bear Flag Rebellion, which led to California's statehood, was fought at Olompali in 1846, and the Burdell family later established the first formal garden in Marin there in the 1870's.
The Chosen Family hippie commune serenaded by Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead lived in the old Burdell mansion until it burned in 1969.
Hamilton Field, on the southeast side of the city, served as an Army airfield from 1935 to 1947 and continued military operations to 1975. After years of wrangling, Hamilton opened in 1999 as a community of new homes. Cal Land's Novato office is located at 7250 Redwood Blvd, Suite 208.
Novato is largely a bedroom community - more than 7,600 students are enrolled in the Novato Unified School District but the city also has made its mark in business and industry. Shopping in Novato ranges form the traditional stores and boutiques on Grant Avenue in "Old Town" to the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center.
The city is home to Fireman's Fund Insurance, the county's largest private employer with about 2,500 workers. The nonprofit Buck Institute for Research in Aging, located in a striking complex on the slopes of Mount Burdell, is on the leading edge of biomedical research and the science of aging.
Ross
In 1857 a Scotsman from San Francisco, James Ross, bought a large Mexican land grant named Rancho Punta de Quentin, which extended from what is now Corte Madera to Red Hill in San Anselmo. In the town that bears his name, Ross built his home on the property that is now the Marin Art & Garden Center; a beautiful ten-acre site that, in addition to housing several non-profit community groups, also offers many classes and activities.
Shaded roads and lanes enhance this lovely town of grand estates and luxury custom homes. Large properties in park-like settings often have accommodations for horses, as well as tennis courts and swimming pools. Centered around the Ross Common is a small, very quaint commercial area featuring restaurants and shops. One enterprise, the Ross Grocery, has been operated by the same family since WWII.
Residents are universally proud of, and offer support to, the local elementary school. In 1991, Child Magazine named Ross Elementary School as one of the top ten schools in the nation. The academic ranking is in the 99th percentile, the highest any school can achieve.
Ross, often characterized as the suburban ideal, can easily be portrayed as a bastion of gracious living.
San Anselmo
San Anselmo is a charming community of older homes amid diverse architectural styles, on shady, tree-lined streets. The downtown area is very "small town" in appearance, but offers a variety of shops and restaurants. In the 1870's, what is now known as The Hub in San Anselmo was the spot where a spur track to San Rafael was added to the Sausalito-Tomales run of the Pacific Coast Railroad. San Anselmo was incorporated in 1907.
The most visible landmark in town, a beautiful stone castle that overlooks San Anselmo, is actually the San Francisco Theological Seminary, established in 1892 to train Presbyterian clergy. From the ivy covered chapel with its enchanting bell tolling the hours, to the turrets and towers, this beautiful facility has an ethereal, fairy tale look.
San Anselmo Avenue, the town's main shopping area, is a curving boulevard of awning-shaded shops, cafes, galleries, restaurants, and boutiques. Known as the "Antique Capital of Northern California," there are, within a half-mile radius of downtown, more than 150 antique dealers who attract collectors from all over the West Coast.
Love of family and a sense of community are common bonds shared by those in the more affluent areas as well as by those in the more modest homes at the west end of town. The Annual Art and Wine Festival, the Antique Dealers Fair, and the Country Fair Day, are all very well attended by local citizens. San Anselmo also boasts one of the County's most successful community volunteer programs.
San Rafael
Mission San Rafael Arcangel was established on Dec. 14, 1817, by Father Prefect Vicente Francisco de Sarria, three other friars, and an escort of soldiers. The mission is on 5th Avenue between Court and B Streets. Although the buildings are replicas, a treasure trove of historical artifacts can be seen in the museum.
Marin's premier city San Rafael, is the oldest and largest city in the County and it is also the seat of County Government. Marin's second most popular tourist spot (after Muir Woods), the Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center, was the last major structure and the only government building designed by the world famous architect. It is now a national historic landmark.
Other notable places to visit are China Camp State Park, which rims a picture perfect shoreline and is wonderfully secluded, yet only minutes from town; the lovely Dominican College campus, founded in 1888; and the Falkirk Cultural Center, a handsomely preserved, 17-room Victorian mansion that is set on 11 acres of formal grounds just a block from downtown.
San Rafael offers a wide assortment of housing; from Peacock Gap's Golf and Country Club contemporary homes and condominiums overlooking the Bay, to spacious traditional homes in the prestigious Dominican section. California Land Title of Marin, originally founded in 1955 by Dr. Earl Young as Trans Western Title Company, has deep roots in Marin County. The company's main office is conveniently located at 700 Irwin Street.
San Rafael has 14 parks, yacht clubs, outstanding docking and launching facilities, tennis / swim clubs and bicycle trails. It is truly a community where families can enjoy an active lifestyle and partake of a rich historical and cultural heritage.
Sausalito
One of the most well known locales in the San Francisco Bay area (mainly because of the Sausalito Arts Festival and its eclectic mix of house-boats), Sausalito is a true water-front community.
Beautiful and unique homes ornament wooded hills that fall steeply to Richardson Bay. Condominium apartments offer marvelous views of San Francisco and the Bay. Regular ferry service from San Francisco makes the town easily accessible for both commuters and tourists.
Located on the southeastern tip of Marin, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, Sausalito was first settled in the mid-19th century and incorporated in 1893, making it one of the oldest established communities in the North Bay region. Early Spanish explorers named the area "Saucelito" for the "little willow trees" they found growing along its streams and underground springs. The Sausalito of today, a colorful waterfront town framed by steeply ascending hills, reminds many of a Mediterranean fishing village. Bounded on three sides by Richardson Bay and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, it has grown little over the years, still occupying a land area of just 2-1/4 square miles.
This unique urban village has long been a popular visitor destination, known worldwide for its natural beauty, its incomparable arts community, the variety of unique shops and restaurants, and its easy accessibility from San Francisco by bridge and ferry. It is also a prized residential and business location, boasting temperate climate, old world charm, and some of the region's most spectacular views.
Tiburon
What is now the Tiburon peninsula was, in the beginning, home to at least fifty Indian villages. Shell mounds, petroglyphs on the rock face of Ring Mountain, and the occasional find of mortars and cooking stones are testimony to this portion of Tiburon's history.
John Reed established his rancho on the lands where Mill Valley, Belvedere, Tiburon, San Quentin, and Corte Madera are now. In addition to his thriving cattle herds, Reed also established salt yards, a brickyard, and a stone quarry.
In the 1880s, the coming of the broad-gauge railroad transformed the peninsula. The town was created as a result of the railroad, and a long line of ferries carrying passengers and rail cars the six miles across the bay to San Francisco. The first elegant homes were built, mostly by wealthy San Franciscans, as summer retreats. Main Street Tiburon was rebuilt twice after being laid waste by fire.
Incorporated in 1964, Tiburon is now a beautiful enclave of historical landmarks, parks, world-class restaurants and shopping areas. The residential architecture is a mix of small cottages, many of them beautifully remodeled, contemporary showplaces located in the hills with spectacular views, and sensational examples of engineering that jut out over the water. The San Francisco and Corinthian Yacht Clubs provide berths for hundreds of sailboats for local yachtsmen; public and private tennis and swimming facilities are also available to residents.
Visitors from around the world come here to enjoy the natural beauty and many varied activities that this delightful harbor community provides.
West Marin
The West Marin area is, debatably, the most spectacular region in a county known for its scenic wonders. A truly rural section of Marin encompassing miles of open ridge tops, wild coast lines, and pastoral dairy farms, this area is home to such diverse wildlife as gray whales, tule elk, elephant seal, bobcat, fox, hundreds of bird species and the occasional mountain lion. Containing the Point Reyes National Seashore and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, almost all of West Marin is protected.
With the exception of Inverness, which is on the Point Reyes Peninsula, the coastal towns, from southernmost Muir Beach, going north through Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Olema, Pt. Reyes Station, Marshall and Tomales, dot Highway One all the way up to the Marin/ Sonoma County border. The small inland hamlets of Nicasio, Woodacre, Forest Knolls, San Geronimo and Lagunitas are all unique and remarkably beautiful in their various settings that range from redwood forests to open grasslands and rolling hills.
Muir Beach is a tiny enclave surrounded by GGNRA parklands. With the exception of the Pelican Inn, where residents and tourist alike go to dine, drink ale, and play darts, there are no commercial enterprises here (not even a gas station nor a grocery store). The residents seem to prefer it this way, holding very dear to their out-of-the-way lifestyle.
Stinson Beach, the most often visited of the coastal towns, is home to a lovely, three-mile long beach which is well kept, clean and accessible. Swimming, surfing and sunbathing are the favorite activities here, but Stinson is also the finish line for the famous Dipsea Race. Right next to the beach is a wonderful park area with trees, lawns, picnic tables and barbecues available for day use.
Bolinas, located just past the Audubon Canyon Ranch north of Stinson Beach, is a small town of about 1,100 residents; some of whom do their best to keep Bolinas a well guarded secret by continually removing the directional road-signs to the town. Bolinas is also home to Smiley's Schooner Saloon, the oldest, continuously operated saloon (this bar was open even during Prohibition) in California.
Olema, holding the distinction of being the epicenter of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and currently the gateway to Point Reyes National Seashore, was once a roaring pioneering town with seven bars, a racetrack, and a stagecoach that brought visitors from San Rafael on the weekends. Some of the old buildings still remain, including the Olema Inn, founded in 1876.
Nicasio is a very small town located between Highway 101 and San Geronimo Valley. George Lucas, famous producer of "Star Wars," built Skywalker Ranch nearby as the headquarters for his film operations. Also to be found in the area a variety of estate homes on many ranches. The rural beauty of Lucas Valley makes for a pleasant drive for the patrons of popular Rancho Nicasio, who come from all over Marin as to enjoy country dining and dancing.
Inverness, located on the west shore of Tomales Bay, was once a weekend retreat. Inverness is now home to many year-round residents that include artists, builders, tradespeople, and professionals who commute to the city. Although a few homes can be seen from the streets, most are tucked back among the trees. During the peak whale watching months of late fall to early spring, the numerous bed and breakfast establishments in and around Inverness are often full.
Point Reyes Station had its beginnings as a railroad town when the first train came through on its way to Tomales in 1875. The railroad disappeared in 1933, and although Point Reyes Station is now the largest town in West Marin, it is still only three blocks long and a couple of blocks deep. Within this quiet little town, coffee houses, galleries, bookstores, antique shops and restaurants lend a cosmopolitan flavor.
Marshall, Tomales, and Dillon Beach are popular tourist stops en route up the coast to Sonoma County. Marshall, which grew up as a resort for hunters and fishermen, today is well known for its oyster companies. Leaving the coast from Marshall and following the path of the long-gone trains, the road winds into Tomales. With many restored old homes and the steep-roofed Lady of Assumption church, built in 1860, the Victorian charm of Tomales beckons. Driving north on Highway One, Dillon Beach is the last town before the Sonoma County border. The community was named after George Dillon; arriving in the 1880's, he was the first settler in the area. Today, Dillon Beach is popular for its wonderful beach, sport fishing, crabbing, and clam digging.