Guidebook for San Rafael
Food Scene
Local fave. Puerto Rican food. Always a line out the door. Takeout via DoorDash is a great way to bring the yumminess to you!
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Sol Food
903 Lincoln AveLocal fave. Puerto Rican food. Always a line out the door. Takeout via DoorDash is a great way to bring the yumminess to you!
Thai Smile
534 4th StIf you love Thai food, this hole-in-the-wall is sure to please.
Family friendly. Spacious and clean. Delicious burgers. Somewhat healthy options.
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Gott's Roadside
644 1st StFamily friendly. Spacious and clean. Delicious burgers. Somewhat healthy options.
Delicious coffees, teas, pastries and quiches. At Marin Country Mart - Larkspur Landing.
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Rustic Bakery
2017 Larkspur Landing CirDelicious coffees, teas, pastries and quiches. At Marin Country Mart - Larkspur Landing.
Ghirardelli Marketplace
891 Beach StCalling all chocolate lovers!
Farm to table goodness! Great vibes. Beautiful design. Delicious food. Love to meet girlfriends here and sit outside for nibbles and drinks. They often have live bands playing in the courtyard at Marin Country Mart / Larkspur Landing.
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Farmshop
2233 Larkspur Landing CirFarm to table goodness! Great vibes. Beautiful design. Delicious food. Love to meet girlfriends here and sit outside for nibbles and drinks. They often have live bands playing in the courtyard at Marin Country Mart / Larkspur Landing.
Get this: A hip mama (and papa) coffee shop slash childcare hangout. Owned and designed by an adorable married couple (both interior designers), this downtown San Rafael GEM is equipped with a huge wonderland-like play area for young kids in the back. You can pay a small fee to have other responsible adults watch your kids while you meet a friend for coffee and organic bites. #yesplease
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Fox & Kit
1031 C StGet this: A hip mama (and papa) coffee shop slash childcare hangout. Owned and designed by an adorable married couple (both interior designers), this downtown San Rafael GEM is equipped with a huge wonderland-like play area for young kids in the back. You can pay a small fee to have other responsible adults watch your kids while you meet a friend for coffee and organic bites. #yesplease
If you have even a hint of "new age hippie" in you, or if you just love the thought of a funky-cozy tea house with floor cusion seating, cacao drinks and other delectable elixirs, this is your jam. Strange hippie hours though, and often closes for weird hippie events and private poetry readings and the like... so call in advance to make sure they're open!
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Wu Wei Tea Temple
1820 Sir Francis Drake BlvdIf you have even a hint of "new age hippie" in you, or if you just love the thought of a funky-cozy tea house with floor cusion seating, cacao drinks and other delectable elixirs, this is your jam. Strange hippie hours though, and often closes for weird hippie events and private poetry readings and the like... so call in advance to make sure they're open!
Bone Broth Ramen is delish and loaded with health benefits. Delicious beers on tap too. Family friendly. A safe bet!
Yuzu Ramen & Taproom
908 4th StBone Broth Ramen is delish and loaded with health benefits. Delicious beers on tap too. Family friendly. A safe bet!
Healthier, and very hearty burger. Good choice for families. I'm hungry for it now, actually.
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Farm Burger Marin
882 Sir Francis Drake BlvdHealthier, and very hearty burger. Good choice for families. I'm hungry for it now, actually.
Essentials
Trader Joe's
337 3rd StWho doesn't love TJs?
Whole Foods Market
340 3rd StA staple.
I must say, this is the most beautiful Target you'll ever see, location wise. It's right on the water beside Richmond bridge. A gorgeous area of San Rafael.
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Target
125 Shoreline PkwyI must say, this is the most beautiful Target you'll ever see, location wise. It's right on the water beside Richmond bridge. A gorgeous area of San Rafael.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great food, relaxed environment, kid-friendly play areas. Owned by members of the Grateful Dead band.
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Terrapin Crossroads
100 Yacht Club DrGreat food, relaxed environment, kid-friendly play areas. Owned by members of the Grateful Dead band.
Dive bar overlooking the canal that we often meet at for drinks and bad food. :) Pre-game for PTO events!
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Pier 15
15 Harbor StDive bar overlooking the canal that we often meet at for drinks and bad food. :) Pre-game for PTO events!
Haven't been personally but local friends love it. If you go, let us know what you think!
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Flatiron
724 B StreetHaven't been personally but local friends love it. If you go, let us know what you think!
Parks & Nature
Good hiking trails. Some bay "beaches" for standup paddle boarding or cooling off on a hot summer day.
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Parco Statale di China Camp
101 Peacock Gap TrailGood hiking trails. Some bay "beaches" for standup paddle boarding or cooling off on a hot summer day.
A must-see. Redwoods that reach to the sky. Shady, mossy, chilly, and just gorgeous.
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Monumento Nazionale Muir Woods
A must-see. Redwoods that reach to the sky. Shady, mossy, chilly, and just gorgeous.
Beautiful but cold. Wear layers. Be prepared for a stunning but very windy drive there.
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Spiaggia di Stinson
Beautiful but cold. Wear layers. Be prepared for a stunning but very windy drive there.
McInnis Skatepark
310 Smith Ranch RdGreat skate park. Next door to a mini golf place. Fun spot for the kids.
Not quite as pretty as Stinson Beach, but less of a winding drive, and overall easier to get to. Kids love it.
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Muir Beach
Not quite as pretty as Stinson Beach, but less of a winding drive, and overall easier to get to. Kids love it.
Never run out places to explore here. Museums, restaurants, natural beauty, culture. Magical that it's right in the heart of the city.
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Parco di Golden Gate
Never run out places to explore here. Museums, restaurants, natural beauty, culture. Magical that it's right in the heart of the city.
Beautiful cliffs, great waves, and a cute little Northern Cali community. Reminds us of some of our favorite beaches where we used to live in San Diego. An easier drive than Stinson beach.
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Bolinas Beach
Beautiful cliffs, great waves, and a cute little Northern Cali community. Reminds us of some of our favorite beaches where we used to live in San Diego. An easier drive than Stinson beach.
Great park for pre-school and elementary school aged kiddos. Swings, slides, monkey bars, sandbox, benches, picnic areas. My kids love it.
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Gerstle Park
San Rafael AvenueGreat park for pre-school and elementary school aged kiddos. Swings, slides, monkey bars, sandbox, benches, picnic areas. My kids love it.
Note: If you're walking from the house, Laurel Place is the right address. If driving, however, you want to go west on Mission until it curves around and almost becomes B street. The park is at the top of that hill/curve. They have a few 30 min. parking spots right on the street in front of the house-looking public building on the same property. This playground is really best suited to young kids. There is a small field though, if you want to picnic or just run around. This spot is almost always pretty quiet and empty, which is nice.
Boyd Memorial Park Playground
341 Laurel PlaceNote: If you're walking from the house, Laurel Place is the right address. If driving, however, you want to go west on Mission until it curves around and almost becomes B street. The park is at the top of that hill/curve. They have a few 30 min. parking spots right on the street in front of the house-looking public building on the same property. This playground is really best suited to young kids. There is a small field though, if you want to picnic or just run around. This spot is almost always pretty quiet and empty, which is nice.
Getting Around
Can easily get a bus from here to SFO, or to the Ferry Terminal at Larkspur Landing where you can take a ferry ride to the city.
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San Rafael Transit Center station
Can easily get a bus from here to SFO, or to the Ferry Terminal at Larkspur Landing where you can take a ferry ride to the city.
Larkspur Ferry Terminal station
101 E Sir Francis Drake BlvdGet a quick ferry to the city.
Shopping
Great outdoor shopping with cute courtyard, lots of outdoor dining. Has an International Orange (upscale spa). Cute outdoor play area for kids. Frequent live music. Delicious brunch, lunch, coffee and dinner spots. YogaWorks is here too if you want a high quality, safe yoga class to get you feeling grounded and open. Spend a whole day here. Directly across the street from the Larkspur Landing Ferry Terminal.
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Marin Country Mart
2257 Larkspur Landing CirGreat outdoor shopping with cute courtyard, lots of outdoor dining. Has an International Orange (upscale spa). Cute outdoor play area for kids. Frequent live music. Delicious brunch, lunch, coffee and dinner spots. YogaWorks is here too if you want a high quality, safe yoga class to get you feeling grounded and open. Spend a whole day here. Directly across the street from the Larkspur Landing Ferry Terminal.
Sightseeing
If you haven't visited Alcatraz yet, it's worth seeing. The audio tour is well done.
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Isola di Alcatraz
If you haven't visited Alcatraz yet, it's worth seeing. The audio tour is well done.
Pier 31
1398 The EmbarcaderoGotta go see the stinky seals if you're in the city.
Just a block away from the house, there is a pull-off spot where you can park, picnic if you want, and take in the view of downtown San Rafael and the Richmond Bridge.
Robert Dollar Drive & Tampa Drive
Just a block away from the house, there is a pull-off spot where you can park, picnic if you want, and take in the view of downtown San Rafael and the Richmond Bridge.