Thursday Evening Farmers Market and other San Rafael, CA Things to Do Tips

This was a great introduction to the town of San Rafael. Located on 4th street which is closed to traffic. We wandered up and down about six blocks of vendors selling everything from fedoras to raspberries. There were several barbeques, ribs, tacos etc so you could come for dinner while you decide on which hat or purse or skirt to buy. We enjoyed watching my friends son climb the wall and fight with swords. I especially enjoyed the Belgian Waffles-- the real thing not some imitation. The raspberries were huge, and the skirt was a bargin. Another thing I enjoyed were the bands at each intersection, good music as well.

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Directions: Old Town

The Marin Headlands Park is new and fairly unknown. We went there to see the seals which were the highlight of the day. But there were other things to do as well. We started at Golden Gate Bridge overlooking the entrance to the Bay. It is hard to miss that. But right away we were in a military bunker. Pocketed all along the strait dating from 1908, to WW1 and WW2 to more advanced Nike rockets were military bunkers and old gun placements. It was fascinating to imagine soldiers manning these places looking for attacks that never came.

Next was the Light House at Point Bonita. It was a short walk to the bridge which took us over the rocks to the lighthouse. Only two people at a time here so there was a little wait. We watched the ships coming and going into the bay. Then the walk down to the shore to see the seals and explore the tidal pools. Lunch was overlooking the ocean at another gun battery.

There is a great little visitors center with interactive displays about flora and fauna and the native peoples who populated this area. There were herons and fox at the lagoon and people flying kites on Rodeo Beach. Truly an interesting area, within sight of San Francisco but a world away.

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Directions: Also listed as Golden Gate Recreation area

We went to Muir Woods early Sunday morning. I guess if you come later it is crowded, but we enjoyed it without crowds. Even though the day was hot elsewhere the unique environment that made this a great place for Redwoods made it chilly--bring a jacket. To walk amid the forest created by trees up to a thousand years old is a humbling experience. Through the Cathedral part of the woods, where there are more concentrated large trees, there were signs asking us to be quiet and listen to the woods. There truly is a feeling, born of years of quiet growth. The main walk through the woods is level, paved (at least most of the way) and a gentle walk.

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Website: http://www.visitmuirwoods.com/

The San Andreas Fault separates Point Reyes and Tomales Peninsulas from the mainland. We made our way across the fault at Inverness, and like the town in Scotland the road followed a narrow body of water north. We left Point Reyes and the seashore and lighthouse there for another day. We headed North. We passed dairy farms still operating (H and F) and stopped at the empty one at the end of the road. This was the old Pierce Point Dairy Farm and the buildings are in good condition. Signs explain the different activities of each building. Considering the road we had traveled in modern car over paved roads we marveled at the remoteness of this place when it would have been in full operation. The butter they produced was shipped to San Francisco.

We were able to see several groups of elk. There were two or three bull elk bugling and keeping their herds separate from each other.

You can walk the length of the penisula- about a 9 mile hike with the bay on one side and the ocean on the other. We chose instead to head down to McClure beach. This is only one of several beaches on the peninsulas. It was a gentle quarter mile hike down to the shore of wide and soft sand where we sat on a log all afternoon. We watched the waves come in and saw some whales blowing off shore but never saw more than four other people. Swimming is not recommended due to currents. There was no charge for the farm or the Elk Preserve when we were there.

On the way back we stopped to shop at Point Reyes Station. A small town with California flavor. For shopping or eating it is the place to be.

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Website: http://www.nps.gov/pore/naturescience/tule_elk.htm

The Center is hard to miss. Just off Hwy 101 in San Rafael the large peach colored building with the blue roof sticks out like a sore thumb. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, he is said to have taken the idea from the surrounding landscape. Once you try to see the building as a hill and the roof as the sky it kind of makes sense. This is the only Wright building I have been in and the cohesiveness of design is the first thing to strike you. From the lights outside to the door handles to the atrium and gardens there is nothing over looked or left out of the overall design. Though this is a working government building there are docents available to give tours. We just did a quick walk through and even that was impressive. If you want to see Wright in action this is a good place to visit.

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Website: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CU/main/MC/mc_facilities.cfm

We made a brief visit to this cove in the north Bay which is of historic interest. In the 19th century chinese fisherman came to this camp and collected bay shrimp. They used methods common in China and were so successful that they were shut down by laws enacted specifically to target them. The small museum has original equipment and explanations which were very enlightening.

China Camp Park itself is much larger than the small cove where the original settlement was. The park offers hiking trails along the bay and over the hills. There is apparently someone who still lives on the beach and there is a small restaurant which is open occasionally.

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