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Mountain Bike Trails (moderate)
karenincalifornia Says: I like these trails because they follow well maintained fire roads, and aren't outrageously steep like the killer hills closest to my house. Not all the trails permit bikes, so make sure you know where you are going. As a general rule, you are fine on any of the fire roads....
Martin_S. Says: Zohara was totally surprised when we entered Jessica and Mark's dining room to begin the VT EATS part of the meet and found that she had a birthday cake for her birthday, it was a great surprise. But then we all got down to eating all the food everyone had prepared, each...
VT Meet part II, Tal's car madness
Martin_S. Says: I must admit that our daughter Tal is a car freak..she sees special cars that she likes and it is amazing to see her eyes light up...so when Al and Carol both arrived at the VT meet at Jessica and Mark's in CONVERTIBLES, well the fireworks began...and to make it even better,...
Martin_S. Says: Thanks to Jessica and Mark, who invited us into their home for a VT meet when we came to California we were able to meet some of the fantastic people of VTCalifornia. We met Jessica and Mark of course, but also Al and his wife, Julie and Jo, Smurti and her boyfriend and...
Hike in the Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve
karenincalifornia Says: Just north of Novato are hundreds of acres of open space with beautiful hiking trails. I like the Mount Burdell area because of its natural beauty and feeling of being in a remote area. The hike goes through bay laurel forests, over streams, and through grassy meadows dotted...
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Kitchen: The restaurants in Novato are improving
karenincalifornia Says: I used to have a tip posted here with words of praise for Novato's Kitchen Restaurant. I've erased that because we went back last Thursday and everyone's dish was mediocre. My salad was overpriced considering I only got a couple of leaves of lettuce, some tiny crescent...
KITCHEN: TWO BAD DINING EXPERIENCES IN A ROW
Chasen Says: When you open the door to this relatively new restaurant in Old Town Novato, the first impression is "warm and cozy". After being seated everything went downhill very quickly. We had a table for four and I was the only vegetarian, so my choices were rather limited . I...
Las Guitarras: Decent Mexican food
karenincalifornia Says: Las Guitarras has pretty good Mexican food, although like most Bay Area Mexican restaurants, the food it serves is not spicy. However, it is tasty enough, and the margaritas are fairly good. The restaurant is located in a small cottage (not your typical stucco building). It...
California Grill and Rotisery: Great grilling!
jessicadf Says: Housed in a former A&W location, this place looks a little dive-ish, if you know what I mean. However, it's a great place to go if you want some good ribs or grilled tri-tip or chicken. The formerly outdoor patio is covered in a tent-like structure, with plastic walls, and...
Kitchen at eigh sixty-eight grant: Finally a really GOOD restaurant in Novato!!
jessicadf Says: A small restaurant that is generally full, so you'd better make reservations, this place is great! We'd been hearing about it for months but hadn't had the opportunity to go there. On the spur of the moment, 6 of us decided to go there for an early dinner. We arrived at 5:30...
Bit-a-Honey: The "hip" bar -- ick
jessicadf Says: I suppose this is the "hip" bar to visit in Novato. But I can't help but have an aversion to it. While it's got the nicest interior of lots of hard wood, there's something about it that I just don't like. Too snotty. Too fern-bar. Too... I don't know. But it's been a long...
The Viking Lounge: A dive bar to visit
jessicadf Says: This bar is oddly placed, on Redwood Boulevard, near the corner of Grant Avenue. Yes, it's downtown. But it looks so odd from the outside. Grey painted cinderblocks with some darkened windows to look out on the commuter traffic.Go inside and see paintings of viking boats,...
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The park is located three miles north of Novato on U.S. 101. The entrance is accessible only to southbound traffic from Highway 101. Northbound vehicles should continue north past the park and make a safe U-Turn at San Antonio Road, in order to travel south and enter the park.
Written Oct 4, 2002
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On Tuesdays, from 4 to 7, during the Summertime, a few blocks off of Grant Avenue are closed for the Farmer's Market. There you can buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, baked goods and some delicious roasted chickens or barbecue... a great way to do your shopping!
What to buy: Whatever is fresh and sweet and ripe.
What to pay: Less than the grocery stores
Written Jun 27, 2004
karenincalifornia Says: Marin County is made up of 19 separate public school districts. Like the rest of Marin County, Novato strongly supports its public school district and is willing to tax itself to supplement the substandard funding provided by the State of California. Novato recently passed a...
We're not the only ones on the planet...
jessicadf Says: ...remember the creatures great and small. Don't forget to look down. While these kinds of caterpillars remind me of childhood and they're so soft and fuzzy... I know they spell a bad year for the oak trees. They're hungry little buggers.
jessicadf Says: The Marin Humane Society is located in Novato. Here you can find all kinds of domestic animals who are looking for loving homes.
jessicadf Says: Living in the paddock with the pony is this little donkey. Or is it a mule? I never can remember. Let's call it a burro and split the difference? Regardless, it's very laid back, with a sweet disposition.
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There are numerous horse stables in Novato, but my favorite is Willow Tree Stables. There you can take lessons in Western and English style riding, as well as rent horses for a trail ride (the stables provides a leader for the trail ride). In the Summer, they have Sunset rides where you can ride up the hills and along the ridges to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.
Monte, the owner, is a great teacher and skilled horsewoman. Highly recommended!
Equipment: Wear boots with a heel, so your feet can be snug in the stirrups and wear long pants. A hat and sunscreen are good if you're riding in the sun a lot.
Written Jun 17, 2004
Address: 2901 Vineyard Road, Novato, CA 94947
Phone: (415) 897-8212
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Favorite thing: Novato, California is the northernmost city in Marin
County, approximately twenty-nine miles north of San Francisco
and thirty-seven miles northwest of Oakland. Novato covers twenty-eight
square miles. As of the 2000 Census, Novato has a population of 47,630
which is 76.3% White, 13.1% Hispanic, 5.1% Asian, 1.9% Black and 3.6%
all other races.
The highest point in Novato is Mt. Burdell at 1,558 feet. The
elevation in downtown Novato is 18 feet. The mean annual temperature
is 67 degrees, with an average minimum of 46 degrees and an average
maximum of 71 degrees. Rainfall averages approximately 27.5 inches
per year. Novato is California's 151st largest city.
The City of Novato was incorporated on January 20, 1960 as a general
law city. The City Council is made up of five members, elected
at large, serving four-year terms. The Mayor is selected for a
one-year term from among the members of the City Council. The
City operates under a council-manager form of government. The
City Council appoints the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk.
*Picture courtesy of marin.org.
Updated Jun 17, 2004
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Once was my home and now it's home again
Hi all and welcome to my childhood hometown! After 16 years since my inital departure, I've moved back to Novato. And boy is my father happy! "Hello neighbor," he exclaimed upon news that my offer had...
Although some locals will take issue with this description, Novato, California is mainly a bedroom community of San Francisco. It has a population of over 47,000, but has a relatively small commercial...
Home of the Miwok Indians for 6,000 years. Volunteers, including descendants of Miwok's, helped recreate part of a Miwok Village. Just .4 mile from Ranger quarters. Seven hundred acres and eight...
Meet Jessica and her husband Mark, they opened their home to us and provided a great atmosphere for the BBQ. Jessica I DO know it is easier to take people out to a restaurant, but having the BBQ in......
And the Marin Tour '04 continues on....
As I continue along on my tour of Marin my latest stop is here in Novato. Just here about 12 hours now so no new pics yet. Give me some time......
Build your own Novato page
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