San Rafael Things to Do

Originally a sub mission to San Francsico's Mission Dolores, San Rafael Arcángel was established as an independent mission in 1822. In 1834 San Rafael's mission was the first to be secularized by the...

Buckeye Point is part of China Camp State Park. I like this spot, kinda, because it is a short walk to the water, and it has an outdoor shower. Also a restroom. It's hardly used so there normally are...

Here are the hard-working Hostesses of the event! Jessica was the PASTRY CHEF EXTRAORDINAIRE and baked all kinds of wonderful, exotic goodies! Annapet was her usual Galloping Gourmet Chef and...

Public library at the Marin County Civic Center. Not a spectacular collection, but a great spot for a library, the room is right underneath the cupola of this amazing building designed by Frank Lloyd...

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...

San Quentin State Prison is located just a few miles from San Rafael. It was opened in 1852 and is the oldest prison still in use in California. San Quentin is most famous as being California's male...

John Muir was a Scottish-born naturalist and preservationist who helped protect the Yosemite Valley. When the last stand of redwoods was preserved in the area immediately north of San Francisco in the...

The best movie theatre in San Rafael -- You won't find Star Wars, Harry Potter or James Bond movies here. San Rafael Film Center only shows US independent and international films and a great...

The Marin County Fair is held every year in San Rafael over the Fourth of July weekend, and it's fun for the whole family. There's an amusement park with all kinds of rides, many of them suitable for...

It's actually called the Marin Civic Center, but I've always thought that it more closely resembles a Martian city. George Lucas must have thought so, too, because it supposedly was his inspiration...

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...

If you have time, take in a film at the Rafael Film Center, which has undergone an elegant remodel. The Center -- which I remember as an old-fashioned art deco theater in its previous incarnation as...