San Rafael Travel Guide

  View from the top down to SF and bay...
by Rebecca76
 
  • View from the top down to SF and bay area
      View from the top down to SF and bay...
    by Rebecca76
  • San Rafael, Marin County Civic Center, exterior
      San Rafael, Marin County Civic Center,...
    by egonwegh
  • California poppies
      California poppies
    by karenincalifornia
  • North San Rafael and San Pablo Bay
      North San Rafael and San Pablo Bay
    by karenincalifornia
  •   San Rafael
    by Yubert
 

Pro

karenincalifornia profile photo

 Mediterranean type weather, beautiful scenery, local news that reads like a comedy 


Con

karenincalifornia profile photo

 No ice skating rink, NIMBYism 


In a nutshell

Segolily profile photo

 The other end of San Francisco Bay 

 

Explore San Rafael

Things to Do  

San Rafael Mission

San Rafael Mission, San Rafael

 3 Reviews  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 Mexican government, and by 1844 it was abandoned. In 1863, President Lincoln signed an act returning... 

China Camp Park

China Camp Park, San Rafael

 4 Reviews  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 few people, if not none at all. But it has its deficiencies. There is no real beach, so it's not a... 

Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market, San Rafael

 3 Reviews  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... 

Marin County Center

Marin County Center, San Rafael

 3 Reviews  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 Wright. 

Muir Beach

Muir Beach, San Rafael

 1 Review  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 early 1900s, the land owners chose to name the area after Muir to preserve his legacy. Muir Woods... 

Looney Lu'au

Looney Lu'au, San Rafael

 7 Reviews  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 prepared wonderful Hawaiian delicacies for us. Baby Chito just did what he does best: Pose there and look... 

San Quentin State Prison

San Quentin State Prison, San Rafael

 1 Review  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 death row and is where all of the state's executions are carried out. Famous prisoners included... 

Marin County Fair

Marin County Fair, San Rafael

 1 Review  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 small children; photography, arts & crafts, and magic shows; animal exhibits and demonstrations,... 

Martian Civic Center

Martian Civic Center, San Rafael

 1 Review  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 for the Planet Naboo in his Star Wars series. In the 1970s it was notorious as the site of a courtroom... 

Muir Woods

Muir Woods, San Rafael

 1 Review  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... 

Rafael Theatre

Rafael Theatre, San Rafael

 1 Review  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 selection at that. This art deco style theatre was renovated a few years ago. The main theatre is... 

Elegant Cinema

Elegant Cinema, San Rafael

 1 Review  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 the Rafael Theater -- now has three screens and specializes in independent, classic, and foreign... 

Hotels  

Gerstle Park Inn

 58 Opinions

Four Points By Sheraton San Rafael

 2 Reviews and 237 Opinions  We stayed at this hotel for one weekday night in August, 2008. We paid $91 USD total on a priceline... 

Restaurants  

Red Boy Pizza

Red Boy Pizza, San Rafael

 2 Reviews  First off, this place rocks. I dont make travelogue for nothing. Best pizza I have had west of the hills. Set up with sidewalk seating this was a truly wonderful way to spend the evening with Mark, Jess, Jackie and Wayne. We tried two creations. BBQ chicken and the Devils Dare. I can't tell you much... 

Transportation  

Larkspur Ferry

Larkspur Ferry, San Rafael

 Segolily Says:  One day I took the Larkspur Ferry from San Rafael in to San Francisco. $6.75 for one way it was much less hectic than driving plus free parking. I sat out front and watched the scenery go by, but most of the ferry (pedestrian only) was enclosed and protected from the... 

Shopping  

Ponsford's Place: Stellar Breads and Pastries

Ponsford's Place: Stellar Breads and Pastries, San Rafael

 Rixie Says:  If you're craving some really good bread or pastries for your picnic or a snack, stop by Ponsford's Place, a tiny neighborhood bakery owned by Craig Ponsford, one of the shining stars of artisan baking in the U.S. As a young man in 1996, Ponsford won a gold medal for his... 

Local Customs  

Italian Street Painting Festival

Italian Street Painting Festival, San Rafael

 karenincalifornia Says:  Every year, on the second weekend of June (one weekend before Father's Day), the City of San Rafael holds the annual Italian Street Painting Festival. The festival draws about 60,000 people and benefits Youth in Arts, a nonprofit organization that funds, you guessed it, arts... 

Warnings and Dangers  

Food / Drink

Food / Drink, San Rafael

 24 Reviews  This is an Alton Brown recipe, "Moo-less Chocolate Pie." It turned out delicious! 2 cups chocolate chips, 1/3 cup coffee liqueur 1 block silken tofu 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon honey 1 prepared chocolate wafer crust Place a small metal bowl over a saucepan with simmering water. Melt the... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Mission Dolores

Mission Dolores, San Rafael

 Segolily Says:  While Mission Dolores is off the beaten path for San Rafael it is right in the heart of history of the San Francisco area. This was the first white settlement in the Bay area. Begun in 1776, while Jefferson and friends were fighting for freedom from England Father Francisco... 

Sports & Outdoors  

I love my gym

I love my gym, San Rafael

 jessicadf Says:  Nautilus of Marin is in the heart of downtown San Rafael. It's a great gym with not only plenty of weight training and cardio equipment, but a WIIIIDE array of classes from martial arts to yoga. From pilates to Fencing. Workout Equipment includes:Nautilus Cybex Hammer... 

Favorites  

Marin County Info

Marin County Info, San Rafael

 3 Reviews  San Rafael began flourishing as a city in the mid 1800's. The late 1800's attracted a lot of new residents, and many Victorian houses from that era have remained. Here in California, we think this is old. This Victorian house is now the Marin County Museum. The museum is small but does offer some... 

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