Fairfax, CA

Fairfax sits at the western end of Marin's Ross Valley, where Sir Francis Drake Boulevard leaves San Anselmo and runs straight into redwood slopes and the Mount Tamalpais watershed. San Rafael is a few miles east, and the road to Highway 101 goes through San Anselmo. The town incorporated in 1931. The parts of town differ mostly by how far they are from that main street. Downtown Fairfax holds the bars, cafes and the community Pavilion along Bolinas Road and Broadway. Cascade Canyon and Deer Park run up creeks and fire roads on the south and southwest sides, each ending at trail access. Manor Hill climbs the slope west of downtown, with streets named for redwoods and sequoias. Fairfax Heights-Marinda Oaks and Oak Manor fill the north side, with mid-century houses and early views of the ridge. Homes overall mix cedar-shingled cottages, lodge-style houses and mid-century modern places, with decks, garden terraces and redwood shade. Outdoors is the reason many people come. Cascade Falls is a roughly one-mile hike from the town center, Lake Lagunitas and Bon Tempe Lake lie farther up the watershed, and Loma Alta rises to the north. Mountain bikers call Fairfax the birthplace of their sport, and a museum on the boulevard tells the story. Food and drink in Fairfax lean local. Peri's Silver Dollar Bar has been a stage for local bands across more than eight decades, Village Sake pairs Japanese small plates with sake, and Barefoot Cafe makes seasonal organic breakfasts. Good Earth Natural Foods has been an all-organic grocery since 1969. In summer the annual festival adds three music stages, a flea market and a parade, and the Wednesday evening market runs through the warm months. Getting around works best with a car, though two Marin Transit lines, 23 and 68, run along the boulevard, with the 68 continuing to Point Reyes and Inverness. The Larkspur ferry terminal is a short drive for San Francisco commuters. The honest limit is that nearly every trip east uses the same boulevard. In return, the creek, the library and the trailheads sit within minutes of each other, so errands, a hike and an evening out rarely need more than one short drive.