Lagunitas Forest Knolls, CA

Lagunitas-Forest Knolls is a pair of small villages on the road west from San Rafael, through the San Geronimo Valley of West Marin, west of San Rafael and Novato. The road crosses White Hill from San Rafael, follows the valley west, and ends up in the redwoods around Lagunitas Creek, with Point Reyes beyond. Forest Knolls is the eastern village, a stretch of cafe, saloon and open hills where the valley feels widest. Lagunitas, to the west, is where the road narrows toward the big state park, with a small cluster of shops at the last bend before the trees. The two blend into each other without a clear line, and a drive from one to the other takes a few minutes. Homes across Lagunitas-Forest Knolls lean small and woodsy. Many started as summer cabins when a development company carved up the valley, and some have been added onto over the years. Redwoods and bay trees shade a good part of the lots, and the creek is close in places. The outdoors is the main reason to be here. Camping, creekside paths and the long ridge climb to Barnabe Peak belong to Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Roy's Redwoods and Gary Giacomini Open Space, both county preserves, give shorter walks among old-growth trees or across golden grass. Eating is a short list with strong personalities. Pump Espresso Bar is the coffee stop in Forest Knolls, the Western Gate does the same job in Lagunitas, and Papermill Creek Saloon pulls a crowd for music. Over in San Geronimo, dinner at Two Bird Café comes with live music on weekends. Daily life leans on the car. The Lagunitas General Store handles basics and has a deli, while larger shopping means heading over White Hill. Marin Transit's Route 68 connects the boulevard to the San Rafael Transit Center and out to Inverness, with a bus every hour or two. That single road is both the appeal and the constraint, since it keeps traffic light and the valley quiet but leaves little room for spontaneous trips. Most people living in Lagunitas-Forest Knolls plan their errands in batches and treat the long drive as the price of living beside the redwoods. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is the community's lifeline, which is convenient until traffic or weather slows the only practical route through the valley.