Manor Hill, Fairfax, CA

Manor Hill rises on the west side of downtown Fairfax, a hillside whose streets are named for what grows and shows there: Redwood, Spruce, Sequoia, Manzanita, Scenic and Mountain View. It is a short descent to the center of town from almost any of them. The housing is a blend of small cottages, shingled and wood-sided homes, and a few contemporary remodels among the trees, with roads that bend around the hillside instead of running in a grid. Decks and garden terraces are common, since the lots slope, and the redwoods give many yards a cool, shaded look. Manor Road and Wreden Avenue are among its named streets. Open space is right at hand. Peri Park, formally the Andy Peri Memorial Playground, sits at 16 Park Road beside the community Pavilion and the farmers market, with redwood shade, picnic tables and a stage for outdoor performances. Bolinas Park is a few steps away, and the Cascade Falls trail starts about a mile off. Places to eat cluster on Bolinas Road at the bottom of the hill. Sorella Caffe is known for cioppino and ravioli, La Gastronomia di Porchetta serves Tuscan-style porchetta sandwiches, and 123 Bolinas pours wine alongside local oysters. For a morning pastry head to Taste Kitchen & Table, and for coffee to The Coffee Roastery. Daily life leans on those same few blocks. The Wednesday evening market is close enough to visit on the way home, and the organic grocery is nearby on Center Boulevard. Routes 23 and 68 stop along Sir Francis Drake for the ride to San Rafael. Hills set the pace in Manor Hill. The drop into town is easy, and the climb back is the part to plan around, especially with bags in hand. Most people end up combining the walk down with a ride or a drive back.