California Real Estate & Relocation Guide

San Rafael, California

Population: 48,404

Located in Marin County

San Rafael, located halfway between San Francisco and California's famous wine country, is Marin's oldest city. It is the largest, and is the County Seat. San Rafael is also Marin's central city. Located in the center of the county's eastern urban corridor, San Rafael is the county's governmental, business, and cultural center. San Rafael is approximately 12 to 16miles to the Golden Gate Bridge. 56,657 people call San Rafael home.

Recreation:
China Camp State Park features hiking, equestrian and biking trails, boat launches, fishing piers on San Pablo bay. One of the more fascinating historic sites in San Rafael, this 1,648-acre bayside park acquired its name from a Chinese fishing village that once flourished there. China Camp has hiking and horseback riding and biking trails with sweeping views of San Pablo Bay to the east, and San Rafael and the San Francisco Bay to the west. Boat launches, fishing piers, windsurfing, and plenty of picnic tables and barbecue pits round out the park's features.

Along the park, San Pedro Road hugs the shores of San Pablo Bay for a breathtaking view of the North Bay panoramas. The road is studded with jutting points with parking, barbecue pits and picnic tables. Remnants of an old pier dating back to the founding of China Camp are off Buckeye Point. People still fish there. Also visit a preserved fisherman's cottage and the China Camp Museum. Located in the original shrimp processing plant, the museum offers self-guided tours showing photos and tools of China Camp in its heyday.

Marin is a bicyclist's paradise. It is also the birthplace of mountain biking. There are many locations favored by cyclists. Favorites include Lake Lagunitas for an easy ride. The most scenic is the 11.2-mile Bolinas Ridge ride.

McNEAR'S BEACH PARK
McNear's Beach is one of Marin's most popular recreation areas, located off Point San Pedro Road near Peacock Gap. The 35-acre recreational area offers an outdoor swimming pool, fishing pier, two tennis courts, numerous family and group picnic areas with barbecues, and almost a mile of sandy beaches.

FALKIRK CULTURAL CENTER
Built in 1888, the former home of Scottish shipping magnate Robert Dollar is typical of the elaborate Queen Anne style. The 17-room mansion was purchased through public bonds in 1974 to be preserved as a historic and cultural resource. This national landmark is surrounded by 11 acres of formal grounds, natural wooded hillside and a sculpture garden. Falkirk exhibits contemporary art in the upstairs galleries and sponsors events throughout the year with other cultural organizations.

At the heart of the Falkirk Cultural Center is a Contemporary Art Gallery with changing exhibitions featuring prominent Marin and Bay Area artists. However, art is not the only cultural offering Falkirk provides. Seasonal public events such as Alice in Wonderland Egg Hunt and the Victorian Holiday and Dickens Celebration have become popular traditions at the Falkirk Cultural Center.

Falkirk also holds art classes For Kids Only, and Poetry Readings as well as hosting workshops and lectures on a variety of subjects. The 1888 Victorian Mansion sits on eleven beautiful tree-shaded acres and is an elegant site for private events. With a maximum capacity of 125 people the Center is available to rent for weddings, anniversaries, Bar Mitzvahs, holiday celebrations, memorial services and private parties.

MISSION SAN RAFAEL ARCANGEL
Mission San Rafael Arcangel is a 1949 replica of the original Mission, which was constructed in 1817 and was second to last in the California mission chain. The building has been restored and includes a gift shop and small museum. The small, charming chapel is open to the public daily.

Real Estate:
San Rafael offers a wide variety of housing, from Victorian homes to smaller tracts to hillside estates to waterfront property. Prices for 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes range from $575,000 to $1,200,000 with the median sold price being $543,500. Famous for its favorable climate, San Rafael makes a wonderful and popular place for people who are looking for peace and tranquility amongst beautiful settings.