Welcome! This year, once again, while deciding which local attractions most qualify for “Best of the County 2018,” we asked you, the reader, to weigh in online. And you did, casting more than 400 votes in categories like food, drink, and day and nighttime fun. In the following pages writer Calin Van Paris highlights our editors’ picks, also indicating the ones you thought were tops. Did we miss a real standout in the following pages? As always, let us know — we love feedback … and we love Marin.
Night Light
The glow of the full moon makes these popular outdoor jaunts all the more magical.
Sea Trek’s Full Moon Paddle is an opportunity for a kayak-bound night ride along the Sausalito waterfront, while OnBoardSUP’s version will have you (very nearly) walking on water (Sausalito).
Mount Tam is a moonlit wonderland on Friends of Mt. Tam’s Saturday full moon hikes (Mill Valley).
In September, the San Francisco Bay Trail at Hamilton is the place to be for the Marin Moonlight Run, a 5K or 10K under the stars (Novato).
An outing with Blue Waters Kayaking might reveal bioluminescence (the production and emission of light by a living organism) or just the joy of a boat ride under the full moon (Inverness).
Listen Up
Authors and influencers flock to Marin to speak their truth. And locals favor these reading and lecture venues for an evening of wisdom with an extra infusion of community.
Book Passage (Sausalito, Corte Madera).
Copperfield’s Books (San Rafael).
Depot Bookstore and Cafe (Mill Valley).
MPSF Speaker Series (San Rafael).
Point Reyes Books (Point Reyes Station).
See Them Live
Our county has long had a beloved music scene, and these idiosyncratic establishments maintain that status with live grooves in all genres.
19 BROADWAY NIGHTCLUB (Fairfax).
HOPMONK TAVERN (Novato).
RANCHO NICASIO (Nicasio).
SAUSALITO CRUISING CLUB (Sausalito).
SWEETWATER MUSIC HALL (Mill Valley).
TERRAPIN CROSSROADS (San Rafael).
Luxury Loungers
Have you caught a flick in Novato lately? If so, you know the future of movie-going has arrived — and it’s comfortable enough to make you ditch your living room. Before heading to Century Rowland Plaza for the latest big screen blockbuster, go online (or arrive early) to reserve the best seats in the house. But considering that all of the theater’s vintage chairs have been replaced by electric-powered, reclining, oversize plush iterations replete with footrests, any seat will do, really. Century Rowland Plaza (Novato).
Dine Past Nine
Many Marin restaurants close around 10, but these haunts stay open well into the night. Pete’s 881 Club, the county’s only card room, even “moonlights” as a poker hangout until 2 a.m. (and legally, too).
FINNEGAN’S MARIN Open until midnight (Novato).
IN-N-OUT Open until 1 a.m. (Mill Valley, Novato).
PETE’S 881 CLUB Kitchen open until 1 a.m. (San Rafael).
SOL FOOD San Rafael location open until midnight (Mill Valley, San Rafael).
SPINNAKER Open until 11 p.m. (Sausalito).
