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FRIDAY, July 26, 2019
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Little piece of paradise: Mill Valley, California JANE CASSIE
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ailboards skitter across the breezy bay waters far below as we bridge the gap from San Francisco to Marin Peninsula across the Golden Gate. Stretching across 4,200 feet, it was the world’s largest bridge when it opened in 1937 and, although the record has been surpassed many times, it continues to exemplify an icon of unique beauty. Driving 15 minutes north of the Golden Gate, is our home base for the weekend, the charming village of Mill Valley, where narrow tree-lined streets boast delightful shops and upscale restaurants. Protective hills border its three sides offering endless trails for hikers and cyclists. The towering backdrop of Mount Tamalpais creates an Alpine-like village feel. Founded in 1834 by Irishborn, John Reed, the head of this narrow and heavily-wooded valley was a prime location for his thriving sawmill. Today, just blocks from the popular hub, the restored landmark still stands amidst Old Mill Park’s redwoods. Other historical keepsakes include the 1902 Outdoor Art Club structure, which serves as a meeting site for town events. Since 1905, this locale has also been home to the Dypsea Race. Every year, thousands of participants run this grueling 11 kilometres of madness that extends from Mill Valley’s town square to Stinson Beach (via the 2,600 vertical foot rise of Mount Tamalpais). Our weekend home base is The Mill Valley Inn, a sophisticated boutique-style hotel where pampering guest rooms, an executive penthouse suite and creek-
JANE CASSIE PHOTOS
TOP: Tuscany-style Mill Valley Inn portrays a sophisticated living experience that is found throughout Mill Valley, 15 minutes north of San Francisco across Marin Peninsula. FROM LEFT: Exploring this artsy community from open market shopping, walks along the beach under the famous Golden Gate Bridge or taking in old-town experiences are but a few of the many experiences to discover during a visit to Mill Valley, Ca.
side cottages are decked out with posh Tuscany-style interiors. Many offer Franklin fireplaces, and some, like ours, spoil with soaker-tubs big enough for two. A wine and cheese spread is offered every afternoon and a continental-style buffet of ovenbaked pastries, waffles, seasonal fruits and fresh-squeezed juices fuels us every morning before heading out to see the sights. Hiking in the region is reported to be phenomenal, whether
you venture up magnificent Mount Tam, do an all-dayer on Marin’s Dipsea trail, which links the Mill Valley core to the Pacific Coast, trek through misty redwood groves of Muir Woods, or, like us, simply explore a few trails closer to home. A short distance from the inn, we stroll along a creek bed that parallels winding Throckmorton Drive. The scattering of prestigious thatch-roofed homes appears protected from man-
kind’s nearby urban sprawl. This community, metaphorically, resembles the prosperous folk who reside here — those who choose to escape the maddening San Francisco crowds in an effort to discover peace and tranquility. Working our way back and through the town, we browse and savour the flavour of Mill Valley Market, a historical family run grocery store that made its debut in 1929.
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Row upon row of gourmet edibles tantalize our taste buds, a delightful deli department gets us drooling and the many aisles of wine and beer offerings satisfy the fussiest connoisseur. With food in our bellies, we’re recharged and revitalized. Sauntering along the winding sun-splashed streets, we discover local talents in a string of art galleries, browse through everything-you-need-to-get-fit sports shops and take a break at the Depot Bookstore and coffee bar. Lytton Square is the central hub and meeting point of Mill Valley. Here, we’re entertained by a variety of folk, both young and old. Some frolic on skateboards, others challenge on chessboards and a few create on art boards. For more browsing and buying, a short 10-minute drive will lead you to the seaside town of Sausalito, where more artisans hawk their wares, musicians reveal their talents and sailboats bob happily in Richards Bay. This enchanting artsy community is much like its neighbour, Tiburon, located on the other side of the bay. They each offer world-class dining, both playing a historical role in the development of the bay area. They share accessibility to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf via the Blue and Gold Fleet Ferries. Diversified arts, street entertainment and a great romantic retreat is what we found. Outdoor adventure, exquisite dining and wonderful vistas is what we enjoyed. A quote from our taxi driver summed it up well, when, as we were heading out of town proudly stated, “There’s so much to enjoy in Mill Valley, it’s really hard to keep this little piece of paradise a secret.” Travel Writers’ Tales can be found online at travelwriterstales.com.
Photo: New England
Photo: Churchill Polar Bears Photo: Churchill Polar Bears
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