San Rafael – City of Culture
San Rafael is the county seat and offers a lively business and cultural center located in an area of natural beauty.
At the city’s heart is its charming, vibrant downtown shopping district. The mixture of Victorian buildings, ethnic restaurants, retail stores and financial institutions creates San Rafael’s hometown flavor.
In the center of town is the new San Rafael City Plaza, with its innovative water wall fountain. The plaza has become a community gathering place and the center of seasonal events such as the Thursday night farmers market.
San Rafael’s history is present in many of its beautifully restored turn-of-the century buildings, including the Marin History Museum, the Falkirk Cultural Center, and Dominican University. Many of these buildings are featured in a self-guided walking tour guide, available at the local Chamber of Commerce.
The Marin County Civic Center, home to the county’s government offices and an architectural treasure, is a national and state-designated historical landmark. Designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, self-guided or docent-led tours are available on weekdays.
Parklands and open space account for nearly 30-percent of the city’s land. Since it borders the San Pablo Bay, San Rafael has an abundance of marinas and many water-oriented recreational activities are available. Nature lovers will appreciate the quiet beauty of China Camp State Park, a 1600-acre park with hiking and biking trails and overnight campsites. The park’s visitor center presents the site’s interesting history as a Chinese immigrant shrimping village.
Guide Dogs are a familiar sight on San Rafael’s streets, in restaurants, and on buses. That is because San Rafael is home to Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., where dogs are raised and trained to assist blind people.
San Rafael school children attend elementary, middle school and high school in the San Rafael School District.
Search San Rafael for homes for sale on the MLS, and give me a call or email if you find something you are interested in viewing.
