Guidebook for Mill Valley
Parks & Nature
The big trees are spectacular. My special tip is that if you're up for a medium rigorous hike with ups and downs you can avoid the very busy official parking lot by instead parking at the public lot on Panoramic Highway across from the Mountain Home Inn. Bring a map! It will take an about an hour to descend down the trails to the heart of Muir Woods and another hour to hike back up - plus whatever time you spend in the park's main corridor. Bonus: The Mountain Home Inn is a great place for a drink and a meal with fabulous outdoor deck views.
660 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Muir Woods National Monument
The big trees are spectacular. My special tip is that if you're up for a medium rigorous hike with ups and downs you can avoid the very busy official parking lot by instead parking at the public lot on Panoramic Highway across from the Mountain Home Inn. Bring a map! It will take an about an hour to descend down the trails to the heart of Muir Woods and another hour to hike back up - plus whatever time you spend in the park's main corridor. Bonus: The Mountain Home Inn is a great place for a drink and a meal with fabulous outdoor deck views.
It's a skinny trail that skirts along the side of a steep hill with great views of the surrounding area and the ocean. It's flat and sunny, Great for the whole family to take a walk. It's about 1 to 1 1/2 miles before you reach the Tourist Club, which is private but sometimes open to the public on weekends to purchase beer on tap and snacks. Or you can stay on public trails and bypass the Tourist Club further into the forest above Muir Woods.
Sun Trail
Sun TrailIt's a skinny trail that skirts along the side of a steep hill with great views of the surrounding area and the ocean. It's flat and sunny, Great for the whole family to take a walk. It's about 1 to 1 1/2 miles before you reach the Tourist Club, which is private but sometimes open to the public on weekends to purchase beer on tap and snacks. Or you can stay on public trails and bypass the Tourist Club further into the forest above Muir Woods.
Everything Else
This is my favorite local beach -- closer to home, smaller and more dramatic scenery than Stinson Beach
170 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Muir Beach
This is my favorite local beach -- closer to home, smaller and more dramatic scenery than Stinson Beach
I've been taking my kids to this park since they were tiny. Especially good on a hot day because there is lots of shade. It's a 5 minute walk from our house
30 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Old Mill Park
64 Cascade DrI've been taking my kids to this park since they were tiny. Especially good on a hot day because there is lots of shade. It's a 5 minute walk from our house
So much wholesome deliciousness here. Not the cheapest market in town but it's the closest. A 15-minute walk.
73 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mill Valley Market
12 Corte Madera AveSo much wholesome deliciousness here. Not the cheapest market in town but it's the closest. A 15-minute walk.
I just have to point that the closest commercial establishment to my house - a 10-minute walk - is a brewpub. How great is that? They make some very good beer. They also serve gourmet food.
68 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mill Valley Beerworks
173 Throckmorton AveI just have to point that the closest commercial establishment to my house - a 10-minute walk - is a brewpub. How great is that? They make some very good beer. They also serve gourmet food.
Does Mill Valley really need two Whole Foods markets? This one is 5 minutes further driving than the other one but it's newer, bigger and offers more prepared food options, like burritos made to order
185 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Whole Foods Market
731 E Blithedale AveDoes Mill Valley really need two Whole Foods markets? This one is 5 minutes further driving than the other one but it's newer, bigger and offers more prepared food options, like burritos made to order
If you like German beer and don't mind drinking it on a sunny deck overlooking a stunning forest of redwoods, then check the website to see if the club is open to the public this coming weekend.
Nature Friends Tourist Club San Francisco
30 Ridge AveIf you like German beer and don't mind drinking it on a sunny deck overlooking a stunning forest of redwoods, then check the website to see if the club is open to the public this coming weekend.
Exercise. Walk these steps every day and you will live long and prosper.
42 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dipsea Trail
Dipsea TrailExercise. Walk these steps every day and you will live long and prosper.
A mellow walk through a beautiful coastal valley to a gorgeous beach that even kids can do (with enough motivation).
103 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tennessee Valley Trailhead
591 Tennessee Valley RoadA mellow walk through a beautiful coastal valley to a gorgeous beach that even kids can do (with enough motivation).
Drinks & Nightlife
Do you love music? Look online to see what's playing here. This is the number one live music venue north of San Francisco. It's a local legend and it's partly owned by Bob Weir. It also has great food and a nice patio for outdoor dining.
166 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sweetwater Music Hall
19 Corte Madera AveDo you love music? Look online to see what's playing here. This is the number one live music venue north of San Francisco. It's a local legend and it's partly owned by Bob Weir. It also has great food and a nice patio for outdoor dining.
Food Scene
Asian street food - including Pad Thai - prepared healthy and yummy. The pork bahn mi sandwich is great. And it's one of the least expensive dining options in downtown Mill Valley.
38 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Boo Koo
25 Miller AveAsian street food - including Pad Thai - prepared healthy and yummy. The pork bahn mi sandwich is great. And it's one of the least expensive dining options in downtown Mill Valley.
Burrito shop. My children would probably eat the ''kiddie burrito'' here six days a week if I gave them the chance. And it wouldn't be the least healthy thing they eat. Grilly's is fast and good.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Grilly's
493 Miller AveBurrito shop. My children would probably eat the ''kiddie burrito'' here six days a week if I gave them the chance. And it wouldn't be the least healthy thing they eat. Grilly's is fast and good.
There's a lot of competition among pizza shops in Mill Valley. I won't bad-mouth any of them - including Stefano's and Rocco's (where you can order by the slice), Vasco's and La Ginestra (both walking distance full-menu Italian sit-down restaurants) or Tamalpie (gourmet wood-fired pies), but for my money, Pizza Molina is the closest to home and it's a got a nice atmosphere and good wine list to accompany California-cuisine wood-fired pies.
32 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pizza Molina
17 Madrona StThere's a lot of competition among pizza shops in Mill Valley. I won't bad-mouth any of them - including Stefano's and Rocco's (where you can order by the slice), Vasco's and La Ginestra (both walking distance full-menu Italian sit-down restaurants) or Tamalpie (gourmet wood-fired pies), but for my money, Pizza Molina is the closest to home and it's a got a nice atmosphere and good wine list to accompany California-cuisine wood-fired pies.
Best breakfast spot in walking distance. Whatever you crave, it's on the menu. The Sweetwater Cafe, also on my list below, serves a delicious brunch. If you don't mind driving 10 minutes, another excellent option for breakfast or brunch is the Dipsea Cafe at 200 Shoreline Highway. It does get crowded on weekend mornings.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kitchen Sunnyside
31 Sunnyside AveBest breakfast spot in walking distance. Whatever you crave, it's on the menu. The Sweetwater Cafe, also on my list below, serves a delicious brunch. If you don't mind driving 10 minutes, another excellent option for breakfast or brunch is the Dipsea Cafe at 200 Shoreline Highway. It does get crowded on weekend mornings.
Arts & Culture
A lovely little sculpture garden across from the downtown fire station and just up the street from the Sweetwater Cafe. You can lounge and even drink warm tea for free.
illumigarden
35 Corte Madera AveA lovely little sculpture garden across from the downtown fire station and just up the street from the Sweetwater Cafe. You can lounge and even drink warm tea for free.