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Around San Rafael

San Rafael, beyond the house.

The neighbourhoods, the daily rhythm and the drive to everywhere else — the part of a home search a listing sheet never covers.

See homes near here

What this guide covers

OutdoorsParks, trails & open spaceWine & Local FlavorTasting rooms & local colorGetting AroundRoads & the commuteFood & Daily LifeRestaurants, coffee & errands

This guide covers

  • Gerstle Park
  • Terra Linda
  • Canal

The desk's real neighbourhood file for San Rafael — not a citywide average.

What is actually here

The desk is building a real map of San Rafael — outdoors, local flavor, the commute and daily errands — rather than printing a generic list.

Outdoors

  • Harry A Barbier Memorial ParkNature reserve, in town.
  • Dominican Nature PreserveNature reserve, in town.
  • Pickleweed ParkPublic park, about 1.7 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • Beach ParkPublic park, about 1.7 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • Boyd Memorial ParkNature reserve, about 1.8 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • Mountain ParkNature reserve, about 1.9 km from the city centre, straight line.

Wine & Local Flavor

  • Pacheco Ranch WineryWinery, about 8.3 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • Milano Wine ShopWine shop, about 9.2 km from the city centre, straight line.

Getting Around

  • San Rafael DowntownRail station, about 1.7 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • San Rafael Transit CenterBus station, about 1.8 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • North San Pedro Road Bus PadBus station, about 2.7 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • Marin Civic CenterRail station, about 3.4 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • LarkspurRail station, about 3.8 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • San Rafael AirportAirport, about 4.1 km from the city centre, straight line.

Food & Daily Life

  • Whole Foods MarketSupermarket, in town.
  • Banh Mi & CoffeeRestaurant, about 1.5 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • ShareteaCafe, about 1.5 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • KamikazaRestaurant, about 1.5 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • Tommy's Asian BistroRestaurant, about 1.6 km from the city centre, straight line.
  • Charbroiled Best BurgerRestaurant, about 1.6 km from the city centre, straight line.

Places from OpenStreetMap, November 3. © OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances are straight-line from the city centre, not drive times.

The neighbourhoods

Where San Rafael actually breaks down, in the desk's own words.

Full neighbourhood file →

Gerstle Park

South of downtown San Rafael.

Terra Linda

In north San Rafael, one of the larger neighborhoods in the city and mostly single family homes.

Canal

South of the San Rafael Canal and east of Highway 101.

A day around here

Ordinary life in San Rafael, the way it actually runs — not a highlight reel.

Morning

Coffee at Sharetea, then whatever the day actually needs.

Afternoon

An hour at Pickleweed Park, between the errands that never show up on a listing sheet.

Evening

Dinner at Banh Mi & Coffee, then a short drive back to whichever neighbourhood you call home.

Illustrative scenes, not photographs of the places named. Places from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

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