Mill Valley

Mill Valley is located just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, nestled on the eastern slope of Mt. Tamalpais among redwood groves and Marin's famous golden hills. It is widely known in the Bay Area for its small-town charm, natural beauty and cultural events. The quiet, wooded atmosphere feels very rural and many residents of Mill Valley are enthusiastic about hiking, biking, or bird- and wildlife-watching. You have your choice of living up in the hills, among the redwoods, or in the flatlands.

 

Mill Valley is one of the smaller cities in Marin, with only 14,000 residents in 4.7 square miles. While the city itself is small, because it is surrounded by County Open Space, the Marin Watershed, Mt. Tam State Park and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, it feels quite open. Additionally, Mill Valley sits on its own bay, Richardson Bay, which is an inlet of the San Francisco Bay. The Strawberry Point peninsula juts into the bay providing great bayside living. Strawberry Inlet brings the bay right up to the town and Bayfront Park is a lovely place to walk or bike.

 

The heart of Mill Valley is the Town Square, Lytton Square, situated around the old railway depot. There are coffee shops and bookstores, outdoor game tables, boutiques, restaurants, and parking. This is where the town gathers. 2,571-foot Mt. Tamalpais (locally known as "Mt. Tam") soars above the town; it is one of the tallest peaks around the bay. Mill Valley seems to be a part of the 1,000-acre Mount Tamalpais State Park, with neighborhoods connecting directly to the hundred miles of hiking and biking trails. Between the bay and the hills there are a huge variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Mill Valley is considered the birthplace of mountain biking; hang-gliding and kayaking are also popular.

 

The surrounding wild areas and preserves provide access to dozens of trailheads from town. The City of Mill Valley also maintains many recreational parks with playgrounds and sports facilities, a dog park, and improved pedestrian access in the hill communities. Mill Valley is a quaint little town that grew up around the Old Mill, which still stands today on Miller Avenue in the middle of downtown. Incorporated in 1900 with about 1,000 residents, Mill Valley was an important logging community during the gold rush. Because many of the buildings have been restored, it gives the town an antique look.

 

Mill Valley may be a small town, but it is an important center for arts and culture throughout the Bay Area. The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival started here over 50 years ago, fostering public appreciation of arts and crafts and providing an important venue for local artists. The annual Mill Valley Film Festival brings together the community of filmmakers and film lovers to showcase the best in independent and world cinema. Mill Valley is home to the Marin Theatre Company, producing contemporary, classic and emerging playwrights, and the Mountain Play Association produces a spectacular outdoor theatrical experience on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais. You can also enjoy an afternoon picnic and Shakespeare provided by the Curtain Theatre in the park behind the Public Library.

 

This lively town is also the starting point of the oldest cross-country trail running event--The Dipsea Race--which covers 7 miles between Mill Valley and Stinson Beach and began in 1905. The price of housing is a bit higher in Mill Valley though it is well worth it.