Mill Valley

Family-friendly Mill Valley is all about schools, sports, and its Sierra Club calendar setting. Nestled at the foot of Mt. Tam, Mill Valley homes range from 500-square foot hunter's cabins to multi-million dollar mansions tucked away on winding narrow lanes under the redwoods sometimes right next to each other.

 

Coffee is king in Mill Valley. Downtown three separate coffee shops do a brisk business. At the Depot, as the sunny town center is called, moms with strollers, kids on trikes, and teenagers kicking a hackeysack relax in the open-air plaza which now houses an independent bookstore and cafe. Today The Depot is a jumping-off spot for hikers and mountain bikers heading up the slopes of Mt. Tam. Nightlife in Mill Valley is anchored by 142 Throckmorton, a jewel box of a theater. Presentations range from world music, jazz, and folk to its legendary standup comedy showcase.