Bring a change of clothes on Saturday
Daytime weather will be warm. Nighttime = cold. Not "cool." Cold. When the sun goes down, you will want to bundle up. Ladies, bring pants and socks and a wrap/jacket/sweater. Gentlemen, bring sweaters and/or flasks.
transportation
We want to help sort out shuttles to and from the wedding. We have found a good, affordable shuttle solution, so please let us know if you're interested in being chauffeured to and from the wedding (by a very responsible stranger in an Econoline).
Lucas valley road issues
Rumors are circulating that Lucas Valley Road will temporarily occupied by a bike race on Saturday morning. The Internet doesn't know anything about it, and it shouldn't affect any schedules, but keep it in mind.
When you've got some free time
Redwoods
Marin County has two great spots to see redwoods. The fabled Muir Woods is in the southern part of Marin. If you haven't seen it yet, you should. It's amazing. If you're pressed for time, Samuel P. Taylor State Park is just a few minutes down the road from Nicasio. If you head down to Muir Woods, you should consider eating lunch in Muir Beach at the Pelican Inn. Set along the spectacular California coast, it serves food in the style of … a British pub. But the food and beer are really good.
Ocean
The mighty Pacific! Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, take the exit for Highway 1 north. Drive 40 minutes up the coast to the town of Point Reyes and beyond. On the way, stop and see Bolinas, the quintessential northern Californian surf village. Observe the locals, who are notorious for their insularity and dislike of tourism. For decades, Caltrans has tried to put a sign on Highway 1 to indicate the Bolinas turn off, but the locals repeatedly tear it down. Just north of Bolinas is Point Reyes National Seashore. Take in the rugged coastline and the playful sea lions. Beyond Point Reyes, have a tasty lunch at the Hog Island Oyster Company.
cafes & shopping
From San Rafael, you're a half-hour drive from Mill Valley to the south, and Petaluma to the horth. Fans of M*A*S*H might remember Mill Valley as the hometown of Dr. BJ Honnicutt; Petaluma is known for its eggs, and as the place where American Graffiti was filmed. Both towns offer little boutiques, restaurants and antique stores. In Mill Valley, you can get an excellent Indian burrito at Avatar's Punjabi Burritos; in Petaluma, you'll find (what many consider) the best bakery in the Bay Area, Della Fattoria.
wine & cheese
Let me first say that there will be no shortage of booze at the wedding. But if the party train must continue around the wedding events, Marin is the gateway to the wine-making region of Sonoma and Napa counties. Some recommendations: Viansa (good food); Cardinale (amazing, but pricey); Rubicon (used to be called "Niebaum-Coppola," good wine and an actual Tucker Torpedo). Also, there are many sparkly-wine makers nearby: Domaine Carneros, and Gloria Ferrer, for example. Cheese-wise, it doesn't get much better than Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station.
art & architecture
The majority of the Bay Area's cultural treasures are in San Francisco and Berkeley, but Marin has brings a little something to the table, too. Sausalito, a funky seaside village in the 60s, is now a thriving gallery and shopping area. The Heath Ceramics factory is there, in a great old International Style building, and just down the road is a great seafood restaurant called Fish. There is also Frank Lloyd Wright's Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael; it's the Star-Wars-looking thing on the east side of 101. If you explore around there, check out Sol Food, which has great Puerto Rican food.
we're here to help
Let us know if you have questions, concerns, ideas, or well-wishes … Email: dougandmara at gmail dot com.