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City in California, United States
Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Novato is a sprawling suburb in Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Novato is in the transition zone between the patchwork of suburban Marin County towns, long oriented towards San Francisco and the bay, and the wineries and pastureland of Sonoma County to the north.
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Nature preserve for hiking, with a network of trails that connect to Olompali. Dogs are welcome and can be off-leash on fire roads.
Marshland and hills with gentle hiking and mountain biking trails. Trailheads on Binford Road, Saddle Wood Drive, and Bahia Drive. Good for birdwatching. In the winter, parts of the trails will be muddy after it rains.
Mall that mainly consists of a Safeway and eateries like Peet's Coffee, Super Duper Burger, and Toast.
Mall with the higher-end local grocery chain Nugget Market, a bit like Whole Foods with local produce, lots of organic foods, and a prepared foods section. Restaurants include Marin Coffee Roasters, Boca Pizzeria, Taki Japanese, and Active Culture. Lots of outdoor seating.
Mexican restaurant with great staff, great drinks, great prices. Try the desserts!
Peruvian.
Local baked goods: breads, pastries, and a café menu.
Popular breakfast spot.
Soft-serve ice cream with "slush" (Italian ice).
Health food: salads, bowls, açaí.
Soft-serve ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt with lots of fun toppings (serve yourself and pay by weight), plus other flavors sold by the scoop.
A variety of coffee drinks and smoothies, plus pastries and other café fare. Creative menu items include "scuffins" (part scone part muffin) and unique drinks like the "Reese's-ccino". Indoor and outdoor seating.
Popular bar and restaurant.
Mall anchored by Target and Costco. Various clothing chains like Marshalls, Ross, Nordstrom, Gap, and Old Navy, as well as other shops including DSW, Sephora, Sports Basement, and See's Candies. Various chain restaurants including local chain Hopmonk Tavern with beer and live music. Also home to the fun ice cream and frozen yogurt shop Tuttimelon (see below). Ample free parking.
By bus
Marin Transit offers service from other Marin County cities, and the affiliated service Golden Gate Transit goes north to Sonoma County and south to San Francisco.
By train
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, or SMART, connects Novato with San Rafael, Larkspur, and places in Sonoma County: Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma County Airport.
By bike
Conditions may be too windy for bicycles to go "upwind."
By bus
There is limited Marin Transit (bus) service, which is primarily used by commuters. The bus serves a major stop "downtown" on Old Redwood Highway.
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Oakland · International · OAK
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