Places of Interest in San Anselmo, California
San Anselmo sits in the heart of Marin County's Ross Valley, tucked between Fairfax and San Rafael where Sir Francis Drake Boulevard bends toward the coast. It's a town of roughly 12,000 with a downtown that punches far above its size — San Anselmo Avenue runs about six walkable blocks of antique dealers, independent bookshops, bakeries, and restaurants, with San Anselmo Creek slipping through the middle of it. George Lucas wrote the first drafts of Star Wars in a house here in the early 1970s and later gave the town a small downtown park with bronze statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones. Mount Tamalpais rises to the south, the Marin Municipal Water District trailheads are minutes west, and San Francisco is about 25 minutes across the Golden Gate. It's a quiet, tree-heavy, distinctly Marin place to spend a weekend.
Places to Stay
San Anselmo Inn
339 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
The only conventional lodging inside town limits, and centrally located on the main avenue. A historic building with a restaurant attached, a quiet back courtyard, and an included breakfast. Note that it's older construction with stair-only access to the second floor.
Rousseau's Garden
266 Saunders Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
A private guest studio behind a residence on the west side of town, with a kitchenette, garden access, and a hot tub. It functions more like a vacation rental than a hotel, so set expectations accordingly.
Fairfax Inn
15 Broadway, Fairfax, CA 94930
About two miles west in neighboring Fairfax. Large rooms with jacuzzi tubs, just off the main street and within walking distance of Fairfax's restaurants and Good Earth Natural Foods. A common base for mountain bikers.
Marin Lodge
1735 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901
Family-owned motel about four miles east, consistently the highest-rated lodging in the immediate area. Clean, quiet, well-kept grounds, with morning coffee and pastries and a convenient position for exploring the county.
Panama Hotel
4 Bayview St, San Rafael, CA 94901
A character-heavy historic bed and breakfast in a residential San Rafael neighborhood, roughly four miles from downtown San Anselmo. Some rooms use shared hall bathrooms, so confirm the room type when booking.
Parks
Memorial Park
1000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
The town's main recreation hub, anchored by the fully fenced Millennium Playground — a castle structure with multiple slides, a large dinosaur-themed sandbox, a toddler section, and a bank of swings. Also has baseball fields, pickleball courts, a skate area, restrooms, picnic tables with barbecue pits, and a paved loop path. Open 24 hours.
Creek Park
634 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
A small green space along San Anselmo Creek right off the downtown avenue, screened by trees and shrubs. Hosts free live music on summer Sunday afternoons. Open 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Red Hill Community Park
198 Shaw Dr, San Anselmo, CA 94960
Best known for its large off-leash dog park with a shade structure, multiple water fountains, and a separate small-dog area. Also has an all-weather athletic field and trail access into the hills above. Open 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Robson-Harrington Park
1 Raymond Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
A quiet estate pocket park a short walk from downtown, with terraced lawns, picnic tables, benches, a flower garden, and community garden plots. Open 24 hours.
Sorich Ranch Park
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Open-space hiking above the north end of San Anselmo, with fire-road trails climbing to views of Mount Tamalpais, the San Francisco skyline, and the upper bay. Mostly unshaded and exposed, so it's best on cool, clear days.
Things to Do
Imagination Park
541 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
A small downtown park donated to the town by George Lucas, with bronze statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones. Free, open 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and the single most-photographed spot in San Anselmo.
San Anselmo Historical Museum
110 Tunstead Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
A small local museum covering San Anselmo's railroad-era origins and Ross Valley history. Open Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The San Anselmo Antiques District
Antiques Legacy, 204 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
San Anselmo built its reputation as Marin's antiquing town, and Antiques Legacy is the largest multi-vendor stop, open daily 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pair it with Paisley Curated at 2 Tunstead Ave for midcentury furniture and vintage clothing.
Marin Art and Garden Center
30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross, CA 94957
Eleven acres of specimen gardens, walking paths, an art gallery, and a small playground, about a mile southeast in Ross. Free admission, free parking, open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Play-Well Marin Activity Center
216 Greenfield Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
An indoor LEGO activity center with an open build space, classes, and a large retail selection. A reliable rainy-day option for families. Open daily.
Universities and Stadiums
San Anselmo has one university campus of its own. The remaining colleges and sports venues are all within a fifteen-minute drive.
University of Redlands, Marin Campus
105 Seminary Rd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
The historic San Francisco Theological Seminary campus, founded in 1871 and now operated by the University of Redlands. Its stone halls and hillside grounds are the architectural landmark of San Anselmo, and Alexander Hall, Geneva Hall, and Stewart Chapel are widely used as wedding and event venues.
Archie Williams High School
1327 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
The in-town public high school and local athletic center, named for the Olympic gold medalist and Tuskegee Airman who taught here for decades. Home to Peregrine Falcons football, soccer, and track.
College of Marin
835 College Ave, Kentfield, CA 94904
About three miles south. A well-regarded two-year college with strong transfer outcomes, a performing arts theater open to the public, and athletic facilities including the College of Marin Baseball Field at 700 College Ave.
Dominican University of California
50 Acacia Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901
Roughly five miles east. A private university on a landscaped historic campus, and host to the annual Italian film festival and other public arts programming.
Albert Park
151 Andersen Dr, San Rafael, CA 94901
About four miles east. Marin's principal baseball venue and longtime home of the San Rafael Pacifics, with bocce courts, tennis courts, and a community center on the surrounding grounds.
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