Fun Things to Explore North of San Francisco • We Blog The World

Next time you’re within the San Francisco Bay Area, as an alternative of heading south into Silicon Valley or alongside the coast, take the Golden Gate bridge north into Marin. Here you’ll uncover some hidden treasures, in addition to some extra identified ones, reminiscent of wine nation.

The French Market Marin

On the second Sunday of the month, you may experience the ambiance of the French flea markets in Paris in San Rafael on the Marin Center. Best of all, attendance and parking are each free. The French Market Marin market brings collectively over 140 cubicles of classic and vintage treasures.

The French Market Marin is a superb technique to spend a Sunday afternoon, as you stroll via aisles of dwelling and backyard décor, classic and property jewellery, collectibles, books, classic shabby stylish, farmhouse model, artwork, pottery, silver rugs and a number of different objects. They at all times have reside French music and a creperie meals truck. You’ll come throughout dishes, pots, furnishings, native American items, artwork, outdated relics, Asian rugs and vintage garments, starting from designer items to vintage lace equipment.

Below, my sister and I take a selfie in one of many many cubicles that make up the Sunday French Market.

We stay enormous followers of the market who was began by Fern Loiacono who used to shopped the well-known weekend brocantes or flea markets in Paris—Marché du Biron, Marche Vernaison and Porte de Clignancourt, the biggest and oldest one—trying to find gems she liked. That inspiration led to her launching the French Market Marin in 2011 and the remainder is historical past. Two thumbs up.

Petaluma Vintage Market

Speaking of markets, simply north of the French Market Marin is a month-to-month market in Petaluma, in Sonoma County. Along North McDowell Boulevard, you’ll discover roughly 4 dozen distributors promoting their newest finds. Its official title—Petaluma Vintage—encompasses a curated number of over forty classic and vintage sellers specializing in all issues classic. 

Some of the stuff you’ll discover embody video video games, toys, clothes, jewellery (costume and vintage), hats, trend equipment, comedian books, buying and selling playing cards, books, motion pictures, posters, artwork, furnishings, decor, dishes, lamps, kitchen gear, devices, glasses, rugs and extra.

We discovered one other nice rug however this one was a lot bigger. A bit heavy to hold, however for a stunning piece, isn’t it price it? The added bonus was Sean from Sean’s Antiques & Fine Art, was such a delight. Irish-born and a pure storyteller, it was a such a pleasure to hang around with him.

For extra info, together with the following dates, go to their web site.

Larkspur Wine Stroll

Once a 12 months, the Larkspur Chamber hosts a Larkspur Wine Stroll on the principle drag, which is closed all the way down to automobiles so pedestrians can stroll up and down the road tasting wines for the afternoon. Some of the featured wineries embody Adobe Road, Alexander Valley Vineyards, Calstar Cellars, Isetta Family Wines, Drew Dowsett Wines, Cazadero Winery, Grgich Hills Estate, Santori Wines, Construct Winery, and fairly a couple of others.

They had reside music as effectively — children and adults alike performed, participated and danced.

Wine tasting anybody?

This was their twelfth 12 months internet hosting the wine stroll and it was as soon as once more a hit. Luckily the climate cooperated, which is nearly a given for Marin within the Fall. If wine isn’t your factor, Larkspur has tons of cute outlets to discover as effectively.

One of our favourite outlets (to not be missed) is Citrine alongside the principle drag. Owners Jay and Karyn curate the perfect garments, crystals and reward objects. We’ve by no means been within the store and never found a gem. They even have a yoga studio within the again in addition to a singular therapeutic salt room. For these new to crystals, citrine is a ravishing crystal, (additionally Karyn’s birthstone) with therapeutic qualities which can be slated to symbolize all issues abundance and manifestation.

We additionally love sitting on the bar and ordering wine and appetizers at Left Bank Brasseries in downtown Larkspur. It’s an outpost of a small native chain providing easy Southern French delicacies in a hip surroundings with a hearth. To discover out when the following Larkspur wine stroll is, remember to take a look at their web site.

Healdsburg

Why Healdsburg? Located roughly an hour or so north of San Francisco, this little wine nation city boasts tons of historical past and tradition. It additionally occurs to be a ravishing city surrounded by rising hills and vineyards. Nestled in opposition to the Russian River in northern Sonoma County, Healdsburg exudes the allure of a small, agricultural neighborhood with the facilities of a world-class wine and meals vacation spot.

We used it as our place to begin for wine tasting. It’s a terrific spot for lunch or dinner and the procuring is fabulous. If you’re an artwork lover, there are some fantastic galleries, one in every of which was so eclectic that we had a tough time leaving: Aerena Galleries & Gardens. They even have outlets in St. Helena, Yountville, Mill Valley and Napa.

After you’ve had a stroll via downtown Healdsburg, it’s time to go wine tasting in close by Dry Creek Valley.

Dry Creek Valley Wine Tasting

We’ve achieved our fair proportion of wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma valleys through the years however we had been new to tasting wines from Dry Creek Valley, a few of which you’ll seemingly acknowledge in the event you’re a wine lover. I’d suggest not more than 4 wineries in a day and even three is a lot if you wish to really get to know the winery, and spend time speaking to the wine maker or get a tour.

We pushed it at 4 and our trek on a scorching September day included Breathless Sparkling Wines, Amista Vineyards, Capo Creek Valley, and DaVero Farms & Winery. Be positive to take a look at our longer article on the Dry Creek Valley vineyards and our experiences there for extra in-depth info on every of them. Below are a couple of picture highlights from every.

Breathless Sparking Wines

They supply 15 additional brut glowing wines, and we sampled a couple of of these. Extra brut interprets to lower than half the quantity of sugar of a daily brut and the additional brut wines boast a decrease calorie rely as effectively. Woot woot. Run by three sisters, they solely make 2,000 to 2,500 instances a 12 months. Here are a couple of enjoyable visible highlights from our cease at Breathless Sparkling Wines.

Amista Vineyards

We didn’t have as a lot time at Amista Vineyards as we had hoped, so missed out on a full-blown expertise.  That stated, we did have an opportunity to strive a couple of of their wines, beginning with their Estate Sparkling Blanc de Blanc (additional brut). They introduced chips, caviar and cream to the desk to pair with the wines — the Blanc de Blanc was an ideal associate. See beneath for a couple of recollections from our time of their tasting room and the skin vineyards.

       

Capo Creek Valley

Capo Creek Valley is a hidden gem who presents a singular meals and wine pairing expertise outdoors with views of the vineyards off within the distance. We all liked their Playlist: Estate White Wine Blend, which is product of Clairette Blanc (26%), Grenache Blanc (24%), Roussane (21%), Picpoul (11%), Petit Manseng (10%) and Voignier (8%). What a mix proper? Mary Roy, who led us within the meals and wine extravaganza, has fairly a narrative to inform. Two thumbs up. Below are a couple of visible highlights.

DaVero Farms & Winery

DaVero  Farms & Winery is all about sustainability and their farm demonstrates that dedication. Through biodynamic farming and conscious, conventional winemaking, they produce Italian varietal wines and olive oil in stability with their local weather and the ethos of regenerative agriculture. They act as a hub for an academic and immersive expertise, beginning with a tour of the farm itself. There had been so many varietals of crops, fruit, herbs and flowers that it might take days to discover all of them in depth. Have a have a look at a couple of highlights from our afternoon.

AGAIN, remember to go to the longer article on our 4 wine tasting picks from Dry Creek Valley for extra visuals and particulars.

Mill Valley Art Fair

We’re not at all times on the town for the Mill Valley Art Fair, however like to attend each time our schedule permits. It is held in Mill Valley amongst Redwood bushes and boasts all kinds of artwork, from pottery, jewellery and eclectic installations, to conventional portray, combined media and extra.  l

This 12 months, the pageant devoted their Special Grove to an exhibition known as Art for a Better World. This specifically curated exhibition contains work of neurologically various artists from Autistry Studios of San Rafael and the group Art Without Boundaries that includes work from Oak Hill School, the Helix School and PAASS. Also exhibiting within the Special Grove had been Youth in Arts, which helps youth of each background.

Some of our favorites from the day contains Erin Burch’s pottery — completely gorgeous. She can be a physique employee, who designed one thing known as the Burch Method.

Then there’s this distinctive combined media artist, Jamie Pavlich-Walker.

Vibrant coloured work adorned one wall — I fell in love with David Palmer’s sunflowers.

Mayumix had one other distinctive providing, artwork on materials. Absolutely stunning work.

There had been additionally these stunning pure items, combining artwork with nature.

More earthy pottery that had me at hey.

They additionally had a enjoyable puppet present outdoors for youths accompanied by classic music. It was such an ideal providing for households with babies. His present even had me mesmerized. Truth be advised, I didn’t wish to depart.

Not positive what to name this one, however he introduced a smile to each face who handed him. It jogged my memory of the Wiccan Green Man.

Spellcraft Curator

Spellcraft Curator is a Sonoma County household owned enterprise and was designed and operated by a credentialed instructor.  Three of us went for a pair hour expertise at their facility in Santa Rosa California.

Below, proprietor Pamela kicks issues off within the foyer.

She begins you out within the candle making workshop room, the place you may select your coloration and create your individual to take dwelling with you in a glass jar.

Then she units you free and you may wander to the varied curated rooms. There are at present 5 in whole with a sixth being added quickly, centered in Egypt historical past and tradition.

Each room is really distinctive. There’s a Victorian Parlor the place you may turn out to be a Victorian for a stint. Enjoy the fads of the time, such because the stereoscope and utilizing a metallic stamp to make luck talisman.

There’s additionally a Reed Pump Organ, which is a Victorian vintage instrument from the 1800’s. And sure, I performed it . . . with care after all. Was it haunted? It’s exhausting to say nevertheless it actually gave us nice sound and introduced a smile to our faces.

You may also turn out to be a Colonial Witch — rewind the clock and create a natural concoction. This room is an acknowledgment to the ladies who misplaced their lives for being midwives and healers.

There’s additionally the Divining Den, the place you may get a taste of the 1920’s, a time when mediums held seances and spiritualism was on the rise.

My favourite was the Celestial Study, the place you turn out to be a Renaissance Wizard and make your individual magic wand. How cool is that?

And in the event you’re fortunate and get among the clues proper, you may return to Pamela within the Wax Workshop and she or he’ll offer you a Spell Kit goodie bag loaded with tons of enjoyable gems.

Two thumbs up. It was such a enjoyable expertise. My solely remorse was not having sufficient time in every of the rooms. Check out their web site for extra info and easy methods to guide.

Fairfax

Fairfax is a an off-the-beaten-path city in Marin. When Anthony and I first visited it, he stated “it’s a little witchy.” By that, he meant that it was artistic, artsy and nature-driven, all of that are true. Some of the homes are nestled into the hills and surrounded by bushes, chook life and you might even spot a deer.  It’s a small city (underneath 10K) and but, boasts a bustling downtown space with eating places, cafes and enjoyable outlets. There are additionally murals and artwork outdoors on partitions and tucked away in locations you’d least look forward to finding blossoming creativity in motion.

Below are indicators on the Coffee Roastery.

Outside on the identical road, there’s an exquisite mosaic bench the place you may sit and other people watch over a cuppa espresso.

Inside The Eleventh House metaphysical store, the partitions and ceilings are painted. Super enjoyable, proper?

There are additionally a few enjoyable classic outfitters as effectively alongside the principle drag. Another enjoyable expertise is the Wu Wei Tea Temple, which calls themselves as a “gathering place for creatives, wanderers and lovers of life’s little treasures.” It’s a full service tea home and Kava bar that includes natural bone broth, house-made therapeutic elixirs & Middle Eastern treats. They even have weekly reside music, tarot readings, and performances. 

Photo credit score: Wei Wu Tea TempleWe hope you’ve got loved a few of our enjoyable picks north of the Golden Gate bridge.