Situated along San Pablo Bay north of San Rafael, Novato is a stunning city with fantastic views of the bay and the mountains. It is directly east of Point Reyes National Seashore, a spectacular park covering more than 71,000 acres on the Point Reyes Peninsula. This is the place to go for whale-watching, visiting the Point Reyes Lighthouse, and hiking (see the views from Arch Rock or walk the 308 steps to the lighthouse).

Being part of the San Francisco Bay area, Novato feels country cool with an urban edge. It is home to some major companies, such as BioMarin Pharmaceutical and SPG Solar, and it offers fantastic shops and restaurants in its historic and trendy downtown, wrapped around Grant Avenue. Must-visits include the Novato History Museum, the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and Olompali State Historic Park.