Civic Center - San Rafael, CA

Native Americans lived in the San Rafel/Marin area for thousands of years. It wasn't until the 19th century that Spanish missionaries officially founded a mission in this area. The area grew quickly in population after a railroad connection was established in 1888. As San Francisco grew more and more impacted, people moved north, away from the city to the beautiful landscapes of Marin County. The reputation for this area as a fantastic place to live has grown, making it one of the most popular places to live in California. To learn more about the history of the area, check out the Marin History Museum on B Street in San Rafael.

You'll find lots of arts exhibitions every year at the annual Marin County Fair, held right in the Civic Center neighborhood. The fair provides art, rides, food and lots of fun every year.

For a relaxing meal in the neighborhood, try Bogie's Cafe on North San Pedro Road a short walk south of the Civic Center. The old time decor of this place definitely screams Northern California, and a friendly staff makes sure you get seated as quickly as possible. Locals rave about the farmer's scramble as well as the burgers around lunch time. Be prepared because the restaurant only accepts cash. Locals love Sol Food Puerto Rican Cuisine downtown. After a long day in the city, many meet up here for the welcoming atmosphere and friendly service. For a treat, try a relaxing mango iced tea with a bistec sandwich. Come on Thursday around 7 p.m. for live Puerto Rican music. For a quiet drink in the evening, head to La Toscana Ristorante. This family-owned restaurant prides itself on a beautiful new bar area and decor that makes it a nice place to kick back and share a bottle of wine. For food, locals really enjoy the ravioli and pasta carbonara. Head south to San Francisco for the lively club scene that will have you up and dancing all night or for the multiple live shows and professional sporting events.

Feel free to walk or bike around the Civic Center neighborhood as getting around on foot or wheel remains relatively safe. On a sunny day, many folks go on long leisurely bike rides through the back roads of San Rafael. Others stay in city limits and take advantage of ample safe bike paths throughout the city.

A car would be encouraged for those living here. Most people commute to work in this area. Public parking shouldn't be too much of an issue in residential areas as it's free and ample on side streets.

Locals living in Civic Center can get to Highway 101 fast for quick transport to San Francisco or downtown San Rafael. Although there are buses available for transport to San Francisco, as well as bus lines North to Petaluma and Santa Rosa, they are fairly infrequent — every hour or so and less often on weekends.

Hailing cabs in the civic center neighborhood can be tough, so it may be easier to just use a service like Uber to get around if necessary.

Check out the many nearby parks within walking distance of the Civic Center neighborhood. Besides the beautiful administrative buildings, the Civic Center provides Lagoon Park, which has many play places for children, picnic tables and allows dogs on leash. Keep this park in mind for waterfront viewing of the fireworks on the 4th of July.

For something just for you and your four-legged friend, check out the local Field of Dogs Dog Park. Let your dog off leash here, and throw the tennis ball for a while. This area offers water tubs for your pups on a hot day as well.

For a more exercise-centric area, check out the many state parks that Marin County has to offer. China Camp in particular has lots of running and hiking trials.

Living anywhere in Marin County can be pricey. A one-bedroom apartment here costs about $2,080 a month on average. The desirability to live in this area has driven up other prices as well. Typically, a beer at a local pub will cost anywhere from $5 to $9. Gas prices in this area sit about 14 percent higher than the nation-wide average. A bus ride into downtown San Rafael will cost about $2.

You'll find many options for grocery shopping in the Civic Center Neighborhood, the closest being Santa Valencia Market, and the Marin Civic Center Farmers Market. The farmers market runs year round from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays on Civic Center Drive. Other nearby options such as Whole Foods, Marinwood Market, and Trader Joes provide specialty produce and groceries.

The nearby indoor Northgate Mall, 1.5 miles to the Northwest from Civic Center, offers big name department store shopping as well as smaller boutique-style chain shopping. Come here for the essentials at Sears or Rite Aid, take an obligatory trip around Victoria's Secret and Express, grab a fantastic coffee at Gloria Jeans and then, if you want to experience more local specialty shops, head South on Highway 101 to downtown San Rafael.

Try Bella on 4th Street for a friendly boutique that will provide you with stunning clothes your friends will want to borrow. The vintage styles here bring in a lot of locals. Friendly staff organize the clothes by color, which can be helpful when looking for something specific.

For something fun, check out Clogs Unlimited for a shopping experience hard to find elsewhere on the West Coast. This family-owned shop on 4th Street offers the largest selection of clogs in Northern California. For the past 40 years, the owners have been selling clogs here, and residents love the shop. With hundreds of different styles for over nine different brands, it can be a fun place to discover or learn how clogs could fit into your wardrobe.