Broadway in Fairfax. Photo courtesy of http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc5817.php

The delightfully rural yet cosmopolitan small town of Fairfax is where Rae lives. It’s a place that suits her perfectly, being politically progressive and green-minded. As a gardener, Rae adores the climate—it’s temperate all year. Although only 7,600 people live there, its little downtown offers restaurants, cute shops, coffee houses, music venues, and even a movie theater.

Here’s a look at a couple of local businesses to give you the flavor of the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mas Masa serves up a fusion of Mexican and California cuisine. No genetically modified corn, of course. After all, this is Fairfax. Trouvé is filled with treasures from local artisans.

Situated at the foot of Mt. Tamalpais, Fairfax prides itself on being the birthplace of mountain biking—and has a museum to prove it. With miles and miles of terrain to travel, it’s little wonder that biking is a favorite pastime.

During rush hour, the road out of town to the freeway can be slow. But Rae’s shop is close by in neighboring San Anselmo, so her commute is a breeze. She can even ride her bike to work.

Rae’s favorite grocery store is Good Earth, a fixture in the town since the 1960s. Its spiffy new building is powered completely by renewable energy. How can you not love a store that has a quote from Rachel Carson painted on one wall inside?

 

 

 

 

Here’s Deer Park, where Rae loves to hike with her dog. A network of trails takes you all over Mt. Tam as well as through county open space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few more scenes around town. You can see why this is a special place.