Corte Madera, CA Road Trips

1 Fourth of July Parade. Larkspur and Corte Madera have a shared Fourth of July parade every year, starting at Redwood High School in Larkspur and ending at Town Center in Corte Madera. If the county fair in San Rafael is a bit much for you, join the festivities here instead, where you'll see classic cars; local figures like the Twin Cities' mayors, citizens of the year, and beautification committees; local kids' sports teams; and maybe a marching band or a cheerleading squad. Food and handicrafts are sold nearby and the event has a community feel. (updated Jul 2023) 2 Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Ave. Art deco theater showing blockbusters, independent films, and live performances. (updated Feb 2025)

1 Marin Joe's, 1585 Casa Buena Dr, Corte Madera, ☏ +1-415-924-2081. A great Italian restaurant with gourmet sandwiches and a beautiful atmosphere which features a wine bar and a piano. 2 Il Fornaio, 223 Corte Madera Town Center. Upscale Italian restaurant, branch of a regional chain. (updated Oct 2023) 3 Picco, 320 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. Upscale Italian restaurant that also runs a wood-fired pizzeria next door. (updated Oct 2023) 4 Emporio Rulli, 464 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur, ☏ +1 415-924-7478, [email protected]. Italian cafe and bakery with a wide range of pastries and a charming atmosphere. Expensive but delicious. (updated Nov 2023)

1 Best Western Corte Madera Inn, 56 Madera Blvd, Corte Madera, ☏ +1-415-924-1502, toll-free: +1-800-777-9670, fax: +1-415-924-5419. 2 Courtyard San Francisco Larkspur Landing/Marin, 2500 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, ☏ +1-415-925-1800, fax: +1-415-925-1107.

Most people drive. Larkspur is the location of the 1 Larkspur Ferry Terminal, with Golden Gate Ferry service from San Francisco. The SMART light rail system serves Larkspur Landing (where the ferry terminal is) from San Rafael, Novato, Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa. Bus service is provided by Marin Transit. Lines 17 and 228 serve the Larkspur Landing ferry terminal area, line 22 serves downtown Larkspur and Corte Madera, and line 29 (weekdays only) serves Larkspur Landing and areas near both downtowns. All of these start from the San Rafael transit center. From San Francisco International Airport, the Marin Airporter stops in Larkspur. It's very feasible to bike in from San Rafael, Mill Valley, or elsewhere, and it's also possible to walk to Larkspur from San Rafael using the bike path that hugs the SMART tracks. Walking from Mill Valley is more of a challenge; it's possible by walking on the Horse Hill bike path that hugs the west side of 101, but at the north end of this path you'll have to take Meadowsweet Drive, which has no sidewalks but is quiet enough that pedestrians do use it.

Aside from the downtown cores, this is not a particularly pedestrian-oriented area. Sidewalks exist but are sometimes inconsistent. Biking is convenient and popular, though.