Alpine Lily Pl, Lucas Valley

Northern San Rafael offers quite a different atmosphere than its southern neighbor - while downtown may be a bit rough around the edges, the northern Terra Linda area is an ideal place to grow up - and to raise a family. Lucas Valley Road is right off of the 101, and stretches through a lovely suburban neighborhood, filled with well-manicured lawns and well-to-do families.

Venture further west and you will quickly enter the redwoods of Marin, which means you will need either an iron stomach, dramamine, or the ability to take the wheel. Unlike some of the other winding redwood roads on the Northern California coast, Lucas Valley is fairly residential, even when you get out of the suburban neighborhood. This could be a great place to live if you want a remote feel that is close to civilization.

Follow this road for long enough and you will, eventually, hit Highway 1 and Point Reyes National Seashore, although this is probably not the most efficient way to get there.