Marion Ave, Central

In a sense, Novato offers the best of all worlds - if you can afford it. It is far-removed enough from San Francisco that you truly feel as if you are living in your own suburban oasis, but close enough that you can still enjoy the big-city resources that it has to offer. Unlike other neighboring towns in Marin, the entire town is safe, suburban, and comfortable. Views of rolling hillsides are panoramic no matter where you go, and the weather always seems to be sunny, and a bit warmer than southern Marin.

Marion Avenue is a great little suburban street off of the San Marin exit - again, far enough removed from the 101 that you won't get any highway noise, but close enough that you can jump on and be in San Francisco in an hour. The houses are a *bit* close together for this caliber of a neighborhood, but they are all set apart by outside terraces, so this likely won't be an issue.

Biggest drawbacks? Weak cell phone reception and Marin County price tags.