Fairfax

Fairfax Top 5

1 Fairfax Variety Owner Polly Knox can set you up with an amazing array of items, including Hula-hoops, Pop Rocks, salt shakers, crystal animals, lunch boxes, fake barf, music boxes and much more. 415.457.2580

2 Fairfax Scoop Organic ice cream on fresh cones in unique flavors like lemon almond, orange chocolate, Latin jazz and the ever-popular honey vanilla lavender. Heaven. 415.453.3130

3 Bookbeat The book covers are displayed face out so you can actually read them, and if you still don’t find what you like, owner Gary Kleiman will order it for you.
bookbeatfairfax.com

4 Good Earth Whether for weekly supplies or a quick wrap and a smoothie, Good Earth has been the go-to organic and healthy foods destination since 1969.
goodearthnaturalfoods.net

5 Iron Springs Pub and Brewery A family that brews together stays together. The Altmans and their crew keep the vibes positive, the food hot and delicious and the beer fun and spirited.
ironspringspub.com

A perfect day usually starts with a good cup of coffee, and in Fairfax the choice is obvious. The Coffee Roastery sits right on the corner of Broadway Boulevard and Bolinas Road in the heart of town. A favorite spot for locals, the Roastery makes great cappuccinos and lattes, but the drip coffee here is the standout.

Now that the blood is flowing a little better, it is time for a hike to a favorite destination spot — Cataract Falls. Find the trailhead by driving about eight miles to Alpine Lake on Bolinas Road. This hike along Cataract Creek is best done after a rain; at that time you can see about nine waterfalls, depending on how you count them. Be prepared for pure California beauty in this redwood forest hike—don’t forget the camera.

After a 2.6-mile (round trip) hike, nothing tastes as good as a burger, and Fairfax has one of the best places to get one, M&G Burgers. Since 1962 this joint has been asking customers to “stop their motor” and enjoy an organic beef burger with classic crinkle-cut fries. Look for the bright red M&G vintage truck parked outside.

After lunch, stroll downtown Fairfax and its array of fun places. Grab a scoop of organic ice cream at Fairfax Scoop and check out the knickknacks, tchotchkes and trinkets sold at Fairfax Variety. Catch a film at the 60-year-old art deco Fairfax Theatre, renovated in 1993 to include five screens.

For dinner, try the recently reopened Sleeping Lady. It’s a great place to grab some small plates or a full meal, with beer and wine and live entertainment every night of the week. The perfect end to a perfect day.

Quick Picks

  People in Fairfax like to have a good time. Whether it’s kids playing guitars near the public parking lot or live music in clubs like Peri’s Silver Dollar, 19 Broadway, Iron Springs Pub or the Sleeping Lady, there always seems to be music in the air. And if you can’t stay up that late, Fairfax has many festivals throughout the year, including Brew Fest, the Fairfax Festival and the new Arts and Crafts Faire.

Did You Know?

• A famous baseball game between the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane took place in Fairfax in the 1960s.

• Singer-songwriter Van Morrison once called Fairfax home.

• Fairfax residents are called Fairfaxians.

• Fairfax was named for Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax.

• 88.3 percent of residents voted for Barack Obama, the highest rate in the county.