WELCOME TO NOVATO
Population: 52,456 (approx) 

The City of Novato is located 29 miles north of San Francisco, just off Highway 101 and about 40 miles from Oakland. Incorporated in 1960 and encompassing 43 square miles with 3,600 acres of open space and parks, Novato is an agreeable mixture of a variety of neighborhoods. Waterfront communities, horse farms, beautiful mansions, inviting family neighborhoods, are all part of the mix in Novato.

Novato’s recently restored Grant Avenue, “Old Town”, has made downtown Novato a welcoming place for visitors and residents to shop and dine. The Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, anchored by Costco and Target, includes more than 50 retail stores and restaurants. Well-known high technology companies have made their home in Novato, including the non-profit Buck Institute for Aging, a prominent complex on Mt. Burdell designed by famed architect I. M. Pei. The city is also home to Fireman's Fund Insurance, the county's largest private employer with about 2,500 workers. 

With 3,600 acres of open space, Novato is a haven for hiking and mountain biking. The views from the 1,558 foot high Mt. Burdell are spectacular. Novato has two public golf courses and a network of 27 oak-studded parks, including a 16,000 square foot skate park for young skateboarders. Stafford Lake Park, a 139-acre expanse is a major attraction for visitors and residents who enjoy fishing, hiking, biking or day camping. Bird watchers and wildlife observers are drawn to Scottsdale Marsh, Deer Island Preserve and Pacheco Pond Wildlife Area.

At the Pacheco Ranch Winery, the oldest land grant property in California, visitors can observe how grapes are grown and enjoy fine California wine tasting. A lovely drive to the West, out Novato Blvd take you to the Marin French Cheese Company, where visitors can sample award winning cheeses and enjoy a picnic with views of the tranquil, surrounding meadow and pond. 

Novato is largely a bedroom community — more than 7,600 students are enrolled in the Novato Unified School District — but the city also has made its mark in business and industry. Shopping in Novato ranges from the traditional stores and boutiques on Grant Avenue ("Old Town") to the large Vintage Oaks Shopping Center. 

Hamilton Air Force base, decommissioned in 1974, has been transformed into a beautiful community with a mixture of high-end homes and affordable housing, as well as parks, office buildings and retail space. Many businesses have recently relocated here from other parts of the U.S. as the old hangers have been turned into beautiful office space. 

 

Housing in Novato... 

Housing in Novato is still affordable. One can still purchase a single family home for between $550,000 to $600,000, well below the Marin County average and slightly below the National average. Many town homes/ condo developments start in the low $300,000.

 

 

 

THE HISTORY OF NOVATO… 

The history of Novato, Marin County’s northern-most city, dates back to 1300 when Miwok Native Americans lived in villages at the base of Mount Burdell. The history of this early culture is celebrated in two fascinating sites in Novato, the Marin Museum of the American Indian and Olompali State Park. 

In addition to its dynamic exhibits, the nationally-recognized museum sponsors a variety of community lectures and events, including the late summer Trade Feast showcasing native art, music and dance. Olompali State Park, named for a key Miwok settlement, is the site of the first Spanish colonial house, believed to have been built in Marin County. It contains a re-created Miwok village, as well as the remains of an adobe hut dating from 1837. 

The only battle of the Bear Flag Rebellion, which led to California's statehood, was fought at Olompali in 1846, and the Burdell family later established the first formal garden in Marin there in the 1870's.  

The Chosen Family hippie commune — serenaded by Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead — lived in the old Burdell mansion until it burned in 1969.  

 

Hamilton Field, on the southeast side of the city, served as an Army airfield from 1935 to 1947 and continued military operations to 1975. After years of wrangling, Hamilton opened in 1999 as a community of new homes. 

Historical buildings dot downtown Novato, including the Novato History Museum (1850), City Hall (a former Presbyterian church built in 1896) and Druid’s Hall (1899). Novato’s Old Town contains a variety of quaint shops and restaurants. 

The city hall, community center, chamber of commerce and history museum are among the oldest buildings in the complex of historic buildings known as Old Town, which also contains a variety of quaint shops and restaurants. 

Having grown up here and working with many buyers and sellers in all price ranges in Novato, Shana Rohde-Lynch is a true “neighborhood expert”.

WHERE TO STAY...

Best Western Novato Oaks Inn 215 Alameda del Prado Novato, CA 94949 800-625-7466 or 415-883-4400 415-883-4400 www.novatooaksinn.com	Econolodge Inn & Suites 275 Alameda del Prado Novato, CA 94949 415-883-2406 www.novatolodging.com	Courtyard by Marriott 1400 North Hamilton Parkway Novato, CA 94949 800-321-2211 or 415-883-89500 www.marriott.com/sfonv
Inn Marin 250 Entrada Drive Novato, CA 94949 800-652-6565 or 415-883-5952 www.innmarin.com	Days Inn 8141 Redwood Blvd. Novato, CA 94945 415-897-7111 www.daysinn.com	Novato Travelodge 7600 Redwood Blvd. Novato, CA 94945 800-578-7878 or 415-892-7500 www.travelodge.com

WHERE TO EAT...

 

Aurora Ristorante 8 Commercial Blvd (415) 382-8488 Lunch/Dinner	Las Guitarras Restaurant 1017 Reichert Ave (415) 892-3171 Mexican	Rickey's Restaurant 250 Entrada Drive (415) 883-9477 Steak House www.rickeysrestaurant.com
Boca Steak 340 Ignacio Blvd(415) 883-0901 Steak House www.bocasteak.com	Mary’s Pizza Shack 121 San Marin Drive (415) 897-6266 www.maryspizzashack.com	Cacti Restaurant 1200 Grant Ave (415) 898-2234 Tex Mex www.caticgrill.com
Marvin's Restaurant 1112 Grant Ave (415) 892-4482	California Grill & Rotisserie 1531 S Novato Blvd #A (415) 893-1540 www.califgrill.com	Masa Sushi 813 Grant Ave (415) 892-0081 Sushi/Japanese
Chevys Fresh Mex 128 Vintage Way (415) 898-7345 Mexican	Maya Palenque 349 Enfrente Rd (415) 883-6292 Mexican www.tastymexican.com	China House 1222 Grant Ave (415) 897-9630 Chinese
Mi Pueblo Taqueira 905 Grant Ave (415) 878-0122 Mexican	Golden Egg Omelet House 807 Grant Ave (415) 897-7707	Moylans Brewery 15 Rowland Way (415) 898-4677 California Cuisine www.moylans.com
Extreme Pizza 104 Vintage Way #A9 (415) 898-6575 www.extremepizza.com	Noahs Bagels 1701 Grant Ave (415) 898-3981 www.noahs.com	Fernando’s Restaurant 1561 S. Novato Blvd (415) 897-2425 Mexican
Finnegans Marin 877 Grant Ave (415) 899-1516 www.finnegansmarin.com	Phyllis' Giant Burgers 924 Diable Ave (415) 898-8294 phyllisgiantburgers.com	Pasta Pomodoro 140 Vintage Way (415) 899-1861 www.pastapomodoro.com
Grazie Café 823 Grant Ave (415) 878-0202 Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner	Red Boy Pizza 459 Entrada Dr (415) 382-7711 www.redboypizza.com	High Tech Burrito 942 Diablo Ave (415) 897-8083 Lunch/ Take-Out www.hightechburrito.com
Roast Haus-Hof Brau 1545 S. Novato Blvd (415) 209-6668 German/Lunch/ Dinner	Hilltop Café 850 Lamont Ave (415) 892-2222 www.htnet.com	Round Table Pizza 500 Alameda Del Prado (415) 883-5656 1565 S Novato Blvd (415) 897-2512 www.roundtablepizza.com
Italian Delite Sub Sandwiches 971 Front St (415) 892-9221	Sushi Holic 112 Vintage Way (415) 898-8500	Jennie Lows 120 Vintage Way #D9 (415) 892-8838 Chinese www.jennielow.com
Taki Japanese 452 Ignacio Blvd (415) 883-2423 Sushi/ Japanese	Kitchen 868 Grant Ave (415) 892-6100 California Cuisine www.kitchen868.com	Tommy Salsa 1535 S. Novato Blvd #F (415) 898-1351
Los Panchos 1561 Grant Ave (415) 898-0307 Mexican	Wild Fox 225 Alameda del Prado (415) 883-9125 www.wildfoxrestaurant.com	LaBoulange (415) 382 - 8594 laboulangebakery.com
Villa Romana 2013 Novato Blvd (415) 892-1631 Sourdough Pizza	Toast (415) 382-1144 toastnovato.com	Sonoma Latina Grill (415) 883-2662 sonomalatinagrill.com
Hamilton Marketplace 5800 Nave Drive