Discover San Anselmo: History, Parks and Film Culture

San Anselmo amid rolling hills, history and film culture

San Anselmo combines impressive routes through the hilly landscape with local history, audio walks, parks and a special piece of film culture. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between active days outdoors, historical discoveries and family-oriented leisure activities. The varied experiences make it possible to choose a vacation rental in San Anselmo according to your preferred travel rhythm, without limiting your stay to just one theme.

Trails with views across the surrounding area

In Sorich Ranch Park, a trail leads from San Anselmo to the forest roads that continue to Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery and Terra Linda Divide. The trail is east of the parking lot and gradually climbs to a ridge. From there, you can look out over San Rafael, San Francisco Bay and San Francisco. The Sorich Park Trail is a 2.1-mile loop of moderate difficulty. Those who enjoy spending time outdoors while traveling can take these trail experiences into account when planning their days.

The smaller parks also each have their own character. At Creek Park, you can observe the local birdlife and the habitat along the creek. Robson-Harrington Park features extensive grounds for walking and picnicking, as well as a community garden. Memorial Park offers sports fields, lawns, tennis courts, outdoor facilities and a children's playground for family outings and outdoor recreational activities.

San Anselmo's history on walking tours

San Anselmo's historical walking tours lead through the historic Hub and show the role the railroad played in the town's development. They also explore changes in the shops and architecture along San Anselmo Avenue. A specific connection to railroad history is the year 1875: that was when the North Pacific Railroad completed a route from Sausalito to Tomales via San Anselmo.

For an independent exploration, the Historical Commission's audio tour program offers a special form of walking tour. The audio walks use GPS to trigger audio content at points of interest. This allows you to walk at your own pace and stop along the way. The program also includes a tour of the San Francisco Theological Seminary, a historic and architectural gem in the heart of San Anselmo.

Other historical connections reach even further back. Artifacts discovered near the Hub suggest that the present-day town area has been a crossroads since the time when the Coast Miwok roamed the surrounding oak-covered hills and fished in the freshwater streams of San Anselmo Creek. Those who would like to explore the past in greater depth will also find a large collection in San Anselmo containing photographs, memorabilia, historical records, walking-tour brochures, video and oral history materials, as well as documents relating to the Miwok and railroad history.

Architecture, film and events

The Robson-Harrington House adds a specific building to the town's history. It was completed in 1906 by Edwin Kleber Wood and features a picturesque turn-of-the-century design. Imagination Park, by contrast, focuses on the town's modern creative identity: the park honors the creative legacy of George Lucas as well as the film series Star Wars and Indiana Jones. On display are life-size statues of Yoda and Indiana Jones, created by sculptor Lawrence Noble. George Lucas donated the park to the town in 2013.

Imagination Park also hosts several town events, including an annual ceremony to turn on the Christmas tree lights. Your preferred daily destinations will help guide your further planning.

More places to explore

If you would like to compare San Anselmo with other destinations, you can also visit Muir Beach, San Rafael, Novato, Point Reyes Station, Larkspur, Stinson Beach, Sausalito and San Geronimo. This allows you to connect your choice of vacation rental with the different interests of your travel group.

For the main travel overview: Marin.