Let’s face it, there are probably very few people who actually enjoy the morning drive to work. You haven’t had your first cup of coffee yet. There’s traffic clogging the road. The radio is filled with drivel. But here in the North Bay, that pain subsides a bit if you take the time to look up and pay attention to your surroundings.

Work in the City? Sure, the $6 bridge toll to cross the Golden Gate is a hard pill to swallow ($5 with a Fast Pass!) – but few sights are more iconic and spectacular than the Golden Gate Bridge, an internationally known landmark, and acclaimed as one of the world’s most beautiful bridges. Tremendous towers, sweeping cables, an impressive span, and a red hue that glows in sunlight, the Golden Gate Bridge is a treasure for the senses. And what’s more, the Bridge seems to act as a frame for the view that surrounds it: crashing waves of the ocean and Bay, rolling hills of the Marin Headlands, the bright white San Francisco skyline, rugged Angel Island. Basking in the sun, cooling in the fog, glowing under a sunset, or illuminated against the night sky, the Golden Gate Bridge is a stunning treat.

Another way for our city commuters to start the 9 to 5 is by Ferry – with locations in Larkspur, Sausalito, Tiburon and Vallejo serving the North Bay. Before the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937, ferries were the only way for residents and tourists to cross the Bay. Nearly 75 years later, ferries remain a practical and popular form of transportation. And if you take a moment to look up from your phone or iPad, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the Bay – seagulls flying overhead, dolphins frolicking, and fellow boaters navigating. You’ll pass by beautiful waterfront homes, take in the imposing Alcatraz and land at the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace, located along the Embarcadero. Recognizable by the 245-foot-tall clock tower modeled after the 12th century bell tower in the Seville Cathedral in Spain, the Marketplace is a gem in and of itself with its delicious restaurants, and unique stores and food purveyors. 

If you commute within the North Bay, the sights found off the 101 and 37 aren’t too shabby either. Richardson Bay, Mt. Tam, peaceful grazing cows, lush rolling hills, acres of colorful vineyards – all the things that add to the scenic beauty and the list of reasons why we love where we live.

Follow along as the full list unfolds 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors