The Top 10 Things To Do And See In Mill Valley

Mill Valley, located just north of San Francisco on the flank of the towering Mount Tamalpais, has long been home to some of Mother Earth’s most popular treasures. But it is also renowned for its arts scene – from local comedy to theater, the town prides itself on a history filled with icons like Robin Williams and the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir. Below we discuss the best of the performing arts, nature and other sights in town.

Mill Valley Film Festival

Hosted once a year for eleven days in October by the California Film Institute, the world-class Mill Valley Film Festival is in its 39th year, and will be held from October 6 to 16. Last year’s festival included an impressive array of successful films – including the Oscar-winning film Spotlight and its director Tom McCarthy as well as The Danish Girl and its director Tom Hooper – and featured a slew of famous faces, including Sarah Silverman and Carey Mulligan. Given last year’s stellar lineup of films, high expectations are in store for 2016’s featured films.

1. The Marin Theater Company

Theater

The world-class Marin Theater Company puts on six thought-provoking shows per season, all of which are by contemporary playwrights. The current production is Ayad Akhtar’s The Invisible Hand, a controversial thriller about an American capitalist captured by terrorists in Pakistan that calls Western values into question. The show is the last of its 2015-2016 season and will run until July 3. The company will kick off its 50th anniversary season in the fall of 2016 with the Tony Award-winning August: Osage County.

The Mountain Play

This historic amphitheater sits atop Mount Tamalpais, offering stunning panoramic views of the Bay Area. The Mountain Play Association puts on one musical each summer, and this year’s production is West Side Story, which is running until June 19. While the company has been serving up some of the best musical productions in Marin County for 103 years, the trek is worthwhile just to marvel at the impressive stone amphitheater, which was built in a Greek style and seats up to 4,000. Take the free shuttle up the mountain from one of two conveniently located parking lots in Mill Valley. Bring layers, sunscreen, and plenty of water, as the weather at 2,000 feet can be quite variable.

Mill Valley-Sausalito Path

The 3.7-mile Mill Valley-Sausalito Path was built on what used to be the tracks of the Northwest Pacific Railroad and offers some of the best views of any bike ride in Marin. The path officially starts up by Edna Maguire Elementary School, but it’s easiest to park on Lomita Drive and begin at the intersection with East Blithedale. The path leads bikers over bridges and past the wetlands of the Bothin Marsh Preserve. It continues underneath the highway to cross into Sausalito, and along the bay, passing bobbing houseboats and harbors until it reaches the heart of downtown Sausalito.