There are several more stores worth visiting along Tiburon Boulevard between Main and Beach Streets. Paradise Ice Cream and Burgers is worth a mid-day visit and the New Morning Cafe serves a popular breakfast-both are well loved by the locals. Further along Tiburon Boulevard, at Beach, the Boardwalk Shopping Center has several worthwhile shops, notably the Custom House fine antiques and collectibles. Shorebirds Kids sells fun clothing and toys, and there are several shops featuring women’s clothing. Jeanie’s Java serves coffee and pastries from Tiburon’s Sweet Things Bakery. Across from Jeanie’s is Go West Salon and Spa. Point Tiburon Plaza is across Tiburon Boulevard from Main Street. Inside, The Dynasty Restaurant offers good Chinese Food. Point Tiburon will be the site of the 18th Annual Tiburon Wine Festival May 19, which Steve Seares, co-owner of Sam’s, says provides "a wonderful opportunity to sample and compare premium wines in one of the most beautiful locations on the San Francisco Bay."

3. Old St. Hilary’s, Gateway to the hills Old St. Hilary’s is a true Tiburon landmark. Its open Wed and Sun 1-4, but the wildflowers can be seen anytime between sunrise and sunset. Walk up Beach Street until it becomes Esperanza-and keep going until you reach Old St. Hilary’s Historic Preserve- Leave enough day light to walk the paths that wind through the hills. Because of the unique setting on serpentine rock, dotted with natural springs, you will see beautiful things here that you can see nowhere else-poppies for sure, but also the rare Tiburon paintbrush, Tiburon buckwheat, and Marin Dwarf flax. Watch for the black jewel flower, one of the rarest species in the world, it exists only in serpentine here on the tip of the Tiburon Peninsula. Old St. Hilary’s is Tiburon’s oldest church, built in 1888. Historians note that residents of all faiths were glad to see the roman catholic church come to the rowdy railroad town. The church is one of the few remaining examples of Carpenter Gothic (a simplified interpretation of gothic revival architecture by a carpenter with available materials) to survive in its original condition and setting. Below the church is the John Thomas Howell Botanical Garden, preserved in honor of the Emeritus Curator of Botany, California Academy of Sciences, and member of the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society. Howell describes St. Hilary’s Preserve as "one of the most interesting and remarkable and beautiful wildflower gardens in California and therefore the world. Nowhere else in the state can so many wonderful plants be found in so small a space." Phenomenally, there are 217 species in all, two-thirds of which are native to this area, many uncommon. Different things are in bloom all year round, but most choose April and May. If you follow Dakin Lane above the church, you will enjoy the view of the open hills, the church, the town, the bay and the city. You can continue to Vistazo West and follow it left to its end, by the sign on a gate, to the old St. Hilary’s Open Space Preserve. From here, trails connect with Tiburon Uplands Nature Reserve and eventually The Nature Conservancy’s Ring Mountain Preserve, all of which are must-sees.

4. The Tiburon Peninsula Bike Loop If you like to ride your bike, get a copy of the Marin Bicycle Map for Road, Mountain, and Transit Biking, published by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition at (415) 457-8687. The Tiburon peninsula street loop follows Paradise Drive, a beautiful country road, around the peninsula to the backside of Tiburon. Though the shoulder is narrow, traffic is generally light, and there are a few spots to get off and rest. The Romberg Tiburon Center for environmental studies at San Francisco State University, researches marine science with a focus on the San Francisco Bay. The science and education center is accessible to the public only on Discovery Day, October 7, or by reservation ( http://rtc.sfsu.edu). Paradise Park offers a great place for picnics with a beautiful beach and fishing pier. Cut over to Tiburon Boulevard on Trestle Glen Boulevard (there was a railroad trestle here until it was dismantled in 1968-hence the name.) Cross Tiburon Boulevard to Blackie’s Pasture and the northeastern end of the Tiburon Bike Path. This gorgeous, off-street, paved bike path is the waterfront route you will use for the return to town. For now, go right, passing through the car barrier, and ride along Greenwood Beach Road to the Richardson Bay Audobon Sanctuary, where you can enjoy a beach and trails along Richardson Bay. Do stop in at the Lyford House, the Victorian gothic mansion, painted yellow with white trim. It is one of the oldest homes in Marin County. Inside are some period furnishings in the living room, study, library, bedroom, and child’s room. The bird photographs on the walls were taken circa 1920 by Mr. Donald Dickey, a well known ornithologist. Though the setting is phenomenally beautiful, its is not the home’s original location. It was built in 1878 at Harbor Cove in Strawberry, and was barged across Richardson Bay in 1957. It just so happened that when it was offered by its owner for preservation on the 

condition that it be moved from Strawberry Point, to prevent further vandalism, the current site was offered for preservation by its owner so it would not be subdivided and developed. Thanks to fate of timing, you can explore the Lyford House, with its 800 acres of tidelands renown for migratory bird watching. There is a book store, and shoreline and hillside paths. Be sure to check also for guided walks. Enjoy Richardson Bay as you ride back to downtown along the old railroad right-of-way.

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