Mill Valley is a quaint little town located north of the Golden Gate Bridge and built in the valley of Mount Tam. It really has the best of all worlds with San Francisco a short and utterly beautiful ride across the Golden Gate and your there. Yet if your the nature loving type-Mount Tamalpias offers some of the best hiking & biking around. There are trails to Muir Woods and Stinson Beach and many short hikes as well.
The town offers excellent restaurants, shops and stores and is the home of the renowned 142 Throckmorton Theater which hosts all sorts of live entertainment. Make a trip up to the wine country-just an hours drive away.