Novato

 

Even with a bustling population of more than 53,000 residents, of all the cities in Marin County, Novato best captures a small-town-America feeling. Located just below Petaluma, adjacent to Sonoma and Napa counties, and surrounded by oak and bay tree-studded hills, it’s about a half hour drive from San Francisco at non-peak times (but can take over an hour in traffic). Golden Gate Transit offers Wi-Fi on board and a very comfy commute of 55 minutes to just over an hour to San Francisco’s Financial District, depending on the starting point.