More About the Dominican Neighborhood
This beautiful area, less-commonly referred to as Black Canyon, is situated in a highly-desirable location east of Highway 101 and surrounds the campus of Dominican University of California. It is located just minutes from downtown San Rafael, and is walking / biking distance to a number of restaurants and coffee shops. Nearby supermarkets include Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, and United Markets.
The neighborhood, which most call “The Dominican,” is known for its historic homes, including many in the Victorian and Mediterranean styles. Bounded by open space to the north and east, it is a walker’s paradise, with fire roads criss-crossing the open space. Many homes feature sunny southern exposures with views of San Rafael city lights and Mt. Tamalpais. Some residents like to bike and hike in Barbier Park. The neighborhood also features a Property Owners Association with a very informative website featuring the latest neighborhood news.
The area is served by Coleman Elementary School. For high school there is a choice between either San Rafael High School or Terra Linda High School, but be sure to check with the San Rafael School District to verify availability and enrollment. The prestigious Marin Academy is also located nearby. You may wish to consult my schools guide for more information.
Also be sure to check out one of my favorite hikes in the Dominican: The Gold Hill Fire Road Trail Hike.
More About San Rafael
San Rafael is Marin’s oldest and largest city, with a population of close to 60,000 people. Established in 1874, it is the seat of the County of Marin and is home to Marin’s second most popular tourist destination (after Muir Woods), the Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center. The building was the last major structure and the only government building designed by the world famous architect. It is now a national historic landmark and hosts one of the country’s best farmers markets each Thursday (seasonal, downtown) and Sunday (year-round).
Named after the Mission San Rafael Archangel, built by Spanish missionaries in 1817, San Rafael is located 11 miles north of San Francisco. The area enjoys some of the best weather in Marin as it is largely free of the coastal fog that areas closer to San Francisco experience. At the city’s heart is its charming, vibrant downtown shopping district which is a mixture of Victorian commercial buildings, ethnic restaurants, street cafes, retail stores, a historic movie theater and numerous music venues, giving San Rafael its hometown flavor.
