Coastal Traveler - Spring 2008 - (Page 74)

coastaltraveler Point Reyes Station: West Marin’s largest town By Alex Parsons Point Reyes Station began life as the railroad terminus for neighboring Olema, once the largest town in West Marin. Equal parts quiet farming town and vibrant cultural center, Point Reyes Station is a perfect spot for those who wish to escape the city without leaving behind its comforts. High priced curios and boutique cheese share shelf space here with animal feed. Waves of counter culture migrants in the 1960s and 1970s shifted the balance in this former cow town towards the progressive, the artistic, and the idealistic; before that, Point Reyes Station was the centerpiece of a landscape dominated by dairy and beef ranches. People miss the scent of manure that until last year, wafted over Point Reyes Station’s art galleries and upscale cafés, a persistent reminder of the town’s agricultural character. Point Reyes Station began life as the railroad terminus for neighboring Olema, once the largest town in West Marin. But the train brought prosperity to the station town, and Point Reyes eventually eclipsed its neighbor in size. Today it is the commercial center of West Marin, with the area’s only bank, supermarket and pharmacy. It also hosts West Marin’s Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper, the Point Reyes Light, and community radio station KWMR. It’s surprising then that there is no hotel in downtown Point Reyes. There are, however, a number of inns and bed and breakfasts nearby. Kayak and hiking tour leader Point Reyes Outdoors, just beside the gas station, posts an up-todate list of availability for housing not only in Point Reyes but also in surrounding communities. If you want to stay close to Point Reyes Station, try Ferrando’s Hideaway Cottages, just north of town. A bit further up on Highway One the Point Reyes Country Inn & Stable will appeal to horse lovers. Where to Stay Gallery Cottage Near downtown • 415.663.1419 Old Creamery Near downtown • 888.203.2113 Point Reyes Lodging Inverness & Pt. Reyes 800539-1872 Where to Eat Cowgirl Creamery Cantina & Cheese Shop 80 Fourth St • 415.663.9335 Bovine Bakery Downtown • 415.663.9420 Palace Market & Deli • Downtown • 415.663.9335 The Pine Cone Diner 4th & B St. • 415.663.1536 Station House • Downtown • 415.663.1515 Where to Shop Cabaline Country Emporium Downtown 415.663.8303 Flower Power 11275 State Route One • 415.663.8221 Into the Blue In the Cheda Building • 415.663.1147 Susan Hayes Handwovens 80 Fourth St. • 415.663.8057 Point Reyes Books Main Street • 415.663.1542 Point Reyes Surf Shop In the Cheda Building 415.663.8750 Point Reyes Jeweler In the Cheda Building 415.663.1936 West Marin Pharmacy Fourth St. • 415.663.1121 West Marin Community Thrift Store The Creamery Building • 415.663.9227 William Lester Gallery In the Cheda Building • 415.663.9365 Where to Play The Dance Palace Comm. Center 415.663.1075 74 coastaltraveler spring

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Coastal Traveler - Spring 2008

Coastal Traveler - Spring 2008 Contents Coastal Connoisseur Coastal Picks Coastal Scenario Coastal Art Coastal Driver Coastal Roadkill Coastal Eco Coastal Hotel Coastal Desert San Diego La Jolla Laguna Beach Malibu Santa Barbara San Luis Obispo Big Sur Carmel Monterey Santa Cruz San Francisco Sausalito Mill Valley Stinson Beach Bolinas Olema Point Reyes Station Fairfax Inverness Marshall, Tomales Sebastopol Petaluma Sonoma Coast Redwood Coast

Coastal Traveler - Spring 2008

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