The wife of a major developer, Charles Wright, named this beautiful area for the lupine she found there, mistakenly identifying it as "larkspur."
Larkspur is a charming city in Central Marin County with a population of about 12,000. Larkspur is located 15 miles north of San Francisco, halfway between Sausalito and San Rafael, at the foot of Mount Tamalpais. Adjacent to Larkspur's downtown is Madrone Canyon, which is a residential area with a spectacular redwood grove.
The downtown/Magnolia Avenue area is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as an irreplaceable American "turn of the century home town." Larkspur residents have been quite successful in preserving the small-town ambience. A medley of specialty shops, boutiques, Queen Anne Victorians, cafes and first-class restaurants can be enjoyed by taking a relaxing stroll down Magnolia Avenue. Not to be missed are the Escalle Winery, built in the 1890's by the young Frenchman, Jean Escalle, who planted the northern hillsides of Larkspur with wine grapes; and the exquisite Murphy mansion, constructed in 1888 and now home to the world famous restaurant, the Lark Creek Inn.
Larkspur extends north to the unincorporated area of Greenbrae, home to the Bon Air Shopping Center, which offers boutiques, restaurants and gift shops. Greenbrae is well known for its tastefully landscaped custom homes, many of which have views of the bay, Corte Madera Creek and lowlands, and Mt. Tamalpais. A special effort was made during the development of this area to preserve the hundreds of majestic oak trees that grace the hillsides. Greenbrae residents enjoy a one-minute drive to the freeway and two minutes to the Larkspur Landing Ferry Terminal.
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Larkspur is divided into two distinct areas adjoining Highway 101. Its historic downtown is west of Highway 101, and an old quarry area, now known as Larkspur Landing, is to the east of the highway along the San Francisco Bay shoreline. The Landing is a rambling outdoor shopping area with outdoor tables, a fountain and spectacular bay views.
The Landing hosts live music on Friday evenings and a Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings during the summer months. A foot bridge over the highway allows visitors to access the Golden Gate Ferry terminal, a departure point for travelers going from Marin to the San Francisco Ferry Building. The ride offers spectacular views of Mt. Tamalpais, Angel Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Just east of the landing is Remillard’s Brickyard Kiln, the last remaining building of the brickyard built in 1889. It has been declared a state historical landmark and is home to a restaurant and a small office complex. The waterway adjacent to the kiln has become a major attraction for windsurfers. Larkspur has 10 parks accommodating every sport from horseshoes to kayaking.
The Larkspur School District serves the “Twin Cities” of Larkspur and Corte Madera. The school district is comprised of two award-winning schools: Neil Cummins Elementary School (K-4) in Corte Madera, and Henry C. Hall Middle School (5-8) in Larkspur. More than 1,100 students attend these two schools.
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