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Class and Area Information

Training Location & Hotels
Getting There
The Location
Example Itinerary
Weather
Attractions
Food
Local Shopping
Day Trips
Tour Guides

Training Location and Hotels
All classes are from 9am to 6pm on the dates indicated. They are held at The Courtyard Marriott in Larkspur, California. Continental breakfast, coffee, tea and afternoon snack is provided. There is a one hour break for lunch. The Marriott is located at 2500 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, CA 94939. Phone 415.925.1800

Hotel amenities include:
· Secure access
· Outdoor pool
· Indoor hot tub and exercise room
· Coin op laundry
· Rooms contain coffee pot, iron, hair drier, alarm, data ports

This hotel's dining room is only open for breakfast and lunch. While this appears to be a drawback, there are so many good restaurants in the area that the hotel dining room couldn't compete. Room Service of Marin (389-8871) is a service that will deliver meals to you from a range of restaurants all over Marin.

Other local hotels:
· Best Western Corte Madera Inn
· Embassy Suites in San Rafael
· Acqua in Mill Valley

Lodging for extending your stay
· Casa Madrona in Sausalito
· Inn Above Tide in Sausalito
· Houseboat Rentals in Sausalito
· Mountain Home Inn on Mt. Tamalpais in Mill Valley
· Blackthorne Inn near the shore in Pt. Reyes
- Marin County Bed and Breakfast Referral at 415-388-8927

Getting There
Larkspur Landing is a Golden Gate Ferry "Landing" so if traveling from San Francisco (without a car) you may take the ferry directly from San Francisco to Larkspur. It is just a short walk from the Landing to the hotel. The Marin Airporter also runs directly from San Francisco International airport to a site virtually next to the hotel. This is also a short walk or taxi ride. Another travel alternative you may want to look into is flying into Oakland Airport (OAK) instead of San Francisco (SFO). Southwest Airlines is one airline that offers direct flights from some areas into/out of Oakland at reasonable rates. From the airports (SFO or OAK) you can either rent a car or take a taxi (Radio Cab 1-800-774-8294), shuttle or limo to your hotel. Bus service is not very convenient from Oakland.

Maps
· San Francisco
· East Bay
· Bay Area Day Trips
· More Maps

Transportation
· Corporate Choice Transportation
· SFO Transportation
· OAK Transportation
- Radio Cab, 1-800-774-8294
· Transit Info

The Location

Larkspur is right on San Francisco Bay in Marin County. It is close to Mt. Tamalpias, Tiburon, Sausalito, Stinson Beach and the City of San Francisco. It is an equal distance from the East Bay where the attractions include Jack London Square in Oakland and Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. Be aware that the "Bay Area" is not known for its public transportation (and is known for its traffic). In the East Bay the B.A.R.T. system is pretty reliable and extensive, and the trains run under the bay to San Francisco. In San Francisco there are taxicabs, cable cars, the MuniMetro trains, Golden Gate Transit and buses.

However, in Marin County there are no trains, only buses, and the bus system does not support metro transport very well. Everything is a bit spread out, and taxicabs are not usually a cost-effective way to see the Marin County area. If you have a group consider a limousine service, otherwise consider renting a car, walking around the Larkspur area, or using the ferry to ride to San Francisco.

Within the "Landing" there are shops, restaurants and a movie theater; a supermarket, bank, dry-cleaner and the Marin County Visitors Bureau. All the shops, bus stations, ferry docks, and the theater are contained within a small area and are accessible via a short walk but do be aware (winter travelers) that all is exposed to the elements. The elements are not severe in Northern California but the breeze off the water can get nippy! For site seeing, consider adding a weekend to your stay and either getting a hotel in San Francisco or taking the ferry from Larkspur to San Francisco for day excursions. Remember, Napa, Sonoma, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Monterey and Carmel are all day trips from Marin and San Francisco.

Example Itinerary...
Fly in to SFO on Friday Night/Sat Morning. Take taxi to hotel. Spend weekend sightseeing in beautiful Northern California. Take ferry to Larkspur Sunday aft/evening. Attend class Monday - Wednesday. Take Airporter to SFO Wed night/Thurs morning. Fly home. You could also consider staying in San Francisco and commuting to class every day via the ferry. This would be do-able if you stay on or near the Embarcadero in SF. It would allow a traveling companion to take advantage of the city life during the day while you are attending class. The ferry ride is approximately 45 minutes long.

Weather
The weather in the San Francisco Bay Area is basically very mild. We do not get snowed on in the winter and even though our summer afternoons can get hot (80-90), we always have our lovely natural air conditioning in the form of coastal fog, which rolls over the hills every evening to cool us off. Because of our location near the coast, bay and two large mountains the Bay Area is a series of "micro-climates". What this means is that the weather may be very different from one mile to the next. Local residents know to always carry layers of clothing. No one laughs if you pack a warm coat in the car on a 90 degree day. By 7pm you may need that coat, especially in San Francisco where it is usually quite cold (by California standards) in the evening year-round. Go ahead and start with your shorts but bring a sweatshirt or sweater, and if you planning on being out after dark or going to the coast or on the bay, bring a jacket.

Food

Local Shopping
Most of these shops are within walking distance or a short cab ride from the training location. The book stores all have sitting areas and serve coffee, tea and snacks.
Village at Corte Madera and Bon Air Center,
Book Passage
Barnes and Noble
Borders Books

Day Trips