Fairfax

Nestled in the rolling hills and woods of Marin County, Sleepy Hollow provides a peaceful place for anyone to rest their head at night. The community's stylish midcentury modern homes are situated on large parcels that back against hillside trails and winding rural roads. Though largely isolated north of Mountain Tamalpais, residents can commute to San Francisco and Oakland. Much closer to home, the neighborhood's main artery, Butterfield Road, leads into the small villages of San Anselmo and Fairfax. Sleepy Hollow's residents in the 19th century tended a dairy ranch before a wealthy man from San Francisco with an appreciation for American author Washington Irving built a large mansion and estate, the source of the community's contemporary name. Cows remained a big part of the landscape for several generations until developers subdivided the property into housing tracts in the mid-20th century. In their serene hillside setting, the stylish midcentury modern homes with floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed beams and open floor plans command sales in the $1 million to $4.5 million price range. Modest ranch-style homes in the area tend to be less expensive while boasting beautiful views and natural style. At the top of the market, however, villa-like homes with in-ground pools, gated entrances and majestic views of Mount Tam stun visitors and residents. Real estate experts and locals also cite the nature hiking trails throughout the hills as one of Marin County's best amenities. "It's our best-kept secret. We have our own little microclimate," said local Realtor and Marin native Lori Saia Odisio. "We get great weather out in these areas – we don't get a lot of fog off the bay." Sleepy Hollow neighbors San Anselmo, a quaint town with a central main street corridor and several community parks. At Memorial Park, kids play basketball and baseball on its athletic courts and fields. Youth also come to the park on wheels to ride the ramps and flip over obstacles at the skatepark. Music fills the air during the summer as the city closes its main street and invites bands and artists to perform for the Live on the Avenue Music Series. The town hosts other community events throughout the year, including an annual holiday tree lighting, an Easter egg hunt in the spring and a Halloween party where merchants, the local firehouse and volunteers hand out candy to costumed trick-or-treaters. There's a tight-knit closeness to Sleepy Hollow, San Anselmo and Fairfax, as neighbors and friends frequently gather for street festivals, parties, dinners and youth sports events. The kitchen at Cucina SA, established in 1998, produces flavorful southern Italian dishes. The dinner menu covers multiple courses and includes a variety of pasta and wood-fired pizzas. Up the street from the community library in San Anselmo, visitors shop for new threads and home goods at retailers like Kismet Clothing Boutique, Curate Studio and SeeSaw Children's Consignment before stopping for a latte at Marin Coffee Roasters or a sweet treat at Flour Craft Bakery. For grocery trips, folks visit Safeway in the Red Hill Shopping Center, a small commercial center next to Memorial Park. The Dominican Order of the Catholic Church purchased the Sleepy Hollow mansion in 1966 after most of it burned down. The church restored the building to create the San Domenico School, a private co-ed, K-12 school. Neighborhood students can also attend Hidden Valley Elementary, which Niche gives an A. Students can go to White Hill Middle School and Archie Williams High School from there. Niche gives the White Hill an A-minus and Williams, formerly known as Sir Francis Drake High School, an A. The community is a short drive from downtown San Rafael and Highway 101, connecting North Bay to San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge. Folks can also board Martin Transit system buses in San Anselmo and Fairfax to shuttle around the Bay Area.