On Hwy-101, 17 miles North of San Francisco. San Rafael began life in 1817 when it was chosen by the Spanish as a convalescence center for disease-stricken neophytes from San Francisco’s Mission Delores. The mild climate and absence of fog did indeed prove to be beneficial to health and soon 2,000 neophytes were living in San Rafael’s branch mission. A very modest replica of the mission chapel, at 1104 Fifth Avenue, and the few original artifacts stored there, are barely worth breaking a journey for, however. More significant is the Marin County Civic Center, a concrete and steel creation across three hilltops which you will see from Hwy-101 as you head north from San Rafael. Completed in 1957, the innovative structure was the last work of the influential architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.