Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, CA

Lagunitas-Forest Knolls is a tiny Marin County community tucked into forested hills 35 miles north of San Francisco. Reach it via Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from Highway 101 through San Anselmo and Fairfax, or take the winding Highway 1 north from Stinson Beach. The area serves as a gateway to Point Reyes National Seashore, drawing weekend coastal traffic. With just 1,600 residents spread among redwoods and oak woodlands, it maintains a distinctly rural feel. The local elementary school typically enrolls fewer than 60 students total.