Bel Marin Keys, Novato A lonely piece of South Florida transplanted to the Bay Area First of all, I need to say that I like this place, for fear someone might get the wrong idea. In fact, I feel more than ever that this is one of the most extraordinary, offbeat places around. Despite being in Marin County, land of redwoods and hot tubs and mountain bikes, Bel Marin Keys has an altogether other-worldly presence. Approaching the community one passes through characteristic Marin woodsy scenery, but things soon change radically. I don't know anything about the history of the place so I'll have to guess, but it appears to have been carved out of the wetlands some time in the 1950's or 60's, with house styles evoking the latest design trends of the time. The community has a Florida-esque "keys" layout with houses lined along finger-like streets, interspersed with navigable waterways. Streets are lined with every kind of palm tree and have tropical names like "Bermuda Harbor" and "Montego Kay." Besides the striking aesthetics, two things really strike me about the place. First, the edges give way to vast expanses of flat marshland nothingness, creating an "edge of the earth" feeling, like you might just drop off by mistake. The second is the complete, utter silence... despite all the houses out there, there is no commercial activity and very little traffic, so it is quiet in a way I haven't experienced in very many other neighborhoods. On the afternoon I shot these picutres the only significant sound was an ice cream truck that made its way through the community at about the same rate as my picturetaking. I'm sure I must have puzzled the driver of the ice cream truck since we passed each other probably a dozen times. For whatever reason we were both following the same route through the neighborhood, but in my little red Renault I was hardly inconspicuous. Unlike the other surreal suburbs on this website, I've had difficulty finding background information on this place. So if there is anyone out there who can direct me to some material, let me know! So far my internet searches have not produced much, but I'm sure there's a story here. Visting Bel Marin Keys Take Highway 101 to the Ignacio Boulevard/Bel Marin Keys exit, just north of San Rafael. Proceed to Bel Marin Keys Boulevard and head east. You'll know when you're there. DRIVING DIRECTIONS Click here to get driving directions from where you're at to the intersection of Bel Marin Keys Boulevard and Bermuda Harbor, which is a good place to start. Just type in your starting location and Mapquest will give you directions. BY TRANSIT Unfortunately Bel Marin Keys is not well served by transit. Transit in Marin County is provided by Golden Gate Transit (bus and ferry), but Bel Marin Keys is only served by a local bus route that just goes as far as the commercial/office district and does not go into the residential area, which is the main attraction. Either plan to do a lot of walking, or bring a bike (bikes are allowed on most Golden Gate bus routes).