Tiburon Walking Tour #1

I HATE EXERCISE!
At least exercise that is just for the sake of exercise!
I want to:
.. .. walk a windy beach
.. .. climb a mountain
.. .. ski a caldera
.. .. ride a horse!
I want views and interesting places to see!
Lifting weights and walking on a machine in a sweaty stinky gym just seems like a total waste of exercise opportunities.
On the Tiburon Peninsula the walking and sight seeing opportunities are endless.
Here’s one suggestion for those of you who want to drive over or take the ferry from The City and spend a few hours away from the hustle & bustle.
WALKING TOUR #1: Lyford Tower to Old St. Hillary’s Wildflower Preserve
* If you drive over, park your car at one of the lots on Tiburon Boulevard. Grab a bottle of water in Sharky’s Deli and start out walking south on TB towards the round-​about where TB becomes Paradise Drive.
* If you took the ferry over, you will disembark right next to the round-​about. Acri Coffee Shop has bottled water too.
* Walk south through the waterfront park, past the Landmarks Railroad Museum building, past Capri Restaurant.
* Paradise Drive will wind around the end of the peninsula. Just a short block up on the right hand side, stop at Lyford’s Tower for a moment to enjoy the view of Angel Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.
* Continue on up Paradise Drive (a gentle slope) until you hit the one way exit of Mar East Street. Since you are on foot, ignore the «Do Not Enter — One Way» signs. .. just be careful as you head on down the lane. Mar East is the closest lane next to the water that skirts this small portion of the end of the peninsula. Houses are built close to the road. This is a lovely little walk with many places to stop and enjoy different views across the Bay. Angel Island. Oakland. Golden Gate Bridge. Berkeley Hills.
* Less than a mile down Mar East it dead ends. Just before it does, it merges with Mar Centro Drive for approximately 100′. At the top of this little stretch of Mar Centro take a left at the intersection with Paradise Drive.
* About a quarter mile down Paradise Drive, Centro East Street will bear off to the right — heading up the hill. Take this little cutoff. Keep following Centro East up and up. Views and houses all around you. Good climbing, but not too strenuous exercise. Uphill leg muscle exercise. As good as any machine. And far more fun.
* At the top of Centro East you will hit a «crazy» intersection. You will be faced with one street going on up the hill, and two side-​by-​side going down. Take the middle one. Yes, the middle. Don’t ask. This is Centro West.
* Centro West winds around the side of the hill down and down. Lovely walk and gorgeous views. Downhill leg muscles being exercised here.
* Keep winding down, past Racoon Lane. At the dead end of Centro West make a sharp right on Esperanza Street. Two block steep climb up the hill. Don’t worry, it is good for you and you will be rewarded.
* At the top of the hill on your left is Old St. Hillary’s Church and wildflower preserve. This is a Landmarks Society Site. Go sit on the front steps and rest. You deserve it. Besides you will be hard pressed to find a more beautiful view. The entire town of Tiburon, Corinthian Island, Belvedere, Angel Island, San Francisco all lay before you. No need to ask why the town founders built this little church on this location. It is obvious.
* Ok you’ve rested long enough. Head on down Esperanza Street, past the tennis courts, make a curve to the left and BAM in ½ a block you are back on Tiburon Boulevard where you parked your car.
Just an hour’s stroll. .. or with stopping and looking maybe it will take a couple of hours…
But, hey, wasn’t that. .…
A LOT MORE FUN THAN SOME STINKY OLD GYM?