What I Love About Novato…

Over the past several months there has certainly been a lot of angst in our community as well as some lively council meetings and some negative press.  Despite all of that, Novato is an incredible place and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

With that in mind, I decided to write about some of the things I love about Novato and hopefully the comments can be used for others to share what they love as well.

I love Novato’s natural beauty. If you haven’t explored our surrounding open space and trails lately, I encourage you to walk Indian Valley or hike up Big Tree Trail or Mount Burdell and enjoy the breathtaking setting — I say that because the hike up could literally take your breath way.

I love Novato’s incredible sense of community. People are always willing to get involved and volunteer whether it is coaching a sports team, saving a theater, throwing fundraisers, or participating in just about any cause that strengthens our city.  Also, it’s not hard to get local merchants to donate goods and services either as they are usually volunteering before they are even asked. 

I love Novato’s commitment to health and wellness. As a Parks and Recreation Commisioner, I have to mention our top-notch programs and services that we have for individuals of all ages which strengthen and promote wellness throughout our community.  Our athletic programs for youth and adults keep people active. I grew up participating in youth sports programs here in Novato and then went on to coach, and now I am back to playing thanks to the adult volleyball league at Hill Gym. For older adults and seniors, the is a tremendous asset for our residents.  Before my grandfather passed away, I had the privilege of taking him to Miwok Park to play bocce. I got beat pretty bad, but it was such a great reminder of why Novato is so special.

I love Novato’s local merchants and restaurants. While there are so many I could list, I probably frequent the most and I can’t say enough about their knowledgeable staff and customer service.  If you are looking for a bite to eat, Chao Praya is a hidden gem, Boca has the best steak in the county, is a childhood favorite, and Philly cheese steak cannot be topped by anyone.

And there is so much more I love about Novato — our farmer’s market, our schools, our police officers and firefighters, and even the Golden Gate Transit 56 commute bus.

Are there areas for improvement? Absolutely. If there weren’t, I wouldn’t be running for City Council. But this article (and hopefully the comments) is about what we love about our community.

So what do you love about Novato?