Marin County or Pacific Heights (Beverly Hills, Mill Valley: crime, living in, restaurants)

[tomazinho]

Hi! I am relocating to SF from Europe, will work there for my government which will pay for my accomodation. My girlfriend and I are torn between Marin County and Pacific Heights. I will work at Jackson street. I principally would prefer living in sunnier Marin County, but i am aware that commuting over Golden Gate Bridge might be a hassle. I keep on reading about the much worse weather (esp. fog) in SF compared to Marin County, so what`s your experience with commuting from Sausalito or Mill Valley to SF. I am ready to pay the toll if only i live in a green, liberal environment (please not as liberal as Height ashbury
How long do i have to expect to commute from sausalito to jackson street and how long from Mill Valley? My commuting hours will be 7 am and 5 or 6 pm backwards.

THANK YOU

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

In my personal opinion, Sausalito or Mill Valley is one of the best commutes into the city. A commuter's ferry departing Tiburon is also an option for you. The Golden Gate Bridge is congested but isn't too bad because they widen the lanes over the bridge based on rush hour. (Remember this is a SoCal perspective though.. I've even commuted in L.A.-the worst of all worsts).

I recommend checking the webcams, linked below, intermittently in the time-frame nearest your prospective commute hours. This way you can see the congestion first-hand and witness if it is, indeed, something that you can cope with.
http://cbs5.com/webcams/local_slideshow_027212125/view?slide=5 (broken link)

[tomazinho]

@newportbeachsmostwanted (and others)

Thank you so much! Could you - as an experienced inhabitant of the Bay Area - give me some more advices for the decision i have to take? Where are the biggest differences in lifestyle between these two places? How different is nature, e.g. how are sports like kayaking and biking/running possible right next to Pacific Heights? Is it very cramped with tourists who stare at your little balcony, while your girlfriend is halfnaked relaxing on it ? How is parking there?

I guess, Marin is sunnier, offers better biking trails, has lower crime and yet doesnt lack culture and fine-dining restaurants, right? A serious disadvantage might be traffic and less party spots plus the toll of 5 $ daily. Are there many billboards in PH or in cow hollow? Does Pacific Heights have a certain old world charme like f.ex. Beacon Hill in Boston has or Sausalito (from what i heard) or is it more newly-rich like Beverly Hills with monstrous villas?
Thank you so much for your appreciated advices, Thomas

[pwright1]

I'd choose Pacific Heights. It's IN the city. Its pretty save, convenient to everything and it is absolutely beautiful. Some of the oldest and most beautiful architecture in all of SF imo. Interesting shops and restaurants galore.