Tiburon’s Secret Season: September
September is often called "secret season" because it combines the best of all we love living in Tiburon with fewer crowds, among them hiking and biking, alfresco dining, and sunny, scenic views at every turn. September also happens to be California Wine Month, and lucky for locals and visitors, there’s no shortage of places to toast to the Golden State’s harvest.
Whether you’re looking for a one-day trip or an overnight stay, here are a few good reasons to make Tiburon your best-kept September secret.
Every Month is Wine Month
Our town runneth over with ways to sip and savor red, white, rosé, and bubbly, and tickets are also on sale now for the 42nd annual Tiburon Wine Festival, which will be held Saturday, October 4th. Drop by Squalo Vino, turning four in September, where you can try more than 15 wines by the glass and more than 90 by the bottle. Looking for the perfect gift for the oenophile in your life? In Good Taste not only has a tasting room on Arc Row where you can drop by for a glass or bottle, but they also have a delightful online shop with A Dozen Rosés, a winemaker’s starter kit, and a mini-wine club membership that sends 8 or 16 mini-bottles of hand-selected world wine to your door. Tiburon Wine stocks a vast variety of elixirs from around the world, along with plenty of California wines, hand-selected by Tiburon Wine proprietor Jerry Horn, aka Dr. Champagne. Local favorite Servino hosts regular wine dinners, and their enoteca is a good spot to savor Italian wines.
Stay Over in Style
Sleep over at The Lodge at Tiburon and enjoy 20% off your room rate for all Sunday through Thursday night stays, and 10% off on weekends, for overnights between now and January 2026. Don’t forget to enjoy lunch, happy hour, or taco Tuesday on the sunny terrace of Tiburon Tavern. Ready for a hike? Book the two-night Ring Mountain package at the Waters Edge Hotel and you’ll receive a map for the locals’ favorite hike, binoculars, and a backpack to use for the day, stocked with complimentary snacks and beverages to enjoy as you explore 367 acres of wide-open space. Return to the hotel and enjoy a complimentary evening wine reception and breakfast delivered to your room each morning.
Walk This Way
September is made for walking and biking thanks to comfortable weather (average daytime is 74 degrees) and omnipresent jaw-dropping scenery. Popular places include the Old Saint Hilary's Open Space Preserve and the Tiburon Uplands Nature Preserve. Explore trails like the Ring Mountain via Loop and Phyllis Ellman Trail, or enjoy the views from Ring Mountain Fire Road. If you’re looking for a mini-adventure, take the ferry from downtown Tiburon to Angel Island and walk or bike the five-mile perimeter trail. For a casual (and flat) walk, the paved Old Rail Trail is great for walkers of all ages. Sign up for the free monthly bird walk at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary, held on September 11 at 10 a.m. and led by an Audubon staff member.
Dine Alfresco
While some parts of the country prepare for fall’s chill, Tiburon enjoys warm temps in September, making dining outdoors the perfect way to say, “not quite yet, autumn.” Whether it’s drinks and a lobster roll at the legendary Sam’s Anchor Café or homemade Mexican fare at Lola’s Taqueria, the variety at Salt & Pepper or Bungalow Kitchen’s Bloody Mary Brunch, the alfresco dining season is alive and well in Tiburon this month.
Live Music
The John Kalleen Group is a classic “Blue Note Era” jazz quintet and will be playing at Old St. Hilary’s Chapel on September 28 at 4 p.m. Tickets are on sale here. Meanwhile, it’s always champagne o’clock at The Caviar Co., especially on Friday when they have live music from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.