The Historic Lyford House

People driving along the four-mile stretch from Highway 101 to downtown Tiburon might not notice the Lyford House at all. Or maybe they catch a half-second glimpse of it in the distance—a bright yellow Victorian with a mansard-capped cupola. Then it's gone, hidden by houses and hedges, and motorists are left to wonder at the Brigadoon-like apparition they've just seen.

Those who stop for a better look, however, are rewarded for their curiosity. Lyford House is a two-story wooden confection, with exuberant dormers and soaring finials, owned by the non-profit National Audubon Society. Set on a sloping, grassy three-acre meadow at the edge of Richardson Bay, this Registered Historical Landmark offers perhaps the best publicly accessible view of the Bay in Marin County. Visitors standing on the bricked terrace that flanks the east and south sides of Lyford House can take in a spectacular panorama that includes Tiburon, Angel Island, Belvedere, Alcatraz, San Francisco from downtown to the Marina, Sausalito and Strawberry Point.

The house was built in the late 1870s as the main residence of a dairy farm on neighboring Strawberry Point, was barged over to its present site in 1957 after local conservationists saved it from the wrecker's ball. After restoration, it served as headquarters for those groups. Later, when the National Audubon Society assumed title to Lyford House and moved its administrative operations to another building, the house became an increasingly popular location for small exclusive weddings, corporate retreats and other events.

It is easy to see why. This is a perfect place for anyone seeking what Lyford House's event coordinator calls "civilized country charm." Though it's only one-mile from the North Bay's major freeway, and six miles by water from one of the world's great cities, this place is a world apart. Guests can enjoy the tucked-away quiet, the superlative views, the mingled smells of saltwater, the marsh and meadow.

Events are held on the terrace, where a grand vista of San Francisco Bay provides a stunning backdrop. Two pairs of large French doors connect the terrace to the adjoining dining room, which serves as a convenient buffet service site. While guests help themselves to the buffet, they can admire the polished hardwood floor, Victorian-era furniture and signature Audubon prints.

Although Lyford House is a lovely choice for an intimate wedding, corporations have discovered it for small conferences and workshops. Thanks to the ample grounds, folks who like to stretch their legs during a meeting or reception can do just that: short walks around the property, enhanced by compelling Bay views, refresh and inspire. A favorite jaunt is beyond the terrace, where the property descends 20 feet over small bluffs to the bay. A stairway leads down to a 100-yard stretch of beach, the kind of place for slow strolls, conversations and spontaneous attempts to skip stones on the usually tranquil water. And one last thing—because Lyford House is part of an official Audubon bird sanctuary, visitors here shouldn't be surprised to see egrets, ducks, sandpipers and the occasional hawk. These feathered party crashers may not fly in with a formal invitation, but everyone seems to appreciate their graceful presence.

To protect the wildlife sanctuary on which the Lyford House site, the number of weddings allowed here is limited.