Sausalito California
Guide
+ Hotels and
Restaurants
Sausalito, located just north of San Francisco across the
Golden Gate Bridge, is a small town that boasts spectacular views of the city
and the surrounding bay. Built into the hills of the Marin Headlands, Sausalito
is often compared to the picturesque Positano along Italy’s Amalfi Coast,
because of it’s quaint architecture and beautiful scenery.
How To Get There
For those of you really wanting to make a day of it,
try hiring a car or limo from one of the many
limousine companies in San
Francisco. You can then tour Sausalito and the surrounding areas, including some
fabulous wineries, while enjoying the area worry free. Many will also offer
Sausalito tours, which can save you the time of having to investigate the area yourself
prior to going.
If you are staying in the city, you can get to
Sausalito in a variety of ways. If you have a car it’s a quick drive across the
Golden Gate Bridge. Take the exit towards Alexander Avenue and follow the
signs. It is really well marked, and if you follow the road signs from there,
they will take you right to the parking lot on Bridgeway and El Portal where the
ferry landing is. This is a good spot to park your car as the Visitors Kiosk,
and the Visitors Center are located there, and they can provide you with tourist
information and brochures.
If you are the truly athletic type, you can rent
bicycles in the Fisherman’s Wharf area and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to
Sausalito. It’s a beautiful ride, but it can be long and might not give you much
time in Sausalito itself.
By far, the best way to travel to Sausalito is by
the ferry. The best bets are either the Blue and Gold Fleet, (415/773-1188), or
the Golden Gate Ferry Service, (415/455-2000). They offer ferries throughout the
day departing from either the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero at the foot of
Market, or from Pier 41 at Fisherman’s Wharf. Go to either website and you’ll
find complete information including schedules and online purchasing. If you are
going to go on a busy day, I would highly recommend purchasing tickets ahead of
time online. There are electronic kiosks around the terminal where you can print
out your tickets when you arrive at the ferry, and there are generally no lines
at them. Otherwise the lines can be quite long waiting to buy tickets at the
normal ticket window. You can also buy tickets on board, but again, if it’s a
busy day, they might already be sold out when you get there.
What To Do When You Get There
Sausalito is very small, it only covers
approximately 2 ½ miles, so it is easily a day trip. Whether you are driving or
taking the ferry, the first thing I would do is stop by either the Visitors
Kiosk or the Visitors Center located in and around the parking lot at the ferry
landing on El Portal and Bridgeway. They can provide you with all the
information you need about the area, including maps and various rental
information.
For touring around the city and the surrounding
areas, renting bicycles in Sausalito is a great way to see the small town. You
will be provided with bike path maps to get you around along the water and
through the town.
Sausalito also provides a free shuttle service
called SALLY, (Sausalito Area Local Land Yacht). It starts at the ferry landing
and loops around the city every 15 minutes or so. It’s a great way to get around
without having to worry about parking or paying for a cab.
There are many rental opportunities available for
water lovers also, including boat charters, bay tours and kayak rentals. To find
out more, contact one of the various agencies listed at the end of this article.
Other areas of interest include:
Angel Island State Park – (415) 897-0715 You can
take the ferry to Angel Island and camp, rent bikes, kayak, hike or tour the
island.
Bacchus & Venus – (415) 331-2001 Provides wine
tasting, wine making tutorials and wine purchasing.
Bay Area Discovery Museum – (415) 487-4398 Museum
and activity center for children and adults.
Bay Model Visitor Center – (415) 332-3871 The Bay
Model is a hydraulic model measuring 1.5 acres, representing a large portion of
the bay and surrounding areas.
Marine Mammal Center – (415) 289-SEAL They work to
sustain and protect marine mammals and preserve their natural environment.
Muir Woods
– (415) 388-1540 Beautiful
redwood area
to hike, ride bikes through and picnic.
Shopping – Because Sausalito is known for it’s
local artisans, the streets are lined with various shops including art studios,
galleries, and handmade crafts like jewelry, clothing and decorative items.
Events – Many events happen throughout the year in
Sausalito, but pay special attention to the Jazz & Blues by the Bay and the
Sausalito Art Festival. Jazz & Blues by the Bay is run at the park near the
ferry landing on Bridgeway, and on Friday nights from May – August, they will
have live concerts at night featuring local musicians. The Sausalito Art
Festival is held on Labor Day weekend and has been rated the number one outdoor
art festival in the country.
Dining – If you are coming from the city, you are
most likely not coming to Sausalito for the dining experience, but if you plan
to have a meal while your there, you can find some nice restaurants. For the
casual diners, there are lots of cafes and coffee shops, but I would most likely
suggest a restaurant with a view of the city. These include:
Horizons – 558 Bridgeway (415) 331-3232 – Boasts one of
the best outdoor patios in Sausalito with a sweeping view of the bay. The menu
includes everything from fresh seafood to sandwiches to filet mignon. There will
be no problem finding something for everyone on this menu.
Scoma’s – 588 Bridgeway (415) 332-9551 – Also right along
the water, has a full view of the city and bay. If you are looking for a little
more of a fine dining atmosphere and incredible seafood, this is the place.
The Spinnaker – 100 Spinnaker Drive (415) 332-1500 – It
has a fine dining feel when you enter, but everyone is welcome. Offers a very
extensive menu and an incredible view of the city.
Though those restaurants have views of the city, a few
restaurants that don’t have views, but are worth mentioning are:
Buckeye Roadhouse – 15 Shoreline Hwy (415) 331-2600 –
Located just outside Sausalito, it offers great ambiance. Though it feels like a
steakhouse, and they do have great steaks, the menu also offers fish, pasta and
sandwiches.
Saylor’s Landing – 305 Harbor Drive (415) 332-6161 – It
doesn’t have an ocean view, but it is still worth stopping into, particularly if
you are staying in Sausalito. Located a little farther down on one of the
marinas on Richardson’s Bay, they’re known for their food. They have patio
dining, as well as fireplaces for those colder days. When calling to make a
reservation check to see if they have any events, as they have live
entertainment most nights.
Sushi Ran – 107 Caledonia Street (415) 3323620 – If you
are in the mood for fresh sushi, this is the place. Though it’s not right on the
water, it’s sushi can rival any you’d find in Japantown in the city.
Where To Stay
If you don’t want to stay in San Francisco, and would
prefer to stay directly in Sausalito, or just want to spend a night out of the
city, the choices are limited. For in or just around Sausalito you can choose
from:
Alta Mira Hotel – 125 Buckley Avenue (415) 331-1350 –
Charming hotel located on the hills above Sausalito. This hotel ranges from
$175-250 per night, with views of Sausalito, the bay and San Francisco.
Casa Madrona Hotel – 801 Bridgeway (415) 332-0502 / (888)
367-7625 – This hotel has an award winning spa for those that want to get away
and be pampered. You have to call and get a rate quote for room prices as they
don’t have a standard price guide.
The Gables Inn – 62 Princess Street (415) 289-1100 / (800)
966-1554 – Touted as being the first hotel in Sausalito, it is a quaint bed and
breakfast, but offers no views. Rooms range from $135-$325 per night.
The Inn Above Tide – 30 El Portal (415) 332-9535 / (800)
966-1554 – This hotel is for those that want to stay in the lap of luxury. It
offers incredible views and magnificent rooms, but you’ll have to pay for
it. Rooms start at $285 per night and can go up to $895 per night for the
penthouse.
Hotel Sausalito – 16 El Portal (415) 332-0700 / (888)
442-0700 – This is for those looking to stay the night without paying a
fortune. Beautiful hotel with very nice rooms that has rates starting at $155
per night.
The area of Sausalito was first settled in 1838 after
William Richardson received a Mexican land grant for the Marin Headlands. He
named it Rancho Del Sausalito, meaning “Ranch of the Little Willow
Grove”. Unfortunately for Richardson, when gold was discovered in 1848, his land
was used as a thoroughfare for people seeking their fortune, resulting in his
land being over run and his property stolen. Because of the decline of his land,
Richardson sold off 160 acres to Charles Botts, a San Francisco attorney, who
hoped the area would help him cash in on the traffic that was steadily passing
through there, but wasn’t able to. After Richardson’s death, the bulk of the
land was sold in 1868 by his lawyer to a group of businessmen who called
themselves the Sausalito Land & Ferry Company. They also failed to make the area
thrive until in 1871 they made a deal with the North Pacific Coast Railroad to
extend the new railroad system into Sausalito. This brought more growth to the
area and in 1893 the city was officially incorporated.
Though city has seen it’s share of ups and downs
since it’s incorporation, it has still maintained much of the history and
original architecture throughout the years, and Sausalito has now established
itself as an art community and tourist hot spot.
For all visitors, you should consider contacting one of
the visitor information areas either before you go, or as soon as you get
there. They can provide you with lists of events and maps for your trip.
Contact information:
City of Sausalito – (415) 289-4100
Sausalito Chamber of Commerce – (415) 331-7262
Historical Exhibit and Visitor Center – (415) 332-0505
Visitor Information Kiosk – (415) 331-1093
By: Colleen Kelly - Copyright
SFTRAVEL LLC 2006
