Bay Area Jewel – Sausalito

Must-Do Day Trip from San Francisco

Clear sparkling waters, cute little boats and seafood – 3 phrases which best describe the quaint township of Sausalito, the Bay Area gem. Located in Marin County of California, Sausalito is one of the best Day Trip options from San Francisco. You can hike, sail, bike, shop or just sit, eat and drink by the Bay – Sausalito has it all.

Sausalito is known for its views of the San Francisco Bay, especially the Golden Gate Bridge. It consists of both leafy hillside as well oceanic waterfront. It grew as a shipbuilding center in World War II and later attained a reputation as a wealthy and artistic enclave, a scenic residential community incorporating large numbers of houseboats. The town is adjacent to, and surrounded by, the protected spaces of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Sausalito is a small town – 5.9 sq. km in total, of which 78% is land, the rest being underwater. (Source: Wikipedia)

Getting There

I took this day trip to Sausalito in April last year with my cousin who’s a resident of SF. We took a Golden Gate Ferry from the Ferry Building (or Pier 1) on the Embarcadero. The 30-minute ferry ride was fun as it offered splendid views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Chugging across the water with the wind in my hair was a wonderful feeling. (It’s actually really windy so hang on to your hats!)

Tip: The ferry departs sharply on time, so do arrive well before the scheduled time. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines located at the Ferry Building dock. Fares are around $13 one way. You can also travel by the Blue and Gold Fleet from Pier 41 / Fisherman’s Wharf.

Tip: Other options to get to Sausalito from SF:

• Drive
• Cycle (No electric bikes allowed)
• Walk
• Hop-on-hop-off Big Bus Tour

The Waterfront

Upon reaching Sausalito and dismounting onto the dock, we set off walking. Strolling along the waterfront, we admired the crystal waters of the San Francisco Bay. The sun glinting off the water making it sparkle like a gem was a sight to behold. On the opposite side, separated by the main street of downtown Sausalito – Bridgeway, is an array of pretty houses and cute shopfronts. The attractive architecture and appealingly decked up houses were a visual treat.

We nipped in for a quick snack of yummy brownies at one of the bakeries before we set off on our walk again. We reached a fork and turned right onto Princess Street and set off into the more residential area of the town. The hike through the leafy, shaded hill-road was soothing and peaceful. We enjoyed the exercise and the calm atmosphere. Finally we rounded onto San Carlos Avenue to double back to Downtown. It was now lunch time.

Tip: Be sure and pick a Visitor Map at the Tourist Kiosk (near the dock where you get off from the ferry). It will give you an idea about all attractions, restaurants, galleries etc.

Seafood Haven

After some quick research on Google, we chose the Seafood Peddler restaurant situated right on the Sausalito Yacht Harbour. The restaurant looked onto the harbor with its myriad boats floating on the turquoise water. We had mixed seafood platter and lobster bisque – melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness! All of this with that magnificent view – heaven!

Sausalito Yacht Harbour

Our last stop of the day was the Sausalito Yacht Harbour. Rows upon rows of boats of all kinds – speed boats, sail boats, houseboats, yachts, dinghies – docked at the harbor in their assigned lots. It was a picturesque sight indeed. We walked about in the docks admiring the shiny vessels and dearly wished we could climb aboard one and zoom across the water.

Then, it was time to get back to the ferry dock for our trip back to SF mainland. Our return was on the Blue and Gold fleet ferry to Pier 41 via Angel Island.

Major Attractions in Sausalito

We spent an ideal relaxing day in Sausalito; lazy hikes and good food with the best company and lovely views. We gave certain attractions a skip while we missed out on a couple which I would have liked to see. However, I have no regrets because that day was an amazing one!

I suggest you arrive early and plan to spend a full day here and visit atleast a few of the below attractions.

• Golden Gate Vista Point: This view point provides fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay.
• Bay Area Discovery Museum: This is an indoor/outdoor museum inspiring kids’ creativity via interactive exhibits, a play space & art classes.
• Marine Headlands: A 5 mile stretch of coastal basalt headland & habitat for bobcats, coyote, deer & abundant birdlife
• Marine Mammal Center: All types of marine mammals are cared for & rehabilitated at this non-profit facility.
• Battery Spencer: Fort Baker 19th-century concrete battery featuring panoramic views of Golden Gate & San Francisco.
• Fort Baker: Former U.S. Army post with many historic buildings & trails overlooking the San Francisco Bay.
• Rodeo Beach: Pebbly beach popular for surfing & sunbathing, with restrooms, trails, a lagoon & picnic tables.
• Point Bonita Lighthouse: Historic active lighthouse reached by a half-mile trail; offers scenic ocean views, not to mention – an actual lighthouse visit!

If you are not inclined to any of these, then simply sit back and relax and let nature weave its magic on you. Sausalito is a must visit day trip destination from San Francisco.

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