Once you disembark in Sausalito, you’ll find yourself in a beautiful area that conjures up images of the French Riviera. Pleasure boats bob up and down in the harbour almost lazily, while picturesque bungalows mix with bougainvillea, and the warm climate gives Sausalito a relaxed, hazy atmosphere.
Riding across the bay to Fisherman’s Wharf is a pleasure in itself, as visitors get to enjoy gorgeous views across the bay of Alcatraz Island, the infamous penal institution central to many feature films, and a close-up of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s almost worth taking the trip over to Sausalito just to see the views, but more gems await you when you get to dry land. Wrap up warm for the journey though. Even in the summer, there are often chilly breezes on the water.
As soon as the beauty of Sausalito comes into view, you’ll be able to make out the pretty and distinctive cliff-side houses and the cute 20th century cottages alongside them. The town is set among the fields of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is flanked by forests.
When you arrive, take a leisurely stroll along the waterside esplanade, where you’ll discover plenty of restaurants and picturesque piers. Take the opportunity to wander around the downtown plaza area, where there are smart boutiques and art galleries to browse, along with some of the chicest coffee shops this side of Paris. Sip a coffee, enjoy a meal in a bistro, and relish the steady pace of life here.
Sausalito’s bohemian vibe is never far beneath the surface. The local galleries sell local arts and crafts and there’s a houseboat community, for which the area is famous. It was while staying in a houseboat here that Otis Redding penned his classic ‘The Dock of the Bay’.
To get to Sausalito, take the 30-minute ferry ride from San Francisco. Ferries leave from Pier 41 at Fisherman's Wharf, and the San Francisco Ferry Building toward the southern end of the Embarcadero.
