Sausalito, California: Perfect Day Trip from San Francisco

Sausalito is a quaint enchanting town located directly across the Bay. It was first recognized by artists directly after WWII. This waterfront town is reminiscent of a Mediterranean village. Even the houses are etched into the hills! It’s the perfect place for a peaceful escape from San Francisco City. From the waterfront, you have views of the San Francisco skyline, The Bay Bridge, and even Alcatraz.

How to Get to Sausalito

It’s fairly easy to get to Sausalito and you can either take the ferry from the city or drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. Either way, you’ll have beautiful views!

Blue & Gold Fleet Ferry

This ferry departs from Pier 41 in San Francisco and is roughly 30 minutes of travel time. It runs daily from 9:45 am to 6:45 pm but you’ll want to check the schedules before planning your trip to Sausalito! Tickets cost $13 each way and you can head here for the schedule!

because of Covid-19 this service is currently unavailable for traveling to Sausalito (updated August 2020)

Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge

If you want to be in control of your own schedule you can drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to get to Sausalito. It’s only a 10-15 minute drive from the San Francisco side of the bridge to Sausalito. If you’re feeling up for a little adventure stop by Battery Spencer Park for the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge

Things to do in Sausalito

Visit the Houseboats

image via travelandleisure.com

This is the most popular thing to do in Sausalito. The houseboats are well known over here and Shel Silverstein himself used to live on one! It’s a great free activity to do on Sausalito.

Pro tip: If there is a dock with a rope attached please do not enter as it’s private property but if not you’ll be fine to check out the dock!

Biking in Sausalito

The best way to cover a lot of ground in Sausalito is by renting a bike. There a couple of places on the island that rent bikes and you can bike along the bay for beautiful views of the city.

Grab Lappert’s Ice Cream

This local ice-cream shop has such a cute backstory. Walter Lappert wanted to turn his regular ice-cream shop into an ice cream shop that made and sold ice-cream in Kauai as well. Since that was his favorite place to visit! It’s a local legend that you need to try out!

Shopping Downtown

There are a number of local artisan shops to check out on the main street in downtown. It’s a great place to shop for unique clothing, art, and souvenirs! Not only that but the facades are so charming.

San Francisco Bay Model

The San Francisco Bay Model visitor center has an entire model of the city of San Francisco. If you’re into that type of thing than this is a cool exhibit to check out!

Best Restaurants in Sausalito

Barrel House Tavern

A modern eatery with stunning views of San Francisco. They have craft cocktails and delicious seafood. The “I can’t drive” cocktail was a favorite of ours!

Address: 660 Bridgeway Sausalito, CA 94965

Bar Bocce

Address: 1250 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965

Hotels in Sausalito

Waters Edge Hotel

An upscale boutique hotel that is only a 2-minute walk from downtown. The location is beautiful since it’s directly located on the water. They even have free bike rentals so you can roam around!

Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa

An 1885 mansion converted into a hotel, this hotel is another great option! It’s located on the water and offers a full-service spa ladies!

Hotel Sausalito & Suites

Built-in 1915 this hotel is a Mission-style boutique hotel that boasts loads of charm. It’s only a one minute walk from the ferry terminal and has a beautiful terrace.

So there you have it! Thank you for reading my “Sausalito, California: A Perfect Day Trip from San Francisco” blog. If you’re looking for the Top Photography Spots in San Francisco you can check out my other post linked here! And make sure to check out more of my California travel guides here!

XX, Courtney

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