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Perched on the edge of San Francisco Bay, Sausalito is an irresistible day-trip destination. Who can resist that Mediterranean charm, the whimsical shops, sleek galleries and bustling dining scene? More than 2 million people visit this small harbor town each year, bringing a crush of tourists during summer’s high season. But spring is relatively mellow, which makes this a perfect time for a Sausalito day trip or weekend jaunt.
The Bridgeway Promenade at the south end of town is what Sausalito locals dub “downtown,” but you’ll find a different vibe at the less-explored north end of town, where savvy breakfasters gather at the Lighthouse Cafe for luscious blueberry, raspberry or banana pancakes ($6.25 for one, $10.25 for two) with a side of housemade Danish meatballs ($4.50).
You’ll find Marinship just past Dunphy Park on the bay side. This World War II shipyard once employed 70,000 workers. Today, it’s filled with warehouses, art studios, restaurants and offices — and the Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model Visitor Center, which houses a 1.5-acre 3-D topographical scale model of San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. It’s like viewing the bay from an airplane at 12,000 feet.
Built in the 1950s, the Bay Model was designed to study the environmental impact of constructing two dams in San Francisco Bay that would create two freshwater reservoirs. The scheme was a bust, and the model became an educational exhibit in 2000, complete with an actual tide that moves in and out.
Take a minute to examine the fabulous wall murals at the entrance before catching the nine-minute introductory film. An audio self-guided walkabout is offered, or you can book a guided tour for groups of 10 or more. Interactive stations surrounding the model add context.
One hall over is the Marinship exhibit of vintage photos and exhibits honoring the World War II shipyard and its community. The artifacts and period fashion — check out the men’s and women’s hats — are surprising.
Stroll across the parking lot to the Bay Model pier, where the 132-foot long Matthew Turner, a fir and oak brigantine, is moored. The hand-crafted tall ship, built for the educational nonprofit Call of the Sea, is a reproduction of Turner’s Galilee, which was built in the late 1800s. More than 175,000 volunteer hours and millions of donated dollars have gone into the ship; it’s scheduled to embark on its maiden voyage in May. Book a tour and check her out.
Also here: The Heath Ceramics showroom — and you likely won’t leave without buying a little something. The factory specializes in hand-crafted, kiln-fired ceramics, including the tiles that made Heath famous.
Take a factory tour, browse the wares, then head off to one of Sausalito’s many enticing restaurants. Try Fish, whose (somewhat spendy) menu reflects its dedication to sustainably sourced seafood. The Anchor Steam beer-battered fish and chips ($21) is a top-notch version of a classic — get the shoestring fries and a side of organic coleslaw — or the fried oysters ($16), and enjoy them out back, where picnic tables offer spectacular bay views.
Or head inside the Bait Shop, where the excellent Davey Jones Deli assembles some of the most intriguing sandwiches and salads ($7 to $16) anywhere. The Calexico Wrap ($14), for example, tucks pork and hummus into a spinach tortilla, along with 12 veggies and roast garlic and red bell pepper sauces.
Heading downtown instead? Take a look-see at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor, then grab a bite at super-casual Hamburgers Sausalito on Bridgeway (takeout only), where standing in line on the sidewalk and chatting with like-minded strangers from around the world are part of the experience. The Plaza Vina del Mar across the street makes an ideal spot for an impromptu burger picnic. Those stone elephants, by the way, were sculpted for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco.
You’ll find the eccentric Mark Reuben’s Sports and History Gallery nearby, crammed with thousands of photographs in multiple genres, including movies, sports and celebrities. (Guys, look for the Man Cave Media Room Decor display.) The gallery’s best-selling photo was shot in 1930 during Prohibition, showing a picket line of disgruntled men holding signs demanding, “We want beer.”
As you stroll Bridgeway, look closely or you’ll walk right past the 60-year-old No Name Bar, which is showing its age in the best of funky ways. A full schedule of live music draws crowds nightly, and the garden patio is relaxing, but for a better taste of local color, grab a stool at the bar in the late afternoon when the regulars alight.
Time your last stop for the Spinnaker seafood house — at a table in the bar, next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer views of the bay and city skyline, and the house specialty is the Ramos Fizz. One is great, two are better. Preferably at sunset.
If You Go
Lighthouse Cafe: Open for breakfast and lunch daily at 1311 Bridgeway Ave.; www.lighthouse-restaurants.com/other-locations.
Bay Model Visitor Center: Free admission. Open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday at 2100 Bridgeway Ave.; https://bayareane.ws/BayModel. Tours of the Matthew Turner educational tall ship are offered at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Sign up at the Bay Model.
Heath Ceramics: Open daily at 500 Gate Five Road; www.heathceramics.com/pages/sausalito.Free one-hour factory tours are offered on Fridays and weekends; make reservations online.
Fish: Open for lunch and dinner daily at 350 Harbor Drive; www.331fish.com.
Davey Jones Deli: Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 1 Gate Six Road; www.daveyjonesdeli.com
Hamburgers: Open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 737 Bridgeway; www.facebook.com/sausalitohamburgers.
Mark Reuben Sports and History Gallery: Open daily at 34 Princess St; http://sportsandhistorygallery.com.
No Name Bar: Open daily at 757 Bridgeway; https://thenonamebar.com.
The Spinnaker: Open daily for lunch and dinner at 100 Spinnaker Drive; www.spinnakersasausalito.us.
