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Ask Annie
Ask Annie is where we answer your questions about visiting or living in Sausalito. Any of us may reply, but our Editorial Director (the dreaded E.D.) demands alliteration so "Ask Annie" is the headline!
You can use the comments box below to post a question or send us email. We edit questions for length and may combine similar questions. We can't answer every question due to sheer numbers, but we'll do as many as we can. The archives of past Ask Annie questions are an FAQ about Sausalito, and are available sorted by topic in Events, Ferry, Hotels, Photography, Restaurants, Shopping, Side Trips, Things to Do, Walks and Weather.
Q: We're hoping there's an easy way to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, then walk down into Sausalito for lunch, then ride a ferry back to SF. Is there a standard walking route for that? -- Linda
A: Linda, we placed your question and the one below it next to each other because together they cover walking each direction from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Sausalito Ferry Terminal.
If you start at the South Parking Lot of the Golden Gate Bridge (which you can reach by taxi or by Muni bus), it's about a 6 mile walk to downtown Sausalito and the Ferry pier, which is located in the central downtown area.
Because of current road construction the ideal route for walkers and bike riders is closed until at least July 9, 2010. The closure of East Road to all access (it previously was accessible by walkers and bikes on weekends) means that temporarily we can't go down Bunker Road into the GGNRA's old Fort Baker and along East Road to Sausalito. Instead, walkers and bikers must stay on the Sausalito Lateral all the way to the edge of town.
The Sausalito Lateral is a connector where cars can be traveling at high speeds, and runs down the hill from the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. It has a narrow bike lane that a fair number of pedestrians and thousands of bike riders use, but there's no sidewalk. (See map below.) This part of your walk runs about 2 miles down the hill, and does have some spectacular views.
Once you do reach the outskirts of Sausalito you'll be on regaular city sidewalks. After you twist around a few corners and then come to some of the most beautiful views in the world.
One way to break up the trip: take that side trip down Bunker Road to Farley Bar or
at the Cavallo Point Lodge in Fort Baker. The Farley Bar grass-fed burger is ranked #1 on our Sausalito "Best Burger" list, though it's not inexpensive.
If you just want a great deli sandwich to go with the great view: once you reach the edge of Sausalito look for Golden Gate Market. The deli at the back of this small store makes great sandwiches, and the two guys who work there are pleasant and helpful to tired bike riders and walkers.
Please write to us and tell us about your walk!
Google Map Instructions: Use the "+" and "-" buttons to zoom in and out, the arrow keys to scroll the map, and the SAT button to see the satellite view.
Q: I was wondering if you could tell me if it was possible to walk to the Golden Gate Bridge from downtown Sausalito. Are the roads walkable, and how far of a distance is it? -- Regina
A: Well, Regina, It's more like a "hike" than a "walk" to cover the 4 miles from the Sausalito Ferry, with a 220 foot vertical climb at the end as you go up the hill up to the Golden Gate Bridge. The road is walkable in the sense that there's a bike lane that a fair number of pedestrians use, but there's no sidewalk. (See map below.)
Because of current road construction (through at least July 9) you cannot take the route through Fort Baker, and will need to walk on the narrow bike lane of the Sausalito Lateral as you climb the hill to the Bridge.
Give yourself time to stop, take pictures and just absorb all the beauty around you. You'll recognize the spots where many famous postcards of Sausalito, San Francisco and the Bridge were photographed.
A fun stop along the way is the Farley Bar (adjacent to Murray Circle Restaurant) at the Cavallo Point Lodge, named after the Farley comic strip character created by the late local author and humorist Phil Frank. It's expensive, but they have what we've named "the best burger in Sausalito," as well as salads and sandwiches.
When you're done you can walk back or take a taxi or bus down the hill from the Vista Point parking lot. In fact, an answer about the taxi ride is just a few inches below this answer on the screen! Please write back and tell us how it went!
Google Map Instructions: Use the "+" and "-" buttons to zoom in and out, the arrow keys to scroll the map, and the SAT button to see the satellite view.
Q: What's the best way to get home to Sausalito from SF after 11pm weekdays? -- Ali
A: Ali, there are not a lot of inexpensive choices, because all the ferries have stopped running by then. The one option: Routes 70 and 80 on the Marin Transit buses link SOMA, the Tenderloin, Civic Center and the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza to the downtown Sausalito bus stop (near the Ferry pier) after 11:00 PM. Schedule is at the link above. Spencer Ave. bus service in Sausalito ends before 9:00 PM, so no help there.
Although the buses themselves have a good safety record, some of the San Francisco neighborhoods where you'd have to walk to the bus and wait at the stop can be pretty rough that late at night. Please be careful out there, and thanks for writing to us.
Q: We're planning a trip with our family in June, coming from Philadelphia. We would love to walk the Golden Gate Bridge and head to Sausilito for lunch. Could we get a taxi from your side of the bridge into Sausilito? I would consider the bikes but I'm not sure if the whole family could do the 6 mile trip. -- Janine
A: Janine, this is a great question. If you want to take a taxi "down the hill" into Sausalito after walking across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, stop at the rest area at the north end of the Bridge, which is called "Vista Point." You can then call one of the local taxi services and say, "Please pick us up at the Vista Point parking lot in Sausalito by the Golden Gate Bridge." You can even schedule in advance the time when they will pick you up, but leave yourself time to enjoy the walk.
There is one catch to doing this: the taxi has to cross the Bridge, pay the toll and come back north again to get to Vista Point, so you'll pay a few dollars extra. The area at Vista Point is so beautiful and the chance to photograph the Bridge is so wonderful that you may not mind.
If you want to save money and the whole gang is up to it, signs at the north end of the Bridge will direct you to the pedestrian passageway that leads beneath the Bridge to the parking lot and hiking areas on the other side. (Use the restrooms at Vista Point first, since there's only a port-a-potty on the other side of the Bridge.) Take this path and head uphill on the other side and you'll come to another parking lot. Call the taxi to pick you up there and they don't have to cross the Bridge, pay the toll and come back.
In this case, you'd tell them, "We're in the Golden Gate Bridge parking lot on the Sausalito side, across the Freeway from Vista Point, just off Conzelman Road." A satellite photo of the area is below, and you can click on "View Larger Map" to have the chance to get a good feel for both parking lots.
Google Map Instructions: Use the "+" and "-" buttons to zoom in and out, the arrow keys to scroll the map, and the SAT button to see the satellite view.
By the way, if for some reason you start at the Sausalito side and walk over to San Francisco, just tell the taxi to pick you up "at the Golden Gate Bridge South Parking Lot by the observation area."
Janine, feel free to contact us if you have any follow-up questions, and we hope you have a great time here in Sausalito! Thanks for writing to Ask Annie!
Q: About 10 years ago I was in Sausalito for the first time and stumbled upon a restaurant offering amazing views of the City. We entered the lobby of a hotel, took an elevator and when we got out we were outside. We climbed stairs passing little “cabins” and then were seated on a huge deck with a view of Alcatraz, etc. It was amazing. Was there in Spring and had mimosa’s (my first) with our Sunday brunch. Would love to find it again. Any idea where that was? -- Karen
A: We can tell you exactly where you were, Karen, but there have been some changes since your visit. The name of the restaurant was Mikayla, and it's in the Casa Madrona Hotel, which has gone through ownership changes but continues to operate.
Mikayla has now closed and is instead a private dining room for groups and events, but the news in this reply is not all bad. The new restaurant that was built inside the Casa Madrona Hotel since you were here, Poggio Trattoria, is excellent and has been picked by local critic Michael Bauer as one of the top 100 places to dine in the Bay Area. (Note: Poggio is a charter sponsor of this website). Although their dining room is on the ground floor, they have a variety of small to large private dining options on different floors of the hotel, with the former Mikayla deck being one of the largest.
If you plan carefully, you can re-create your view-deck brunch experience at the Casa Madrona by staying at the hotel, which has a number of rooms with decks and similar views of San Francisco Bay, and has competitive rates for our area. I say "plan carefully" because the hotel has a wide variety of rooms (see our full article here) and some guests end up ecstatic while others are disappointed based on what room they expected vs. what room they received. The hotel's new ownership is working to improve the communication on these issues and it's worth taking the time to talk to them.
For different options on dining with a view in Sausalito, here's our page listing the top view restaurants, some of which (like the Michelin rated Murray Circle) have opened since your last visit. And if you're curious about more changes in the last ten years in Sausalito, we have a list of restaurants that have closed or changed their names.
Karen, thanks for writing to Ask Annie, and please feel free to follow up with any other questions.
PS: We got the following message in our "Comments" section from John and wanted to share it: "Annie, Karen asked you about where she might have been 10 years ago when she last came to Sausalito. When she mentioned passing "little cabins" onto a huge deck, I thought she was talking about The Alta Mira Hotel. I could be wrong but just wanted to add my two cents."
We read John's comment and I know my first thought was, "Wow, he could be right! Karen's description could apply to either place, depending on where those "cabins" were on Bulkeley." Unfortunately, the grand old Alta Mira is not just changed, it is now forbidden territory. A few years ago it was converted into a drug rehab center and the public no longer has access to its elegant dining room, broad deck and beautiful views.
John, thanks so much for adding your comment.
Q: I will be going to dinner at one of the Yacht Clubs, and this will apparently be a little business, a little wining and dining. WHAT DO I WEAR in the evening? What do the women wear to these things? I was thinking more bus casual with a little black skirt, a top and a jacket over it? Too biz???? I just don't know. I am panicked! --Linda
A: Linda, I have to admit that I have only been to one event at the Sausalito Yacht Club, so we turned to our (fabulous) subscribers for input on your question. We got comments back that included:
"Sausalito Yacht Club is considered casual. Meaning look good in sportswear. A Saturday or Friday evening dinner would be a little nicer attire. I hope this helps."
"The club is very informal. I would say whatever you would wear to an informal cocktail party at a friend's house. Men do not wear jackets and ties generally."
""The Sausalito Yacht Club is relatively casual, unless there is an event or party, then appropriate attire will be suggested. I would suggest she dress as she would to go to any other dinner in Sausalito and she should be quite comfortable."
Most of all I hear our advisors saying, "Have a great time -- you're not going to be judged intensely based on your appearance." And let us know how it went!
Q: Do you have any insights into food delivery in Sausalito? I moved here about a year ago, and while we love to eat out here sometimes food delivery is in order! We pretty much only know of pizza and chinese, (Domino's, Dario's, Stefano's in MV, Tommy's Wok, and Feng Nian are all we have discovered so far). Do you have any tips for me on food restaurants that deliver to Sausalito that I've missed? -- Kate
A: Kate, you've covered the local options we know about that deliver for themselves. For an extra charge, however, Room Service of Marin will pick up your meal from any local restaurant and bring it to your home. Sausalito restaurants with their menus already on the Room Service website include Buckeye Roadhouse and Saylor's, but they recently added the "pick up anywhere" option. Please let us know if you discover any other Sausalito places that deliver!
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I've wondered if there is a guide/list of public art, especially sculpture that exists for Sausalito with the location and some background on each piece? I thought if anyone would know, OurSausalito would!
Posted by: Anna | 06/22/2009 at 08:11 PM
Oh, you know that the minute you said this it would have to go on our to-do list! This will take some research, because some are pretty well hidden...
Posted by: Editors | 06/26/2009 at 12:12 PM
My grandchildren will be visiting from Idaho next week. Want to take them to Discovery Museum in Sausalito. Thought taking ferry might be fun. We live in Pacifica so will be driving to get ferry in SF. Can we walk to Discovery Museum after leaving ferry in Sausalito. Any advice you can give would be appreciated. Grandchildren are ages 2 through 11. Thank you
Janice Gydesen
Posted by: Janice Gydesen | 07/07/2009 at 12:24 PM
Janice, your answer has been posted above. Thank you very much for writing to us, and for visiting OurSausalito.com!
Posted by: Editors | 07/07/2009 at 02:57 PM
We encourage visitors who don't have cars to take the Ferry from SF to Sausalito, but then to catch a cab from the ferry to the Museum - it's a short trip, and our front desk will happily call you a cab again when you're ready to go back to the Ferry. Hope this helps!
Posted by: Jennifer Caleshu, Bay Area Discovery Museum | 07/10/2009 at 04:44 PM
Jennifer, thanks for bringing this up. We added this point to the article.
In Janice's case, coming from Pacifica with small kids, she'd actually use more gas getting to the Ferry and back than by driving directly to the Museum via 19th Ave. in San Francisco. But these are "the exceptions that prove the rule."
For most visitors from points north and San Francisco, taking the ferry and a taxi is the greener and more efficient way to reach the Bay Area Discovery Museum. We appreciate you making this point.
Posted by: Editors | 07/10/2009 at 05:18 PM
I will be joining a Charter Boat Captain and the Members at one of the Yacht Clubs, this will apparently be a little business, a little wining and dining. WHAT DO I WEAR in the evening? What do the women wear to these things? I was thinking more bus casual with a little black skirt, a top and a jacket over it? Too biz???? I just don't know. It is the 4th of October and I am panicked!
Posted by: Linda | 09/30/2009 at 03:34 PM
Is there a guide, or map for handicapped parking in Sausalito? It's helpful to know ahead of time when escorting those with special needs.
Posted by: Anna | 10/01/2009 at 12:35 AM
do you have any photos of jack dupen driving his calliope during the fourth of july parade?
Posted by: mark lester | 02/28/2010 at 10:10 PM
Annie,
Karen asked you about where she might have been 10 years ago when she last came to Sausalito. When she mentioned passing "little cabins" onto a huge deck, I thought she was talking about The Alta Mera Hotel. I could be wrong but just wanted to add my two cents.
Posted by: John | 04/30/2010 at 11:29 PM
John, that was a great comment, and we have added it to the Q&A above and written about the Alta Mira. It took us just a moment to realize that you could very well be right. Thanks for taking the time to write.
Posted by: Editors | 05/01/2010 at 11:51 AM
Janice from Pacifica,
Although taking the ferry is a wonderful experience, I would drive to the museum.Have a good time and welcome to Sausalito!
Jan Hodgson-resident
Posted by: Jan Plymale Hodgson | 05/08/2010 at 08:45 AM
We plan to cycle from San Francisco to Sausalito weekday in early August. Are there any resturants which cater for coeliac/gluten intolerance? Thanks Raema
Posted by: Raema | 07/10/2010 at 09:56 PM
Raema, we turned to Laurel Lee and other community members for advice on this one, and here are some of the answers we got back about places to visit that would be able to adapt to serve appropriate food for someone with coeliac/gluten intolerance:
1. I think of Avatar's since they cater to just about anything. Just walk in and tell them what you want and what you need to avoid and they'll make it work.
2. Tommy's Wok - they can use GF tamari instead of soy sauce to make most of their dishes GF. I order from them a lot.
3. My first choice would be Sushi Ran, and I know Poggio has a great menu full of vegetables and proteins.
4. Ceviche at the Salsalito Taco Shop
5. Think Poggio would do. Call ahead to tell them what you need and I bet they will adapt. Fabulous customer orientation. (Note: Poggio is a sponsor of this website.)
6. Arawan Thai does some great gluten free dishes!
And, finally, a cautionary note from one community member: "You can't ADAPT for gluten intolerance. The restaurant needs to use separate cooking utensils, cutting boards, etc.. A microscopic amount of gluten is all it takes. It is very difficult to stay gluten free, and not worth it to take a chance of contamination."
Hope you have a great time!
Posted by: Editors | 07/29/2010 at 10:35 PM