"Ask Annie" Archives: Hotels
"Ask Annie" is our page where readers ask questions about Sausalito. We archive the questions here by category so that they form an FAQ for all things Sausalito.
Q: We're working our way up the California coast and plan to stay in Monterey, then the Bay Area and then the Wine Country. We plan to stay in Sausalito but want to visit Fisherman's Wharf and some other places in San Francisco. Is there a way to get there from Sausalito without driving into the City? Is Sausalito better than SF as a place to stay?
A: I personally think you're on the right track opting for Sausalito, so long as you want an experience that's more focused on visual beauty and a more laid-back mood. Sausalito has fantastic views, great art galleries and wonderful restaurants. (You're so surprised to hear this from OurSausalito.com, right?)
If you're looking for edgy and for nightlife, you want to stay in San Francisco. If you're really planning to spend all your time in San Francisco and just sleep in the hotel, I'd also advise getting a hotel in San Francisco.
After dark Sausalito has a multitude of great restaurants and fabulous views. But after dinner it's a place for a quiet walk and window shopping and an ice cream at Lappert's or a romantic late night drink in an elegant restaurant bar. There is not a club scene in the style you see in major cities.
Transportation to the Wharf — Yes, the Sausalito Ferry service run by Blue & Gold Fleet runs directly from downtown Sausalito to Pier 41 at Fisherman's Wharf, at the southern end of the Fisherman's Wharf area. Other ferries run from Sausalito to the Ferry Building at the foot of Market St. in SF. Trips are fun and beautiful — make sure to bring your camera. Downside: the schedule has no weekday evening service back to Sausalito from Pier 41 and the last boat sails from the Ferry Building at 6:30 PM. You can click here for the complete schedule for both services.
Parking in SF — Parking in San Francisco city garages is readily available but expensive. Depending on your itinerary, using the Ferry, BART, Muni trains and taxis may be cheaper and may also be less hassle.
Heading North from Sausalito — Sausalito is a very convenient base from which to visit the City. You're right that it's easier to head north to the Wine Country from here than starting in San Francisco. Weekday rush hour traffic can affect your trip north if you go in late afternoon.
Hotels to consider:
Fabulous, near the ferry, great views but expensive: Inn Above Tide.
Really nice, downtown near the ferry, not as expensive: Hotel Sausalito, Gables Inn.
Set in the National Park near the Golden Gate Bridge (but make sure you know where on property your room will be before you commit money): Cavallo Point Lodge.
Downtown, near the ferry, but with a wide range of rooms so (again) call ahead to make sure you know what you're getting before you commit cash: Casa Madrona. They have made some people ecstatic fans and disappointed others, but they're worth researching.
I can help you with fallback positions if necessary but those are all the top choices.
Hope this helps, and feel free to contact Ask Annie with more questions!
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