Sausalito Get Away…a total escape!

By Rob Franco, Executive Director, Sausalito Chamber of Commerce

Looking for a fast get-away? I would be, but then I am already here in Sausalito.

All I have to do is run down the street and I’m on vacation. If you haven’t caught my drift up to now, let me explain further. Many of us are reluctant to travel very far at this time for obvious reasons. Whether or not these reasons are justified, it is possible to GET AWAY without going very far. If you are within driving distance to Sausalito, what are you waiting for? It’s time to enjoy a long weekend away from CNN, the newspapers, fax machines, email, phones or any other cellular and digital technology. Come to Europe, come to Sausalito and relax. ENJOY! Sausalito is considered the Porto Fino of the Americas.

There are many ways to have fun or just relax when you come to Sausalito. You can bike, hike, kayak or cruise on the Bay, you can take a ferry to San Francisco and Tiburon. Or, you can "chill" so to speak. In addition, there are great rates at Sausalito hotels and a number of low or no-cost festivities planned from now and throughout the Holidays. Every weekend there will be live entertainment in Downtown Sausalito. Merchants will be open late and serving refreshments as you peruse the many fine art, gift items, jewelery, clothing and accessories.

There will not only be entertainment in the parks, along Bridgeway, but on Caledonia as well. Plans are underway throughout town to keep stores open until 8pm or 9pm every Thursday through Saturday. Merchants are planning to provide refreshments and a welcome sense of community and festivity. Of course there is a delicious variety of food, drink and entertainment at local watering holes around Sausalito. Every Friday and Saturday you will enjoy stellar entertainment at places like Water Street Grill, where on Friday nights you can hear Freddy Clark Band with a fabulous lineup of players and singers. On Saturday, enjoy the James Moseley Band. Last Friday I saw Freddy with a terrific Cuban singer who’s name is Gloria and a guy by the name of Colt Briner, who performed a remarkable light show and twirling exhibition just outside the front door. By the way, Freddy’s band will headline a day of festivities on December first, downtown at Gabrielson Park. There’s Caffe Trieste, a classic café, who have a wide range of entertainment, from Brazilian Jazz to Bluegrass, and also have the best cappucino, panini sandwiches and pizza. Or go to the Bar With No Name, where you can hear the sweet and slammin’ jazz sounds of the Michael Aragon Band. Finally, Gatsby’s, at 39 Caledonia, and Saylors Landing at the North end of Sausalito, at 305 Harbor Drive both have entertainment on weekends.

If you are like me, you just may like to get away from the bustle of the city and all the cars and people and kick back on the waterfront with a good bottle of Chardonnay, a good read and something or someone to munch on when you get hungry. Now let’s talk relaxation. For a very relaxing weekend away, there are two wonderful spas I would recommend. One is called Remede Day Spa, at 1621 Bridgeway and the other is our newest spa, Rituals at 108 Caledonia. You can soak, have a facial, receive a massage and even take a yoga class if you like. The hardest part may be deciding to move at all after that or where to eat each evening because there are so many fine food restaurants to pick from. If you want to be right on the water there is Scoma’s at 588 Bridgeway. Then there is Water Street Grill, at 660 Bridgeway, or The Spinnaker at 100 Spinnaker Drive, right off Bridgeway. Don’t forget Angelino’s at 621 Bridgeway. There are also a number of fine restaurants along Caledonia like, Sushi Ran, which has the best sushi in Marin County…maybe the whole Bay Area, Gatsby’s and Sweet Ginger. In the Casa Madrona Hotel, the Mikayla, which is positively delicious, is having special Mikaya Neighborhood VIP Nights on Monday and Tuesday. Entrees are 50% off. If you are thinking of staying over, the Casa Madrona has overnight rates and packages starting at $199.00. There is a new place in town called Piazza Espresso. Located right on the waterfront at 660 Bridgeway, Piazza offers a tasting room for delicious coffees and teas that is unequaled. The Piazza brewing system is unique in that the coffee and tea are made in one of Piazza’s own patented machines. Very tasty indeed! I could go on and on. But, then I wouldn’t have anything or anyone to write about next month.

If you want to take in some sights, I suggest you rent bicycles at Sausalito Cyclery, #1 Gate Six Road. You can rent mountain bikes for $12.00/hr. or $40.00 for 24 hours. And, you can rent a tandem for $15.00/hr. or $60 for 24 hours. Tell them I sent you. If you want to be a little more adventuresome, I suggest some kayaking on the Bay through Sea Trek Kayak at 85 Libertyship Way, just off Bridgeway in Schoonmaker Harbor. To make reservations, call (415) 488-1000 or check out their website at www.seatrekkayak.com. Then there is Caruso Sport Fishing Center at 332-1015, located at the foot of Harbor Drive at Clipper Yacht Harbor, Club Nautique at (510) 865-4700 or rnicastro@clubnautique.net. Cass Rental Marina can rent you a sailing vessel. Contact them at (415) 332-6789 or at cassmarina@earthlink.net. Rent the Avalon, a 70 foot motor yacht for the day. Have your Holiday or company party aboard the Avalon; 30+ guests includes food and drinks. Contact Gerry or Paris at (415) 332-3291. Finally, you can be a pirate, adventurer and discoverer of new uncharted lands aboard the tallship Hawaiian Chieftain, a wood three-mast schooner located at Schoonmaker Harbor. Call (415) 331-3214 or tallship@hawaiianchieftain.com

For additional information on what to do feel free to call the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce at (415) 331-7262 or check out our website at www.sausalito.org.