Shopping the Shoreline:

If you’re a Bay Area native who’s looking for a pleasant afternoon adventure for yourself or you want to show off for out-of-town guests, a trip between San Francisco and Sausalito just might fit the bill. As Rob Franco, Director of Sausalito’s Chamber of Commerce said, "Come here with an objective in mind or just come for the ferry ride. Either way, you’ll enjoy yourself."

Paul Albritton, Sausalito Council member and WTA Community Advisory Committee member, said that Sausalito businesses and residents alike see the ferry as a benefit to their city. "The ferry is essential to Sausalito’s economy," he said.

Ironically, he added that residents were initially resistant to ferries for fear that they would bring tourists and congestion to the city. Now, businesses welcome the additional customer base and residents are grateful for another commute option to take them to jobs in downtown San Francisco. Mr. Albritton enjoys commuting to his other job in downtown San Francisco by taking the Golden Gate Transit bus in the morning and riding the ferry home.

A ferry ride between San Francisco and Sausalito takes approximately a half hour. With onboard views of the Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz Island, recreational boaters, Mediterranean vistas, and, of course, seagulls, the time passes almost too quickly.

Although Sausalito hosts many fun events, you don’t need a particular reason to visit. Just off the ferry and straight ahead, the town’s main street, Bridgeway, beckons. Whether you’re looking for toys, original art, clothing, candy, chotchkes, a snack or a meal, you will find it all within a short stroll of the ferry terminal.

With choices ranging from deli salads, burgers, ice cream, Indian, Thai, Italian, Japanese, and other delectables, you won’t go hungry. Straight off the ferry along the pathway to the left or on your return trip to the ferry, Caffe Tutti on El Portal is a good choice for a snack, frozen yogurt, Italian soda, coffee or tea to keep you going. If you’re craving a sit-down meal but don’t want to give up the shoreline views, you can visit a number of restaurants with front row seats of the water, such as Scoma’s or Horizons at the south end of Bridgeway. Slightly off the beaten track, you’ll find more choices up Princess Street (south on Bridgeway) or Caledonia (north on Bridgeway).

Like any tourist destination, it’s easy to spend $70 on a tee-shirt or $8 for a sherbet scoop of bath salt at a shop such as The Beach House Clothing Company, which specializes in resort wear. Bargain shoppers who just want to fill their pockets with easily transported goodies can visit Munchies Candies from Around the World, with its barrels of salt water taffy and other treats ranging from "Atomic Fireballs to Zots," as their slogan promises. Giving a new meaning to "barrel tasting", you can even taste the candies before making a purchase.

Looking for original art? It’s impossible to swing a cat without hitting a gallery along Bridgeway. For instance, Petri’s Gallery specializes in glasswork, jewelry, bronze, and figurines. Lyon Omohundro, Petri’s Gallery Co-Director, said that Petri’s ships most of the artwork to buyers, 70-80 percent of whom hail from out of town, thus eliminating the hassle of carrying packages home via ferryboat. Ferry riders visit this gallery often enough that the owners keep ferry schedules on hand for their convenience. In fact, Mr. Omohundro said that the gallery noticed fewer patrons when Golden Gate Ferry was forced to cut back on the number of trips during the day.

If you’re tired of shopping and hoping for some quiet time enjoying the views, head north along the water and choose between several shoreline parks or benches on walkways facing a background of boat harbor (or, further along, a colony of houseboats) and a picturesque skyline view of land in the near distance. To stay in Sausalito, there are five or six quaint hotels to choose from, ranging from the Inn Above Tide, which is located within a wave’s splash of the ferry terminal, to the Alta Mira, a short hike up stairs above Bridgeway.

Indulge in playing tourist for a day, then return to San Francisco’s newly restored Ferry Building to enjoy the view from the other end and visit one of the gourmet eateries or specialty shops for one last memento (chocolate, wine, cheese, flowers, books) of your Bay Area. Remember that another trip to Sausalito is just a ferryboat ride away.