A Guide to the Best Activities in Sausalito

Sausalito is a picturesque city located in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy. From kayaking and sailing to biking and hiking, there is something for everyone. This guide will provide you with the best activities in Sausalito, so you can make the most of your visit. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure or a relaxing day on the waterfront, you’ll find plenty of activities to keep you entertained. So grab your camera and explore the beauty of Sausalito!

Exploring the Historic Waterfront of Sausalito

The historic waterfront of Sausalito is a must-see destination for anyone visiting the San Francisco Bay Area. Located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito’s waterfront is home to a variety of attractions, from its vibrant houseboat community to its picturesque marinas.

The waterfront of Sausalito is a great place to start your exploration of the city. The area is home to the historic Bay Model Visitor Center, a working scale model of the San Francisco Bay that was built in 1957. The model is a great way to learn about the bay’s history and ecology, and visitors can take a guided tour to get an up-close look at the model.

Just steps away from the Bay Model Visitor Center is the Schoonmaker Marina, one of the oldest marinas in the Bay Area. Here, visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the docks and admire the many boats and yachts that call the marina home.

No visit to Sausalito’s waterfront would be complete without a visit to the city’s famous houseboat community. The houseboats of Sausalito are unique, colorful, and full of character, and they provide a great opportunity to explore the city’s maritime history. Visitors can take a guided tour of the houseboats or explore them on their own.

Sausalito’s waterfront is also home to a variety of restaurants, shops, and galleries. Visitors can enjoy a meal at one of the waterfront restaurants or browse the galleries for unique souvenirs.

The waterfront of Sausalito is a great place to spend a day exploring the city’s history and culture. From the Bay Model Visitor Center to the houseboat community, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Enjoying Outdoor Activities in Sausalito

Sausalito, California is a beautiful coastal town situated on the San Francisco Bay, and it offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. From kayaking and paddle boarding to biking and hiking, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors in Sausalito.

Kayaking and paddle boarding are popular activities in Sausalito, as the waters of the San Francisco Bay are calm and the views are stunning. Rentals are available from local businesses, and there are plenty of places to launch from. Kayakers and paddle boarders can explore the shoreline, or venture out to explore the islands in the bay.

Biking is another great way to explore Sausalito. There are several bike paths that run along the waterfront, and the views of the bay and the city skyline are breathtaking. There are also plenty of hills and winding roads to explore in the hills above Sausalito.

Hiking is also popular in Sausalito. There are several trails that wind through the hills and offer stunning views of the bay. The Marin Headlands, located just north of Sausalito, offer miles of trails with stunning views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sausalito also offers plenty of opportunities for fishing. The bay is full of a variety of fish, including salmon, striped bass, and sturgeon. There are several fishing piers and docks in the area, and there are also plenty of spots to cast a line from the shore.

Sausalito is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day on the water or an adventure in the hills, there are plenty of activities to choose from. With its stunning views and abundance of outdoor activities, Sausalito is the perfect place to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.

sausalito ice house

Ice House Museum

We want you to be a part of a completely reimagined Sausalito Ice House Museum that integrates the recently constructed Ice House Plaza with a light-filled center for residents, students and visitors to explore Sausalito’s history.  

With the help of donated services from nationally-recognized museum designers, The Sibbett Group, and their team of state-of-the-art designers, the museum will invite interactive multi-media exploration of the intersection of Sausalito’s land, water and people. The museum’s open floor plan will also accommodate after-hours cultural events in Sausalito’s historic downtown. 

Floating Home Tours, Sausalito

Floating Homes Tour in Sausalito

Learn about the history and personality of the historic Sausalito houseboats. Experience many docks – and houseboats themselves – on this engaging and fun in-depth tour.
Attendees are separated into groups of no more than 10. Houseboat residents will act as guides to lead each group through four homes on two docks, providing a comfortable setting for your group to tour and ask questions. The tour takes about 2 hours. A fair amount of walking is required; no toilet facilities or refreshments are available.

Tour fee for groups of up to 25 is $1200, and for groups up to 40 is $2,000. contact SausalitoFloatingHomesTours@gmail.com with inquiries https://www.floatinghomes.org

tastings
Hanson Gallery and Tasting Room in the heart of downtown Sausalito, just over Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Enjoy the spectacular views of San Francisco and explore the extensive art collection of Hanson Gallery

Taste Hanson Spirits in Sausalito

Enjoy a unique tasting of organic grape-based vodka in the sleepy artist community of Sausalito. Sip cocktails and savor caviar while enjoying sweeping views of San Francisco and the bay area. Learn both how to taste vodka and how it’s distilled.
sailing

Shanutski

Exclusive Yacht Charters – San Francisco Bay.
Private Yacht Charter for safe, comfortable service catered to you to live the postcard life. Your Captain is at your service.

Shanutski Packages (max six passengers)

  • The Gilligan – 3 hour tour
  • Hooper Drives the Boat

  • Good Morning world

  • Overnights

Contact: Captain Timothy

food-tour

Gourmet Food & Wine Tour

This bayside village boasts a handful of famous restaurants on and near the ferry and is a perfect place to spend a morning exploring the top restaurants with some of the worlds most beautiful views. Similiar to some of our other Napa Valley tours, this tour is intended as a very filling multi-course lunch with wine pairings. It includes 4 sit-down restaurant experiences in all, with an organic chocolate stop for our sweet tooths!

Location: Our Sausalito Food Tour takes place on Bridgeway along the beautiful bay with sweeping views.

paddle-boarding

SEATREK

We now offer classes, trips, and rentals for both ocean kayaks and stand up paddleboards. Whatever your skill level and experience, you will find the Sea Trek staff ready to help make your adventure safe and enjoyable.
Mon. – Tues. 9 am – 5 pm
Wed. – Sun. 7 am – 6 pm
*Last rental goes out 1 hour before closing
floating homes

Call of the Sea

Climb aboard and enjoy San Francisco and Sausalito from the water.  Community sails are open to all ages and no sailing experience is necessary!

Proceeds help support our youth educational programs.

Sailing on a tall ship requires active listening, communication, and cooperation. Learn to sail in a customized team building and sailing experience.  Call of the Sea also offers private sails for:

  • Birthday parties
  • Corporate events
  • Alumni Gatherings
  • Fleet week
  • Sail by San Francisco sights such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Angel Island.
  • Sit back and enjoy the view, or help sail the ship with the assistance of our professional crew.
  • Light refreshments are available on all public sails.

In response to COVID-19, Call of the Sea follows strict hygiene protocols so your sailing experience is safe and healthy.

floating homes

Floating Homes Tour

The Floating Homes Association conducts private tours for small groups, the specifics are listed below. It is a more intimate setting as the Homeowners are usually home to tell all about their homes. We separate the attendees into four (4) groups of ten (10) with a guide to tour, each attendee will see all four (4) homes. It usually takes about 90 minutes to complete the tour.
seaplane

Seaplane Adventures

Get a different perspective of the Bay Area with this family-friendly aerial adventure. You’ll soar high above the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Marin Headlands in a six-seat plane that provides everyone with a window seat. Brief Description (up to 300 characters will display)Sightseeing air tours over the San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and Marin County.
Hours of Operation: 10 am – 5 pm
Outside Event Space: 100+ people
Maximum number (group size):  6 People
We do offer group flights.
sailing

Schooner Freda B

The Schooner Freda B is one of San Francisco Bay’s most popular yachts for locals and visitors alike. She is an 80′ sailboat modeled after the traditional tall-ships from the 19th Century, known for their stability and elegance. Freda B is available for both public and private charters.

Telephone: 415-331-0444
Hours of Operation: Year-round
Maximum number (group size): 49 persons
Event/Meeting Space: 80′ sailboat that can hold up to 49 passengers

art

Art by Lucinda

This is an opportunity to take a time out from the current situation, and to change your perspective by creating art. Lucinda will guide you on how mix color, create studies and ultimately paint a painting while you relax and share time with people who have similar interests.

She is offering a peaceful time that may help you get back to things that really matter. Creating! Jump start your creative brain. It is fun. It’s enjoyable.

tours

Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour

Using the Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour guide book finding the treasure is easy. Maps and directions lead the way into Sausalito’s nautical history, boat by boat. Upon discovery, participants read about the boat, compose a short poem and draw a picture in their scrap books (provided). The time of completion is then recorded. When the teams return to home base, the scores will be tallied, scrap books shared and poetry put into song. If your group knows how to have fun while they learn…you’ll be giving us a good review! This activity takes about two hours to complete. Minimum group size: 15 /Maximum group size: 10
sailing

Call of the sea

Using the Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour guide book finding the treasure is easy. Maps and directions lead the way into Sausalito’s nautical history, boat by boat. Upon discovery, participants read about the boat, compose a short poem and draw a picture in their scrap books (provided). The time of completion is then recorded. When the teams return to home base, the scores will be tallied, scrap books shared and poetry put into song. If your group knows how to have fun while they learn…you’ll be giving us a good review! This activity takes about two hours to complete. Minimum group size: 15 /Maximum group size: 10