5 Best Day Trips From Sausalito, California

best day trips from sausalito
Tabassum
Tabassum 
Updated
| 4 min read

Sausalito, California, United States, is a beautiful town that is close to San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Although it is a nice place to explore and see, it is also great to go and explore other places around there. Here are some suggestions for day trips if you are planning on staying in Sausalito for a few days:

1. San Francisco

Posted by San Francisco Love Tours on Saturday, 20 May 2017

Posted by San Francisco Love Tours on Saturday, 20 May 2017

If you don’t want to go too far from Sausalito, be sure to take the ferry and explore the world famous city of San Francisco. There is so much to do in San Francisco that it most likely will take you the whole day to see everything there. Visit the sea lions on Pier 39 and shop and eat there. Also, have ice cream at Ghirardelli Square or visit Alcatraz Island. While there take a tour, of which there are many, but the Love Tour is unique and highly recommended. It starts from 48 USD.

San Francisco

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2. Santa Cruz

2-Day Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, Roaring Camp, Steam Train-Gilroy Premium Outlet Tour one of our new tours :), come on...

Posted by Get Bus Tours on Tuesday, 19 August 2014

Posted by Santosh Kolekar on Monday, 6 January 2014

Seeing the redwoods from the train pulled by a steam locomotive made for a great ending to our tour.

Posted by Tom's Christian Tours on Thursday, 1 October 2015

Santa Cruz is right off the coast and is approximately 1 hour and a half from Sausalito. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is great for all ages. There are games and rides to enjoy and during the summer months, there are free concerts with artists such as Eddie Money and Quiet Riot. While here, stroll along the beach and soak in the scenery. You can also visit the Mystery Spot and resist gravity.

Last, but not least, take a train with the Roaring Camp Stream Train. This ride will take you through the Redwoods. A few years ago Thomas the Tank Engine came here and kids loved taking a ride on the famous steam train. It is about a 75 minute tour and starts off at 27 USD.

Santa Cruz

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3. Napa Valley

Fall in Napa Valley
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Brocken Inaglory used under CC BY-SA 3.0

As soon as you enter Napa Valley, you will see lots of grapes growing everywhere. This is because Napa Valley is considered one of the premier wine regions in the world. It is truly something to see. It is currently a major enotourism destination. What does enotourism mean? Enotourism, also known as Wine Tourism, means the type of tourism whose intention is the tasting, drinking or purchasing of wine, often at or even near the source. This is exactly what Napa Valley is like. Be sure to visit the many vineyards located in this town and taste some great wine.

You can also take a day tour. There are many, so here is one that is exciting and a full day. Please be aware that it is an 8 and a half hour tour, beginning in San Francisco, and is quite fun! Enjoy a day of sightseeing starting at 99 USD.

Napa Valley

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4. Monterery and Carmel

Flukes for Defense Language Institute troops

Posted by Monterey Bay Sailing on Saturday, 3 September 2016

Cabrillo Point sunset. montereysailing.com

Posted by Monterey Bay Sailing on Monday, 7 November 2016

About 2 hours south of Sausalito are two coastal towns that are worth a visit, especially if you have kids with you. I am saying this because Monterey has the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I suggest that you go here early since there’s always a long line of people waiting to get in. The main attraction here are the Sea Otters, which are way too cute to miss. If history is more of your thing, be sure to stop by Mission Carmel and explore early California life.

Following that, head over to Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row for an enjoyable stroll and a meal. There are also many other restaurants and shops close to the main street areas of both cities. Souvenir shopping is quite fun here. End the day with a sunset stroll on the beach. There are many tours here, but I chose the Monterey Bay Sailing Cruise since it is only about an hour and is perfect for families. Pets are allowed on this tour too. It starts from 39 USD, so be sure to check it out. You will love the scenic views and the sailing.

Monterey and Carmel

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5. Silicon Valley

Fun and engaging local Tech Enthusiast is wanted to guide SiliCon Valley Tech Tours to Google, Facebook, and startups (one-day per week). Please, e-mail to Marina at mmasterova@svicenter.com

Posted by Marina Masterova on Monday, 13 March 2017

Fun and engaging local Tech Enthusiast is wanted to guide SiliCon Valley Tech Tours to Google, Facebook, and startups (one-day per week). Please, e-mail to Marina at mmasterova@svicenter.com

Posted by Marina Masterova on Monday, 13 March 2017

A little over an hour drive from Sausalito is the world famous Silicon Valley. The area known as the Silicon Valley is home to many of the world’s largest high-tech corporations as well as thousands of startups. Some of the companies you will find here are Apple Inc., Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Netflix. People come here from all over the world and enjoy clicking pictures. I can understand since it is quite exciting to see the headquarters of some of these companies.

If you want a guided tour, try the Silicon Valley Tech Tour. It starts at 159 USD. The half day trip is 7 hours and the full day is 10 hours. If you decide on the full day tour, you will get to see Highway 1, which goes by the Pacific Ocean. It is quite scenic and something to consider if you don’t want to explore the place on your own.

Silicon Valley

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Day trips from Sausalito

Sausalito near the harbor
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user [Unknown] used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Sausalito, California, is a serene place that gives you breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay without the craziness of the big city. It is a place where you should spend a few days just relaxing and kicking back. I can stay in Sausalito all day. Many locals come for a day trip just to hike or stroll. It is a great place to be, but it is small, so heading out on day trips from Sausalito is wise. California has a lot to offer, so if you would like to see the surrounding areas, be sure to do so and possibly take a tour. I have made some suggestions and hope you get to enjoy the places mentioned since California is a place that offers a lot in terms of sightseeing and fun!

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Tabassum Rahmani, a technical writer born and raised in the United States to Indian parents, boasts over a decade of writing experience. She has a passion for sharing her life's adventures and...Read more

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