All content & photos: Copyright© 2008,
Jan Hight. All rights reserved.
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The Inn
7/00 Update
When you're ready to reserve your own "deck on the bay", you may contact The Inn Above Tide at 1-800 893-8433. Then all that's left to do is check in and immerse yourselves in that sublime vista!!!!
Copyright © 1998 -
2008: Jan Hight
Published -- March 25, 1998 |
Sausalito, California is:
"There are hundreds of hotels located around San Francisco Bay. There is,
however, only one on it." The truth behind
that statement becomes abundantly clear as guests catch an initial glimpse of this
contemporary-styled Inn actually resting upon pilings in the Bay itself. All 30
guest rooms face the water...with San Francisco shimmering from the other side of that
fabled inlet...and most have decks that take full advantage of the spectacular view.
We
revisited the Inn in July 2000 and found it to be just as thoroughly delightful
as it was in February '98! On this trip we took the Hornblower Yacht's champagne brunch
cruise around San Francisco Bay, followed by an afternoon re-exploring the City
itself (it's one of our long-time favorite places). We spent an
afternoon in lovely Tiburon; then admired the unrivaled views of San Francisco
and the Bay, framed through the Golden Gate Bridge, from the Marin
Headlands. We also totally enjoyed Sausalito's charming July 4th
parade! I've interspersed new photos and comments throughout this page.
The
Inn Above Tide property was just as inviting as its scenic location, with a cheerful
mix of
plants and flower baskets and patios contributing to the pleasant atmosphere. The
Inn's friendly staff gave us a warm welcome - from the person who parked our car - to the
bellmen - to the front desk personnel...everyone was gracious and helpful throughout our stay!
To expand upon the convivial mood, wine
and cheese receptions were offered each evening in the salon just 
off
the lobby. We had a marvelous time meeting the
other guests...one night we continued our engaging conversation with a delightful couple
from San Diego by proceeding on to dinner together at a nearby waterside restaurant.
Breakfast (granola, fruit, breakfast breads and pastries, juice, coffee)
was served in the salon;
or selections could be made each evening for room delivery the next
morning...which was my chosen option since I always welcome breakfast in bed!
Our room was decorated in a tranquil
blending of seafoam and skyblue, with light woods and modern lines adding to the airy
ambience...which seemed to bring the Bay inside to surround us. There was a fireplace
built into a tiled entertainment center, and a
comfy chaise beckoned from beside the
sliding glass door to our private deck. Ahhh -- the deck:
from there the breathtaking view awaited our admiration...the Bay Bridge, Angel Island,
Alcatraz and the City itself glimmering across San Francisco Bay. During the day it
was a dazzling panorama, accented by all sorts of seagoing vessels and various waterfowl.
At night, it became a magical lightshow as the moon and stars appeared
and millions of tiny twinkles outlined the familiar landmarks! It's no wonder that
an old song sprang to mind: "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay", with the refrain
revised in my thoughts to "sitting on our deck on the Bay"!!
Sausalito is a thoroughly appealing village with a mixture of small-town charm, Bay Area
sophistication, artistic legacies, and that unique Marin-county lifestyle. Its
streetscapes are a combination of Spanish mission-style influences and quaint Victorian
treats. Refined galleries, tiny boutiques, fine shops, wonderful restaurants and
multi-level courtyards are
shadowed by steep hills....and striking views of San Francisco
wait to be suddenly discovered around many corners. Sausalito is a perfect place 
for
strolling, shopping, dining, or simply savoring the sea breezes... with the ever-constant
presence of the Bay a dominant factor in its personality. Some of the restaurants we
enjoyed were Scomas (descended from the famous San Francisco seafood spot...no
reservations, so a wait is usually required), The Spinnaker (gorgeous views due to its
built-over-the-Bay location...a magnificent blue heron settled down just outside our
waterside window as we
dined), and Mikayla at the Casa Madrona Hotel
(splendidly decorated by artist Laurel Burch, featuring her 12-foot hand painted mural
depicting the Legend of Mikayla -- the Goddess of the Isle of May for whom the restaurant
is named). On our 7/00 visit we discovered
the
pleasure of Ondine's
artistic Pacific Rim menu offerings and beautiful Bay views. The staff at The Inn Above Tide will be glad to assist with suggestions
on the variety of dining options available in Sausalito.
The Inn
Above Tide is located right next
to the Sausalito Ferry Landing, so we used that very convenient and hassle-free conveyance for
the short trip over to San Francisco. Ferries may also be taken to Tiburon (another
picturesque
bayside hamlet) and to Angel Island (with its rugged natural beauty and
multitude of hiking trails). It was another of those California-glorious days, and
our ferry ride was just as enjoyable as the hours we spent in the matchless City by the
Bay (always a special spot for us). During our 7/00 Sausalito journey we
happily rediscovered San Francisco (including the Hornblower Yacht's champagne
brunch cruise around the Bay), spent an afternoon strolling through Tiburon's
quaint bayfront, made a Stinson Beach visit, and gazed at the breathtaking views
from the Marin Headlands.
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