Sometimes you have a flexible schedule but maybe not enough time or money to take a real vacation, well that doesn’t mean you can’t feel like you’ve gotten away from it all for a bit. First stop the Ferry Building, you can also get a Ferry from Pier 41 but the Ferry Building is more convenient for most of downtown and is worth some time either before or after your trip. There’s Farmer’s Market Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday but even without there’s plenty of food. There are variations from more formal sit down like The Slanted Door (though pop-ins to the bar area work just as well) to Blue Bottle Coffee (I’m a recent convert to the decaf oat lattes) as well as specialty food spots plus a few nonfood items.
The Ferry itself is about a half hour and offers great views of San Francisco, Alcatraz, Golden Gate & Bay Bridges, and heading into Sausalito, and if you’re lucky like I was maybe some dolphins. Sausalito just off the Ferry is a pretty small area which makes it perfect for a little day trip. There are a handful of shops right as you disembark and right along Bridgeway Street. And while it is a bit on the touristy side there are a few galleries, Daniel Merriam’s Bubble Street Gallery is worth a look, and who can resist Soxalito for a cute pair of socks. One should definitely plan a meal stop. I hit Fish which is a chunk of a ways out of the main drag but I just wanted a casual quality piece of fish (and while a 30ish minute walk one way is doable the walk isn’t quite along the water so perhaps spring for an uber, note the Heath Ceramics factory store is also right there), I would also recommend Poggio or Sushi Ran. There are a few spots on the water, Scoma’s is pretty classic upscale seafood (I’ve only been to the SF location), but if not a meal maybe pop in to one of those spots to enjoy the view and have a drink. Since I had time to kill before the next Ferry back I was able to settle in for a tasting at Madrigal Family Winery where the tasting room brings the wine country a little bit closer.
Easy, picturesque, and a nice break from the daily grind! What’s your favorite day trip?
