Sausalito
Heading back from Sonoma allowed me the opportunity to make a
stop in another of my favorite locations along the coast: Sausalito, Spanish
for "little willow grove". It has long been a favorite of mine for a
number of reasons, but mostly because it seems to be so laid back and easy
going. Some have described the venue as a struggle between the "rich
on the hill" and the waterfront people. If that is the case, the struggle
certainly does not openly show. To me, Sausalito is a perfect blend of
ocean and shore with something for everyone, whether they be "day-tripping
tourists", occasional visitors or locals who live there. From the City
of Sausalito website: "yacht harbors thick with white masts, restaurants
and hotels built out over the water, unique shops, original art galleries,
and grand promenades with San Francisco views." There are five
hotels, a wide range of first-class restaurants and a long cement walk along
the waterfront where one can listen to the barking sea lions or the sounds
of the water of San Francisco Bay as it laps against the rocks along the
shore. Or one can go inland and enjoy myriad opportunities for
shopping. And there are the ever-present hikers and bikers, making
their way to the hiking and biking trails. Sausalito also is very
close to Muir Woods and Mt. Tam (Mt. Tamalpais) with its redwood groves and
oak woodlands and spectacular views from the 2,571-foot peak there.
On a clear day, visitors can even see -- among other things --the Farallon
Islands 25 miles out to sea.
My last visit to Sausalito was many years ago
when my sister brought my mother and me there one sunny day to enjoy an
incredible breakfast followed by some shopping. Consisting of some
indescribably delicious Eggs Benedict at a marvelous hotel called the
Miramar, up on the hill and overlooking the bay, it was a scene almost right
out of a movie... Speaking of which, numerous movies have been either
partially filmed here or make reference to to it (for instance, the Cetacean
Institute in Star Trek IV, the Voyage Home, was supposedly located in
Sausalito... but I digress). In any case, I have never forgotten that
day. Unfortunately the Miramar is no
longer there... but the fine
memories certainly are; infrequent as they may be, visits to Sausalito have
always been enjoyable for me! Since we had some extra time on
this particular morning, I was happy to bring my wife to Sausalito for a
brief stop following our wine country trip, proud to show her several of my
old and favorite "haunts" like the Spinnaker, the "No Name" bar and several
other watering holes from my younger days as we strolled the waterfront and
main streets. It was a Saturday and I expected that, even in the month
of December, the sleepy town would soon be quite busy. I had
necessarily planned for only a brief stop.
Walking
along the shoreline, we noticed a small bistro-type cafe that was situated
right next to the bay with some outside tables that faced the water.
Although the air was quite chilly, there was a great table that took full
advantage of the warm and rising sun. We stepped inside and ordered
two glasses of Chardonnay. They were to serve a dual purpose: first,
to toast a successful and very fun trip to Sonoma Wine Country and second,
to toast the stop in Sausalito, where the smell of salt water and the sound
of the waves against the shore were as calming and refreshing as I had
remembered. As we sipped the wine, discussed the trip and basked in
the sunshine, the owner of Il Piccolo came out and presented
us with some just-made bruschetta; the warm and toasted bread rounds were
topped with a a piquant mix of garlic, fresh basil and tomatoes that did in
fact make for an excellent snack. I thought it to be a mistake - we
had not ordered the appetizer. The man just smiled and said: "No, it
is for you... it goes well with the Chardonnay." And he was of course
correct; it was an excellent pairing. This is the kind of friendly
hospitality that I have come to know in the little town by the
Bay; it was
the perfect addition to the morning and the perfect salutation to our
excursion. With fresh-baked breads, Italian pastries and even ice
cream to accompany the appetizers and other items, I would recommend that
you take a minute to enjoy both the food and the scenery at this waterfront
venue.
Too quickly the time had come to head back
across the Great Bridge and return our rental car to the airport. We
eased away from our parking space with the reluctance of one who had
abandoned his only meal of the week, skulking back to the road that led back
up to Route 101 and the Golden Gate. Merging with the southbound
traffic I smiled and promised that my next trip to Sausalito would not be so
long in the making.
