Just a quick drive from San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, or a breezy ferry ride that feels like a mini-vacation in itself, Sausalito is a waterfront town full of diverse dining, coastal vibes, and postcard views.
But this bayside beauty has layers, quirks, and backstories that many visitors miss.
Behind the marinas and gelato shops is a history shaped by shipbuilders, bohemians, rock legends, and artisans. A famous song was even born here. Here are five surprising things that make Sausalito more than just a pretty tourist town.
1. Sausalito was a Wartime Shipyard During WWII
During World War II, Sausalito’s Marinship yard operated around the clock, employing nearly 20,000 workers and cranking out 15 Liberty Ships and a total of 93 other ships during the war effort.
Be sure to drop by the Bay Model Visitor Center (it’s free to enter), which houses a Marinship exhibit.
While it was not built in Sausalito, the SS Jeremiah O’Brien is docked at Pier 35 in San Francisco, and is one of two remaining and operating Liberty ships of more than 2,700 built during World War II. Most of the ship is open to visitors. Read more about what to do in San Francisco here
2. Sausalito is home to one of the Largest Houseboat Communities in the U.S.A.
More than 400 floating homes bob in Richardson Bay, a neighborhood born post World War II, when workers and artists began living in the many abandoned ships from the Marinship shipyard.
You’ll find defunct ferryboats turned into cozy abodes, whimsically-shaped houses resembling pagodas and cubes, and even storybook-style cottages painted in candy colors.
3. Otis Redding Wrote “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” in Sausalito
While staying on a houseboat in Sausalito, Redding penned most of this hit song while, literally, watching the tide roll away on Richardson Bay.
Once you know this, it’s hard to hear the tune in the same way again. Sausalito’s laid-back, slightly dreamy vibe seeped right in, and few places can claim to be the backdrop for such a timeless soundtrack.
Sorry, not sorry, if you now have the song stuck in your head all day, too.
4. Rock Legends Partied Here
In the ’60s and ’70s, The Trident wasn’t just a restaurant—it was counterculture headquarters. Janis Joplin had her own table (and a side door entrance to it), Jerry Garcia dropped by often, Joan Baez was a regular, and The Rolling Stones once partied there with promoter Bill Graham. Jazz great Vince Guaraldi even recorded live sets in the dining room. The restaurant/ bar is also the originator of the Tequila Sunrise (supposedly Mick Jagger’s drink of choice).
(FYI: The Trident temporarily closed. Check with them on a re-opening date)
Today, the Trident attracts more tourists than rock stars, but I love to go in for a drink and sit amidst the dark wood walls that hold a few stories, and where the views and vibes are still legendary.
Tip: You can get a Buena Vista Irish Coffee here, too.
5. Heath Ceramics was Founded in Sausalito
Founded in 1948 by designer Edith Heath, the original Heath Ceramics factory still handcrafts its signature plates, bowls, and tiles using many of the same midcentury techniques.
The founder’s innovative and resilient approach to pottery combined artisanal craft with modern manufacturing to create a timeless “California aesthetic” of simple, sturdy, and elegant products that remain a symbol of good design.
Best of all, you can tour the factory floor, where artisans mix glazes in small batches and craft each piece by hand. Their factory store is also open for shopping and stocked with sleek vases, cups, and dinnerware beloved by chefs, home cooks, and collectors worldwide.
Read about other easy day trips from San Franciscso
