Sausalito is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, on the south-eastern tip of Marin County. Sausalito covers a mere two and a half miles. It's a small town of only 7,500 residents boasting spectacular waterfront views.

Sausalito is a charming waterfront community that lies across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Because of its Mediterranean flair and breathtaking views, it is often compared to the French Riviera.

Today, you can stroll along the water and watch the sea lions cavort, rest in the plaza and listen to the splashing fountain, soak up the ambiance in the many open air cafes, browse through the unique boutiques, and check out the marinas. You can visit the Bay Model Visitor Center, a 1.5 acre working model of the bay, Sausalito’s famous houseboat community, or the Bay Area Discovery Museum, which contains interactive displays for kids of all ages. And there are many well groomed hiking and biking trails, as well as easy access to Muir Woods and Mt Tam.

For overnight guests there are five hotels, each with its special brand of charm and hospitality. And the town hosts a wide range of first-class restaurants, including those that have garnered national awards.

Sausalito is easily accessible by car or bus over the Golden Gate Bridge or by ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf or the Ferry Building on San Francisco’s Embarcadero.

Sausalito is a refreshing break from typical fog located in San Francisco. Sausalito is perfect for bike riding, hiking, sailing, swimming and kayaking.

Average Temperature Ranges (variable):

*Summer/Fall Daytime: 60’s to Mid 80’s

*Summer/Fall Nighttime: 50’s to 60’s

*Winter/Spring Daytime: 60’s to 70’s

*Winter/Spring Nighttime: Upper 40’s to 50’s

* October is the average warmest month.

* January is the average wettest month.

Sausalito was incorporated in 1893, and named by 18th century Spanish explorers for the "little willow" trees (Saucelito) which were found on the banks of its streams.

What is now Sausalito was once the site of a Coast Miwok settlement known as Liuaneglua. The branch of the Coast Miwok living in this area were known as the Huimen.

In 1838 during the Mexican era, an Englishman by the name of William A. Richardson, who became a Mexican citizen and married the daughter of the Commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco, established a large ranch from which the later town acquired its name, the "Rancho Del Sausalito."

In the 1870s, the North Pacific Coast Railroad (NPC) extended its tracks southward to a new terminus in Sausalito, where a rail yard and ferry to San Francisco were established. The NPC was acquired by the North Shore Railroad in 1902, which in turn was absorbed in 1907 by the Southern Pacific affiliate, the Northwestern Pacific.

By 1926, a major auto ferry across the Golden Gate was established, running to the Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco. This ferry was an integral part of old U.S. Highway 101. It ceased operation shortly after the Golden Gate Bridge opened in May of 1937.

During World War II, a major shipyard of the Bechtel Corporation called Marinship was sited along the shoreline of Sausalito. The thousands of laborers who worked here were largely housed in a nearby community constructed for them called Marin City. The soil which supports this area is dredgings from Richardson Bay that were placed during World War II as part of the Marin shipyards for the United States Navy. A total of 202 acres were condemned by the government. A portion of this total area was formed in the shape of a peninsula and this peninsula became known as Schoonmaker Point.