California :FREE Travel Magazine E-zine: Dream or Plan your week-end trips or international travel adventures here

International Magazine

Flag of California

Send this Page to a Friend

Fireworks, Sailboats and the San Francisco Bay

By Rona Gilbert

We spotted the Inn Above Tide during our very first trip to Sausalito.

Perched over the San Francisco Bay, it was tucked away in a quiet corner,

yet smack in the center of town, and before I ever stepped foot inside I

knew I had to stay there.

I thought about the hotel periodically after that trip. Whenever I was in

need of a mental diversion, I¹d pull up the website and dream of returning

to Sausalito and spending another weekend there, exploring the area and enjoying the beautiful scenery. When my husband and I decided to return to Sausalito for a long 4th of July weekend getaway, the Inn Above Tide was the only hotel I considered.

While the Inn Above Tide is arguably one of the best hotels in the area, it

is the place to check-in for the 4th of July holiday. A sophisticated, yet comfortable, 29-room boutique inn located in the heart of Sausalito, the Inn Above Tide is the only Bay area hotel located directly on the water. And with promises of spectacular fireworks, views, and luxury amenities, I eagerly anticipated our visit.

As we pulled our rental car up to the hotel entrance on a gloriously sunny

day, a friendly staff member greeted us and quickly gathered our luggage and

whisked our car into the small parking lot as we checked in. After a quick

review of the hotel¹s amenities and services, another staff member escorted

us to our room where our luggage awaited.

As we opened the door to our room, my eyes went directly to the jaw-dropping

view and I rushed to the sliding glass doors, eager to get a better look.

Our room prominently featured a stunning panoramic view of the San Francisco

Bay, Angel Island, downtown San Francisco and Alcatraz, complete with a

private balcony furnished with handsome teak furniture.

The porter reminded us that if we were lucky to have a clear night on the

4th of July, we would have a front row seat for the San Francisco, Sausalito

and Oakland fireworks from the comfort of our room.

Tearing ourselves away from the view, we stepped back into the room to

admire the furnishings and unpack. Creature comforts abound at the Inn Above

Tide. Guest rooms were recently refurbished and freshened with new luxury

linens and a bright and subtly nautical décor. Our queen deluxe room was

small, but amply appointed with an incredibly comfortable bed and two

overstuffed chairs facing a gas fireplace. Inside the armoire we found more

goodies, including a CD player, cozy robes, wine glasses and a wine bottle

opener. The large bathroom was equipped with spa quality toiletries and an

oversized whirlpool tub big enough for two. Complimentary binoculars

thoughtfully placed in the room were the perfect accompaniment to the

jaw-dropping view.

It struck us that our room felt much like that of a cruise ship (albeit an

incredibly luxurious one.) Indeed, sitting on our terrace, perched over the

water and watching the seagulls and sailboats float aimlessly by, we felt as

if we were sitting on the balcony of cruise ship.

Unable to take our eyes off the amazing view, we spent the rest of the

afternoon and evening at the Inn. As our balcony become shaded and chilly

in the early evening, we wandered down to the small parlor just off of the

reception desk to sample the complimentary wine and cheese.

While the parlor is lovely, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with views of

the Bay and the bustling ferry next door, we opted to take our wine and

small plates piled high with cheese, fruit, bread and crackers to the second

floor deck. Flooded in sunshine, we claimed two padded lounge chairs among

the large potted plants and settled in for some serious relaxation.

When the sunshine and the wine disappeared, we retreated to our room and

were greeted by yet more amazing views - downtown San Francisco lit up at

dusk and the fog rolling in. As we stood on our balcony we watched the fog

slide over the top of homes perched on the Sausalito hillside and ooze down

toward the Bay. It was one constant motion we watched it snake around the

horizon directly in front of us and disappear behind Angel Island. Who knew

fog could be so beautiful?

As we admired nature¹s theatrical performance, we debated our dinner

options. We considered the many fine restaurants within walking distance of

the Inn, but concluded that none would have a better view or more

comfortable seats than our room. After a quick trip to one a neighboring

seafood restaurant, we returned to the comforts of our room with boxes of

take-out and opened a bottle of local wine we purchased earlier in the day.

Settling in front of the fire, we toasted to our perfect day and hoped for

another clear night tomorrow for the fireworks.

We awoke the next morning to yet another clear blue sky and were glad we

opted to have our breakfast delivered to our room (breakfast is served

complimentary in the parlor or for a nominal fee can be delivered to your

room.) Within minutes our breakfast had arrived, complete with a carafe of

steaming hot coffee, juice, fresh fruit and heaping bowls of granola. Still

in our robes, and determined to soak up every minute of that view, we ate on

the balcony.

Seeking some exercise, we set off on a walk through Sausalito. Unlike most

afternoons when the streets are crowded with tourists off the ferry, early

mornings are blissfully peaceful and quiet. After admiring the hillside

homes and challenging our legs on some of the steep hills, we made our way

back to the Bay front and were surprised by the sights and sounds of a local

4th of July parade.

The street along the Bay was crowded with people, many seated in folding

beach chairs, and children running and up and down the street, catching

candy thrown from the floats. The parade was a colorful display of locally

made floats, most featuring humorous parodies of political and local issues.

What a wonderful surprise to stumble upon.

We spent the rest of the day exploring nearby Tiburon. We took a leisurely stroll through the small downtown, browsing the local boutiques and sampling the sidewalk cafes. After lunch we basked in the sunshine in the waterfront

park and admired the views of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge before heading over to the Windsor Vineyards tasting room. The Victorian tasting room dates to 1888 and offers free samples of more than 30 wines.

Anxiously anticipating the main attraction for the evening fireworks we made our way back to the Inn Above Tide where we would be at the epicenter. We knew there was no guarantee of a clear sky thanks to that famous San Francisco fog, but we were optimistic given the sunshine and blue sky. We enjoyed another late afternoon wine and cheese snack on the deck before settling in for the evening to await the show.

From our balcony we watched the crowds gathering and scrambling to find that

perfect spot for viewing the fireworks. The atmosphere was upbeat and

festive as families played games to entertain the children and teenagers

gathered in small groups with portable radios, listening to music to help

pass the time. We raised our wine glasses once again to toast not only our

perfect day, but also our perfect fireworks viewing spot.

But our optimism quickly faded as dusk and the fog< rolled in. While we tried to reassure each other that the fog was only temporary and there were still hours before the fireworks began, the fog became thicker and heavier. Before long, we could no longer see San Francisco, not even Alcatraz, which was much closer. Our hearts sunk as the air became chilly and we retreated inside and bundled up in our robes.

We tried to console each other at least we had a wonderful couple of days and the warmth of the room and our fireplace. Things could be worse, we said, and we opened another bottle of wine.

About an hour later, the sky completely dark, we heard the first boom and saw a faint glow in the distance behind the fog as the San Francisco fireworks display began. Just as we suspected, the fog was simply too thick to see the show across the Bay.

Then suddenly we heard an even louder boom right outside our window and

watched an explosion of colors scatter across the sky. Still in our robes,

we pulled our chairs to the patio door. As we snuggled next to the warm

fire, we watched the Sausalito fireworks explode over the Bay directly

ahead, feeling as if they were lit just for us.

Once again, we toasted to a perfect day.

If You Go

Getting There

The Inn Above Tide, 30 El Portal, Sausalito, California 94965. Phone

1-800-893-8433. www.innabovetide.com <http://www.innabovetide.com/ .

Most major airlines fly to San Francisco and many fly to the nearby smaller

Oakland airport which is often cheaper.

Sausalito is located just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

It is a short drive (30-45 minutes depending on traffic) from either

airport.

Staying There

Room rates from $255 for a Superior Room (no deck) to $795 for the Penthouse

Suite. It¹s worth the additional $40 a night for the Queen Deluxe Room.

While all rooms are well-appointed with a private bath, oversized tub,

spectacular bay view, TV, DVD, stereo with CD player, binoculars, high speed

wireless internet, plush robes, luxury linens, French Hermes toiletries,

complimentary breakfast and evening wine and hors d'oeuvres, the Queen

Deluxe and higher category rooms also come with private decks with teak

furniture and most come with gas fireplaces (be sure to request a fireplace

when making your reservation.)

There is an additional $100 surcharge on the 4th of July and be sure to

request a corner room for the best views.

Being There

The Inn Above Tide is ideally located in the heart of Sausalito, just a

short walk to galleries, restaurants, and shops, and the ferry to San

Francisco's many attractions.

Tiburon is a short drive from the Inn Above Tide, where you can stroll or

relax in the waterfront park or browse the local boutiques and sample the

sidewalk cafes.

From Tiburon, Angel Island, a federal and state wildlife preserve, is a

short ferry ride away and a great way to spend a sunny afternoon picnicking.

If you¹re feeling energetic, rent bicycles (there is a rental shop on Angel

Island or you can rent them in Sausalito and bring them on the ferry) and

explore the island¹s 12 miles of hiking and biking trails. Other options for

seeing the island include an all-day guided kayak tour and a 1-hour tram

tour.

Napa Valley and Sonoma are less than a one hour drive from the Inn Above

Tide, making them a perfect day trip for tasting wines, sampling the

world-renown food, admiring the rolling hills and lush vineyards or

experiencing one of the area¹s top-notch spas. And don¹t forget to bring a

bottle of wine or two back to your room to savor along with that amazing

view as you toast to a perfect weekend getaway.

Area Information

www.sausalito.org <http://www.sausalito.org/> (Sausalito Chamber of

Commerce)

www.sfvisitor.org <http://www.sfvisitor.org/> (San Francisco Convention &

Visitors Bureau)

Many Book & Audio Reviews For Your Travels

Complete Article List

Get Published Here! Contact Us!

Peace for Everyone

Adventures in your FREE e-zine

FREE Monthly Subscriptions.

Subscribers: Please be sure this

E-mail address

Is in your address book:

mail@realtraveladventures.com

It's that simple!

Real Travel Adventures International Magazine

If any links don't work

PLEASE NOTIFY US

EXCITING NEWS!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR US LIVE

on Destination Worldview

11:30 A.M. (NY time) some Wednesdays

Every Wednesday get Latest Travel Tips and views while you work on your computer

Streaming Internet broadcast on WWW.TTRN.COM

or TUNE IN on Radio Station

WTMY 1280 AM IN FLORIDA

TALKIN' TRAVEL WITH ROY and MARCUS

Every Wednesday

11 A.M. (New York Time)

Home Next Page

Thanks for visiting us!

Add to Bookmarks

Real Travel Adventures International Magazine

Real and Armchair Travelers: Enjoy best trip reviews, travel features, and excellent travel photos in RealTravelAdventures.com, your FREE on-line international magazine. Send your funny or outrageous travel experiences & photos and get published!

Visit or dream of fascintating places with Real Travel Adventures e-zine! This site offers travel humor, photos, stories, helpful guidebooks, and more. Visit for fun or to seek tips for your next travel adventure...and then share your own stories with us here at

realtraveladventures.com, your free online travel magazine, where you'll find great book reviews, international travel adventures magazine, airline tickets, real travel adventures, camping, RV travel, RV's, Cruises, restaurant reviews, RVing, FamilyTrips, traveling with kids and children, Nature and eco trips, ecology, international travel, Ski Trips, Spas, Spiritual Retreats, interviews with Special People, Travel Humor, Travel News, Unbelievable, WeddingTrips, restaurant reviews and advisor, traveling adventures, adventure travels, travel, virtual and armchair travel, Back Roads, off the beaten path, where to go Camping and enjoy RV trips, where to Dine and Sleep, fun Family Trips, our Favorite Finds, Arts and Crafts, cruises and cruise vacations, romantic trips, traveling tips, travel stories, audio book reviews for your travels, books reviews, good books for a trip, wedding trip planner, wedding Trips, Honeymoons, Unbelievable adventures, Travel News, humorous travel stories, spas and retreats, spiritual retreats, meditation retreats, ski trips, week-end trips Near You, nature's Best places, ecology trips, travel guide books, traveling with children, e-zines, FREE Ezines, Free travel magazines, magazine, free online magazines, internet magazines, free magazine subscriptions, web magazines, true stories, humorous articles, funny features, human interest features, nature photos, environment photographs, photos, adventurous stories, real true stories, true adventrues, camping gear, vacation, holidays, safaris, Caribbean vacations, cheap hotels, great places to go, nature hikes, nature photography, family vacations, family holidays, trip planner, great trips, scenic photos, holiday vacations, holidays, holiday stories, foreign destinations, International travel trips. And you can Get published here too! Send us your travel stories and pictures.