Two couples (one from Oregon, one from Maryland) meeting in San Francisco area for a week in June. Looking into house/cond/apt rentals discovered houseboat rental in Sausilito, which is intriguing. Two of us familiar with Sausilito, though not in recent years, and love the area. Just wondering if anybody's had any experience with houseboat living. It sounds like a lot of fun...we've always gotten good feedback with Fodor's, so thought we drop in for some hints/advice. Many thanks.

I have a friend who owns a floating home in Sausalito--it really is a home on a floating platform more than a houseboat. So in that respect it is no different than a house; but instead of a backyard she has Richardson Bay. The only thing that was different for me is that I get motion sickness on boats when they are stationary, so I did experience some motion sickness even though the movement was barely perceivable.

Unless you are susceptible to motion sickness, definetly do it !
I lived for a time on a houseboat on Issaquah Dock
at the Waldo Point Harbor off of Gate 6 Road in Sausalito.
It was a great time, with lots of interesting people who
were "recovering" from a life too long in the corporate world.
Very friendly community of good folks.

The location of your rental will determine if you are
actually sitting in the mud flats during certain times of the day-
not really a bad thing. Also, as many of the bedrooms are
below the living areas, you may also get the
opportunity to hear the hummer fish at night.

Keep a small flashlight with you when coming and going in the evenings-
some of the houseboats are accessed via a gang-plank,
which will rise and fall with the tide-
making an already unfamiliar entrance a little more tricky.

Oh, yes, do be on the lookout for the occasional "Dock Alert".


The rental your thinking of, writerhenn, which dock
is it located on ? Perhaps I can answer
more questions when I have an idea of the location.

R5

Already great response. Thanks so much. The houseboat location is Gate 14 6 1/2 Rd at Kappas Marina. It looks very inviting, with spacious quarters up and two BRs and BAs below.
Can't tell much about the view -- but it's on the water in Richardson Bay, so I'm thinking it can't be bad! Any more input greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jim

We have proceeded with this rental and are looking forward to our visit the second week of June. Any other input -- especially about the ferries -- would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi writerhenn-
I think you mean your location is #14, Gate 6 1/2 Road.
You are kind of out at the very eastern end of Sausalito
along Hwy 101-how much of that you will be able to hear
will depend on how far out on the dock # 14 is anchored.
I tend to think you and your party will be fine as those
houseboats have been occupied a long time.
This map shows your approx. location (A) and the
distance to the Sausalito Ferry Terminal (B)
http://tinyurl.com/283w7z2

From your location on Gate 6 1/2 Road you are about 3 miles
from the Sausalito Ferry Terminal. The Golden Gate Ferry
offers service between Sausalito and the SF Ferry Building.
The fare is $7.85 each way.
http://www.goldengateferry.org/schedules/Sausalito.php

The Blue & Gold Fleet offers service between Sausalito
and Pier 41 (essentially Fisherman's Wharf) and one late night (around 9PM ) departure from The Ferry Building.
The fare is $10.00 each way.
http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/Ferr...103110no51.cfm

Hope that answers some of your questions.

R5

Razzle -- Thanks for the ferry info -- and yes the address is #14 Gate 6 1/2 Rd. I did notice that it's at the end of town. We're planning on taking in a couple of Giants' games and note there is a special game ferry from Larkspur, which appears to be about the same distance from the houseboat as the Sausilito terminal. But note the travel time is 60 minutes rather than the 30 for the regular route. We've heard a lot about the ferry ride, which I'm guessing is much like the Blue & Gold tour which I've taken before. We're going to start planning some day trips, so I'm sure I'll get another forum started here shortly. Thanks again for your help.

writerhenn-
The Larkspur Terminal is a good 10-15 minute drive North on Hwy 101 from your Gate 6 1/2 locale-quite a bit more than that to the Sausalito Terminal.

Just to let you know about the Giants "special ferry"-
It does take you, and a load of jovial fans, directly to the ballpark, and often just squeaks in docking before the first pitch. For the return trip,go directly to the ferry as it will leave 30 mins after the last inning.

We do use this ferry for a few of the Giants games, yet
we prefer to take the ferry from Larkspur to the SF Ferry
Building and walk down the Embarcadero to AT&T Park.
After the game we don't have to rush and often walk back to the SF Ferry building and indulge in some Hog Island
oysters or a longer meal at The Slanted Door.

So, up to you if you want to trek up to Larkspur.
The Giants Ferry might be fun once.
Do be mindful of heavy afternoon commute traffic going
north on Hwy 101.

R5

Thanks Razzle...I was thinking we'd only use the Larkspur ferry if we did a night game as it doesn't appear there any other late night ferries to Sausilito...I'd rather not use it going over because I'd prefer to get there earlier, but it does sound like it might be fun -- kinda like tailgating. We could drive, but would rather not...is it feasible (reasonable?) to cab back after a night game, assuming we take the regular ferry over? Your info is very helpful...thanks again.

True, there are no night ferries to Sausality - I think the last one is at 7:30 p.m.

The walk from AT&T to the Ferry Building is 1.25 miles and it's a really lovely walk. I park across the street from the Ferry Bldg (where I work) and walk every time. It's probably faster to walk than to take Muni, which is super-crowded after games.

Is a cab from AT&T to Sausalito (finally, I spelled it right!) an option if we took the ferry over?

It's an option-but I'd make some calls to SF taxi companies to see what they would charge. It's about 15 miles from AT&T
to Sausalito.

You could take an early ferry over from Sausalito and take the Giants ferry home-I'm pretty sure you can do that.
I can verify that tommorrow when I can talk to a human...

Agree that driving is not a good option-we live in Sonoma
County and NEVER drive into SF unless we are going
to Golden Gate Park or the Cliffhouse. Your feet and public transport are your best option in SF.

sf7307-we'll have to meet up for that walk to AT&T sometime.

R5

writerhenn-
Just remembered-I found out for someone on here last week that a cab ride from the Santa Rosa (STS)airport up to Healdsburg here in Sonoma COunty was $60-70 and it's only aboout 10 miles. I would think SF fares would be higher.

R5

It's about $40 on the meter (with tip) for a taxi from SFO to downtown San Francisco, about the same distance as AT&T to Sausalito.

Oh, and sort of OT, razzle, do you have "regular" tickets -- I mean, do you know in advance what dates you'll be going to games?

Lots of good advice here. But probably not possible to take one ferry over and the other back. Re: taxi -- if the cab is in the $40-50 range not much different than four of us on the ferry. The Cliff House (one or two words?) is definitely on my list, having been there before for sunsets...also planning the trip "up the hill" on the Sausalito side of the GGB for great photo ops of the city...We leave June 14th, so it's getting close! Thanks for the info, and I'll be checking back for any added

Hi writerhenn-
All ferry fares are sold as one way. So you could go in
to SF via the Ferry Building and home on the Giants ferry-
although you would need a cab from Larkspur to Sausalito.
If you do this-it would be good to have a local
Marin COunty cab company stored in your cell phone so that
you can order a taxi before you dock in Larkspur.
Sometimes, a cab or two, will be hanging around, but often not.

See here for buying Giants ferry tickets on-line
http://www.tickets.com/browse.cgi?pgid=2000336

Whatever you do,do get out on the bay, If just for the ride !
I hope you all bring us some sunshine and warmer temps !

sf-with work and travel we don't buy season tickets,
yet have the good fortune to have friends that offer
from time to time. We never know very far in advance.
Mr R5 is thinking about buying for the Cubs day game on August 12.

R5

I happen to have tickets for that game!

sf- are you playin' hookie that day ?

R5

We will definitely be riding the ferry, but figured it wouldn't be practical to try to leave from one and return to the other. Between the ferry fares and cab back to Sausalito, probably be just as easy to cab back from S.F. Hoping for some nice June weather -- but we'll be prepared. Thanks again for the input.