Sausalito May Be A Tourist Hotspot, But It's Also A Hidden Gem For Locals
KPIX 5 Morning Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales answers the questions you never get to ask on-air.
In my weekly search to highlight either great local music, or an undiscovered Bay Area city (or perhaps both) I found myself jumping in my car with "top down" heading North out of San Francisco. I checked out the newly remolded Doyle Drive, it's "S" curve, the spanking new tunnel and the new approach to the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. Nice!
My destination: Sausalito.
I have visited Sausalito a few times, participating in the annual Golden Gate Sharkfest Swim. All proceeds benefit local Hospice and I couldn't ask for a better day filled with terrific people.
Friday I wasn't doing anything athletically, rather relaxing. It was a perfect way to kick off the weekend!
In this week's "hidden gem" not only am I highlighting Sausalito, but a little side trip along the way.
Let's begin with Sausalito. The quaint town of Sausalito is located in Marin County and boasts under 10,000 people. It sits at 13 feet above sea level, it is 8 miles south-southeast of the county seat in San Rafael. At one point, you can cross the street and find yourself in Mill Valley. The community is at the north end of the Golden Gate bridge and is about 2.26 square miles. I literally ran around the town three times on Saturday, to get my desired 7 to 8 miles of training accomplished!
Sausalito is considered an "Age Friendly" town. What exactly does that term mean? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an age-friendly city as "one that is inclusive and accessible and promotes active aging. A town that works for EVERYONE of every age and ability. And that certainly defines Sausalito.
Friday night with pals Staci and John, I found myself listening to one of my favorite bands, Carlos Elizade and Ruckatan, Latin Tribe. The spirited performance was at the Sausalito Seahorse located near the Marina. It was a beautiful evening topped off with soulful original music from one of the Bay Area's hottest bands. As I looked around the room, I noticed a diverse group of people, varying in age and ethnicity.
Saturday I ran the trails, again noticing families young and old, walking hand-in-hand or pedaling beach cruisers as they waved to one another. By afternoon, with a seasonal high in the low 70s, the breeze was heavy and the ferry was packed with people anxious to visit Angel Island and it's 733 ft. tall Mt. Livermore. The ferry leaves every hour beginning 10am to 5pm for the 10 minute cruise to the largest island in San Francisco Bay. I will reserve a complete blog on Angel island. There is so much to write, so much to share.
On of my most enduring memories of Sauslalito - the chicken. It was the most succulent chicken I have ever tasted. The "Brick" Chicken at Buckyeye Roadhouse was so tender, I could slice it with my fork. Now granted, I do not eat red meat and rarely eat poultry, but the unique dish was recommend as it was served straight out of the smoker. Opened since 1937, this historic restaurant combines old world charm with the latest American cuisine. The chicken was complimented with a poblano pepper and polenta stick fries. I'm going back. I'm going back for the food and the music at Seahorse, the running trails, the ferry and I will go back to visit and play with the people of Sausalito.
I would love to hear from you! Please send weather questions, observations and photos to me, Gonzales@kpix.cbs.com and I look forward to hearing from you!
