Spring 2026

drizzling water over hot stones. Patrons cycle between relaxing in the heat and splashing into the bay, where the water temperature often registers in the mid-50s. The experience brings the Fjord tagline— “Feel Something”—to life. “California landscapes are so picturesque. It’s postcard quality. But we want people to do more than just take pictures. We want to offer compelling ways to engage, and to physically step into these beautiful landscapes,”Yenni says. Just down the block, the San Francisco Bay-Delta Model puts the region’s physical features in focus.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the two-acre, three- dimensional indoor laboratory to test the impact of structural and environmental changes on the bay and its watershed. Water flows under bridges, through estuaries and along the shores of mocked-up cities as simulations in the scale model recreate the region’s 24-hour tidal cycle every 14.9 minutes. Other exhibits spot- light local ecology and Sausalito’s role as a World War II shipyard. Nearby (on select weekends) Heath Ceramics factory tours showcase how this California icon has shaped craft and design for nearly eight decades. The company makes dinnerware, tiles and home goods with a mid-century modern aesthetic and distinctive glazes, including a line created with Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters. Shoppers can pick up sets, seasonal items and samples at the Heath showroom. Art galleries and boutiques line several blocks back in downtown Sausalito, steps from The Inn Above Tide. Neighborhood dining options include Barrel House Tavern, serving seasonal ingredients in a stylish former ferry terminal, Poggio Trattoria, a mainstay offering northern Italian classics, and buzzy Copita, known for mod- ern Mexican dishes and an extensive menu of agave-based spirits. In addition to enjoying culinary and cultural highlights, Flaherty rec- ommends that visitors venture beyond the town center. “Sausalito has a linear downtown that hugs the waterfront.From the base of the hill straight up, it’s almost all residential.The moment you walk up those steps, you feel a dif- ferent Sausalito experience,” he says. “The views are spectacular from up on the hill, and it’s fun to explore the town’s staircases and hidden gardens.” While some travelers stay local, others use The Inn Above Tide as a starting point for visit- 162 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 6 The Inn Above Tide offers in-room breakfast delivery or buffet-style continental breakfast options in the drawing room. There’s a daily wine reception, and several downtown Sausalito dinner spots are set steps from the hotel. Complimentary continental breakfast is available via room delivery or buffet style in the property’s drawing room.