If you are looking for a weekend getaway from San Francisco, lunch in Sausalito followed by a night at the Steep Ravine cabins is the answer.
For those of you who haven't heard of the Steep Ravine cabins, they are a cluster of individual rustic oceanside cabins right next to Stinson Beach. Here's our guide to a quick weekend escape, including what to expect and everything you need to bring.
Drinks first! They have a fun make-your-own bloody mary sheet where you can check off exactly what you want. To start, we enjoyed an appetizer of their cocktail meatballs with spicy tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil.
Next was a delicious blackened snapper sandwich that was so moist and fresh, served on a ciabatta roll with fried caper aioli (yes!). The fries that came with this were the perfect crispiness — I would come to Sausalito just for these!
We also tried their albacore tuna salad melt with white cheddar cheese on brioche! This was an open-face sandwich that was almost too pretty to eat with fried shallots, arugula and cherry tomatoes.
We settled into our cabin and headed down to our own private beach, only accessible from the campsites.
This area is breathtaking and very private. You feel removed from everything with the hillside jutting up far above you and only the coastal cliffs below you.
After exploring this area, we took a break back at our cabin, breaking out the wine and cheese for a little happy hour with the most amazing view!
For sunset, we hiked around the rest of the campground, taking in the ocean views and crashing waves.
Back at our cabin, we made a fire in the wood-burning oven that kept our cabin nice and toasty long into the evening.
Provisions + Brunch
Before heading to Steep Ravine, you will need some provisions—Sausalito makes a great pit stop to grab some food.
Just off the main drag of Sausalito, Barrel House Tavern has a barrel-shaped ceiling running the length of the restaurant, as well as a patio space that makes you feel like you are literally dining on top of the water.
After enjoying the view of the Bay and San Francisco, head to Driver's Market & Deli, a cute local spot a few streets from downtown, to pick up supplies. We wanted to keep our camping food simple so we grabbed some rosemary crackers, cheese, sandwiches and, of course, wine for our evening at the Steep Ravine cabins.
On to the cabins!
Stay at the Steep Ravine Cabins
The cabins are a short drive from Sausalito up Highway 1. Turn off the road at a gated turn-out a few miles south of Stinson Beach. When you book the Steep Ravine cabins, make sure to call and get the code to unlock the gate from the National Park Service ahead of time since cell service is limited. You'll enter the gate and drive down a long winding steep hill till you are practically at the edge of the ocean—the Steep Ravine cabins!
Time to unpack and set up your cabin. Each cabin has a padlock code you will need to get inside. In the cabin, there is a wood-burning stove (wood can be purchased on site for $8 a bundle), a kitchen table, and a few rooms with wooden platforms for you to set up sleeping bags or a blowup mattress.
We spent the night relaxing, eating sandwiches, reading books, playing cards and drinking wine—definitely one of my favorite getaways this year. If you want to try and snag a reservation, check out my tips below.
The Logistics
There are nine cabins you can reserve and the competition is fierce. There is also a cluster of nine campsites you can reserve and pitch a tent if you prefer a camping experience.
Reservations for Steep Ravine cabins are rolling, updated each day at 8am, and they book six months out). These reservations book up in seconds so you have to act fast and plan ahead. Search Mount Tamalpais on the ReserveCalifornia site and look for the "S Rav Cabin Area."
To have the best time, here's what you'll need:
- Your gate code and cabin code
- Sleeping bags
- Sleeping pads
- Pillows
- Headlamps/lanterns
- Some light, small blankets to drape across cabin windows for privacy and to keep out morning sunlight
- Warm clothes, hiking boots, hats!
- Fork, knife, spoon, and plates
- Lighter
- Wine opener
- Cutting board
- Cups
- Paper towels
- Wine, cheese, sandwiches or whatever food you like
Things you don't need:
- Trash bags—there is a trash can and bag in the cabin.
- Toilet paper—they have normal toilets with toilet paper (no port-a-potties!).
- Firewood—you can buy this onsite.
- Water—there are several taps of running water.
This story was originally published in June 2017 on sarahcraves.com.
