Two years ago my son left home to pursue his dreams in a city far away. Okay, not that far away (San Francisco), but still, he packed his bags and he left. He took with him his (usually) gregarious self with his newsy tidbits about girlfriends, advice on what to watch on Netflix, and tales of the silly and sometimes stupid escapades he’d get into with his buddies. Needless to say, with his departure, my husband and I were left in a very quiet and very empty nest. Like many newly empty-nesting mamas, I was melancholy. My husband took the departure in stride.

So, I did what many empty-nesters do, I booked a trip out of town with my sister and we stayed at The Inn Above Tide in Sausalito. We spent nearly the entire weekend holed up in a most fabulous suite, eating in, drinking wine, and sitting outside on the expansive deck gossiping and reminiscing about our childhood, the San Francisco skyline shimmering in the distance. One year later, my son returned home.

Fast forward to Fall 2024. My son has left the nest – again. And the melancholy has returned. So, when I learned about the Empty Nestermoon Getaway package, my husband and I packed our bags and headed across the Golden Gate Bridge. The Inn Above Tide has curated an amazing package of grown-up activities perfect for parents whose baby birds have left the nest and who are ready to enjoy their newly minted freedom. The package is customized for maximum enjoyment and our weekend was filled with art, fine food, nature, and self-care – all of our favorite things.

The inn is located in the seaside town of Sausalito and each well-appointed room sits right on top of the water with gorgeous views of San Francisco across the bay. At night, the city lights up like a jewel box. It is spectacular. We had the Vista Suite, a 735 square-foot corner suite with an impressive four-poster bed, a spacious sitting area with a gas fireplace, a well-lit desk, and a dining table for two. The marble and granite bathroom features a sit-down vanity area, and a large spa tub and a separate shower furnished with Bvlgari products. Everything you need for convenience and comfort is at your fingertips, including USB outlets and Bluetooth enabled speakers, plush robes, and even overnight complimentary shoe shining. Breakfast and an evening wine reception can be enjoyed in the drawing room. Luxury is an understatement at The Inn Above Tide.

On our first night, we had dinner reservations at Sushi Ran, a Michelin Star award-winning restaurant and an institution in Sausalito. The restaurant has been around for 20 years and is still as popular as ever. It was fortunate that the concierge at The Inn Above Tide was able to secure a table for us. In fact, The Inn Above Tide has a partnership with the restaurant (they offer a getaway package featuring the restaurant), so if guests would like to dine at Sushi Ran, they should reach out to the concierge who can help secure a reservation. During our visit, owner Yoshi Tome welcomed us personally and guided us through the menu. We started with the chawanmushi, a delicate egg custard topped with salmon roe, fragrant steamed mussels, corn fritters chockful of fresh corn that crackled with each bite, fresh spinach in a nutty sesame sauce, and a variety of sushi made with the freshest fish, all paired with fine “black label” sake. It was a phenomenal meal.

We started the next morning with breakfast in the drawing room. The inn puts out an impressive spread of pastries, bagels & breads, quiches, fresh fruit, and yogurt, plus juices, coffees and teas. For guests who want to dine en-suite, they can select from a small menu and hang it on the door for delivery the following day, but I recommend breakfast in the drawing room for the ample and delicious selection.

After breakfast, we went to Heath Ceramics for a factory tour. The pottery and tile company is renowned for its functional yet beautiful ceramics. Started by famous ceramicist Edith Heath in 1948, the company still produces iconic dinnerware and tiles. We took a tour of the small factory to see the process up close, starting with the wet clay to the glazing and final firing. The final pieces are beautiful – simple and modern in design, true works of art. The pieces are available for purchase in the store.

Next, we had reservations for a hiking trip in Muir Woods. Again, reservations were made for us by the concierge at The Inn Above Tide. Muir Woods is a very popular visitor attraction and reservations for parking and admission are required. The park covers over 550 acres and there are several trails from easy to difficult to choose from. We hiked the Main Trail which is an easy 2-mile loop, but there are steeper more rugged trails that offer amazing panoramic views for those that are up for the challenge. We were there on a weekend, so it was quite crowded, but the busyness didn’t detract from the beauty – the canopy of redwoods is stunning.

After our trip to the woods, we drove back into town and explored Sausalito. There are several boutique stores, restaurants, sweets and ice-cream shops, and cafes on the main drag. My favorite shop was Sausalito Books by the Bay, a cute bookshop right on the water. But we wanted to get back to our suite and enjoy a bottle of red wine, some cheese and crackers, and our enviable view from our deck before dinner.

Dinner that night was at Ditas, located on the water’s edge in the building that once housed the yacht club. The views from the dining room are beautiful, as expected. Ditas is fairly new, opening in late 2023, and the kitchen is making interesting food while the bartender is mixing some creative cocktails. For food, we shared the lobster macaroni & cheese, the seared scallops, and the lobster roll. We also had the pleasure of meeting the restaurant’s CEO, Nikita Khandheria, who was surprisingly young; apparently, she has been at the helm of Ditas since the age of 17! We were impressed with her poise and confidence.

The following day, we were scheduled for a couple’s massage in our suite before heading back home. Once again, the concierge planned and booked another special activity. We felt well rested, well-fed, and well-cared for and ready to return to our empty nest.

The Empty Nestermoon Getaway package is offered through December 30, 2024 with rates starting at $1,015/night plus tax for two people. This package may be booked online at innabovetide.com/packages or by telephone at 415.332.9535.