Travel Tips
Mill Valley & San Francisco
ACCOMMODATIONS + RECOMMENDATIONS (WEDDING WEEKEND)
LOCATION
Our wedding is at The Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley, California (Marin County), just north of San Francisco. Mill Valley is a charming, walkable town with great food, trails, and quick access to the redwoods.
Venue: Outdoor Art Club
Address: 1 W Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Venue site: http://www.outdoorartclub.org/
BEST PLACES TO STAY (QUICK GUIDE)
Option A — Stay near the venue
For the simplest logistics, we suggest staying in Mill Valley, Sausalito, Corte Madera, Larkspur, or Tiburon.
• Typical drive to the venue: ~5–20 minutes
• Quieter, scenic Marin vibe
• Easy rideshare/short drive to/from wedding events
Option B — Stay in San Francisco (make a city weekend of it)
If you want more nightlife and city exploring, staying in San Francisco is a great option.
• Typical drive to the venue: ~25–45 minutes (traffic dependent)
• More hotel inventory + restaurants
• Plan a little buffer time getting across the Golden Gate Bridge
Note: If you’re booking in San Francisco, we recommend staying in well-traveled neighborhoods and avoiding the Tenderloin (and nearby areas) for lodging, especially at night. Like any major city, some blocks can feel very different from one to the next—if you’re unsure, we suggest checking recent reviews and maps, and prioritizing areas like the Richmond, Outer Sunset, Marina/Cow Hollow, North Beach, or near Golden Gate Park
HOTEL SUGGESTIONS (WITH LINKS)
Closest / Marin-side (easiest for the wedding)
• Mill Valley Inn (Mill Valley): https://millvalleyinn.com/
• Holiday Inn Express Mill Valley – SF Area (Mill Valley): https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/mill-valley/sfomv/hoteldetail
• Acqua Hotel (Marin / near Mill Valley): https://acquahotel.com/
• Marin Suites Hotel (Corte Madera): https://www.marinsuites.com/
• Hotel Sausalito (Sausalito): https://www.hotelsausalito.com/
• Inn Above Tide (Sausalito): https://innabovetide.com/
• Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa (Sausalito): https://www.casamadrona.com/
San Francisco (west + scenic, or near Golden Gate Park)
• The SeaScape Inn (Outer Sunset): https://www.seascapesf.com/
• Ocean Park Motel (Outer Sunset): https://www.oceanparkmotel.com/
• Seal Rock Inn (near Lands End / Ocean Beach): https://sealrockinn.com/
• Stanyan Park Hotel (near Golden Gate Park / Haight): https://www.stanyanpark.com/
Tip: Rates and availability can move fast for fall weekends—booking earlier helps.
AIRBNB / VRBO (VACATION RENTALS)
Vacation rentals can be a great fit for families and groups (kitchen + more space). Inventory in Marin can be limited, so we recommend booking early.
Great areas for rentals near the venue (shortest drive):
• Mill Valley
• Sausalito
• Tamalpais Valley / Strawberry
• Marin City
• Corte Madera / Larkspur
• Tiburon
If staying in San Francisco:
• Richmond District (near Golden Gate Park)
• Outer Sunset (near the beach)
• Marina / Cow Hollow (more central)
A few heads-ups:
• 2–3 night minimums are common on weekends
• Parking can be tight in some neighborhoods—look for “off-street parking” if renting a car
• Please be mindful of neighborhood noise rules
Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/
Vrbo: https://www.vrbo.com/
GETTING HERE (AIRPORTS + TRANSIT)
Closest airports: SFO (San Francisco) and OAK (Oakland)
Rideshare: Uber/Lyft are widely available (SF + Marin), though late-night availability can vary.
Uber: https://www.uber.com/us/en/ride/
Golden Gate Ferry (fun option for SF ↔ Sausalito/Tiburon):
GETTING AROUND (NOTES)
• If you’re staying in Marin, it’s usually easiest to do short rideshares or a quick drive
• If you’re staying in San Francisco, build in extra time for traffic across the bridge
• If you plan to drink, please arrange a rideshare/driver
THINGS TO DO NEARBY (IF YOU’RE MAKING A WEEKEND OF IT)
In/near Mill Valley + Marin
• Downtown Mill Valley: coffee, boutiques, casual walks
• Sausalito waterfront: views + shops + restaurants
• Muir Woods (redwoods): reservations required for parking/shuttle — https://gomuirwoods.com/
• Mount Tamalpais (Mt. Tam): great hikes + viewpoints
• Tiburon: scenic waterfront + relaxed brunch spots (and a nice ferry ride option)
In San Francisco (easy classics)
• Golden Gate Bridge + overlooks: iconic views (walk part of the bridge or hit nearby viewpoints)
• Golden Gate Park: gardens, museums, long walks — https://goldengatepark.com/
• Lands End + Sutro Baths: coastal trail + ocean views — https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/sutro-baths.htm
• Presidio: trails + viewpoints + picnic spots — https://presidio.gov/
• Palace of Fine Arts: quick, beautiful photo stop — https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Palace-of-Fine-Arts-197
• Ferry Building Marketplace: great food, coffee, and bay views — https://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/
• Chinatown + North Beach: classic neighborhoods for food and wandering
• Mission District: murals + great restaurants
• Alcatraz: reserve in advance — https://www.cityexperiences.com/san-francisco/city-cruises/alcatraz/
Tip: If you’re staying in SF and want a scenic day trip, consider taking the Golden Gate Ferry to Sausalito or Tiburon: