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Magical, light-filled houseboat with spectacular views.

Photo gallery for Magical, light-filled houseboat with spectacular views.

view of dock from balcony off the sitting room upstairs.
Outdoor dining
living room
Interior
iconic fireplace. works!

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Wake up on the waves
    A rare find — sleep on the water in this unique houseboat stay.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Balcony
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View in a map
Sausalito, CA
  • Place, Boardsports Marin
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, San Francisco Bay Model Visitor Center
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Schoonmaker Beach
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Francisco, CA (SFO-San Francisco Intl.)
    ‪44 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Primary Suite

1 Queen Bed

Sitting room

1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Magical, light-filled houseboat with spectacular views.

Experience floating home (houseboat) life in this sweet, light-filled, magical space. Enjoy a full kitchen with a charming built in breakfast nook. Every space has a water view and there are two balconies where you can enjoy sunrises with coffee and sunsets with wine. The living room has an iconic free standing wood burning fire place for cozy nights. Open living room and kitchen plus eating nook are upstairs. There's and an extra sitting / yoga / work room off of the kitchen. There are two large bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus washer/dryer downstairs. There are plenty of beautiful and roomy work spaces throughout the home. A delightful place to live and work while enjoying life on the dock of the bay.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Please be sure the heater is turned off.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2680964vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Sausalito

Located in Sausalito, this houseboat is in the city centre and on the waterfront. Muir Woods National Monument and Golden Gate Bridge are notable landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Oracle Park or Chase Center. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and sailing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and mountain biking.
View more Houseboats in SausalitoOpens in a new window
Map
Sausalito, CA

What's nearby

  • Boardsports Marin - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Horseshoe Cove - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • San Francisco Bay Model Visitor Center - 2 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Schoonmaker Beach - 3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Golden Gate Bridge - 8 min drive - 7.1 km

Getting around

  • Richmond Transit Center - 21 min drive
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - 49 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Equator Coffees & Teas - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Good Earth Natural Foods - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Fish - ‬18 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Magical, light-filled houseboat with spectacular views. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Magical, light-filled houseboat with spectacular views.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Magical, light-filled houseboat with spectacular views.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Magical, light-filled houseboat with spectacular views.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Magical, light-filled houseboat with spectacular views. located?

Located in the heart of Sausalito, this houseboat is 2.5 mi (4 km) from San Francisco Bay and within 6 miles (10 km) of Mount Tamalpais State Park and Sweetwater Music Hall. Bay Area Discovery Museum and Larkspur Ferry Terminal are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 14 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 14 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 14 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 14 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 14 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

TL W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

great place to stay

we had a great time staying here. all the room we could need and really nice location.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Jun, 2023
TL, Thank you for the kind review. I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay! Janell
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Denise D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful stay , so fun !

What a nice experience to stay on a floating home. It was so clean and very cute. The host was so nice and accommodating!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ben M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sausalito 5 star

A great place to base yourselves for exploring wine country and San Francisco, the houseboat experience is second to none!
Stayed 20 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeff H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful

We had a lovely week+ stay. Host was very accomodating. Beautiful space.
Stayed 8 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mark H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

… magical and light-filled, and so much more!!!

Our dream to live on a houseboat in Sausalito was fulfilled!!! Nearby to our favorite coffee and shops - including authentic Hawaiian-style poke at Gilligan’s Poke - thoroughly enjoyed every moment!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 May, 2023
I love helping to make dreams come true! So glad you enjoyed your stay and return to the area. Thank you.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Reyke S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Dream holiday on the water

We had wonderful days on this great houseboat. Everything was perfect. Facilities, cleanliness and location were very very good and upmarket. Many thanks also to Janell for the wonderful care.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Sept, 2023
I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit! Thank you for the stellar review. Come visit again! Best to you and your family. Janell
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Trish W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

So cute

What a cute neighborhood. The house was great. Janelle was so helpful and friendly. It was convenient to everywhere we wanted to visit. The house really made our stay perfect. It’s unique and so comfortable.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Aug, 2023
I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay and the houseboat. Thank you for your sweet and thoughtful gift too! Wishing you and your family all the best. Janell
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Philip B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great setting and convenient location

We loved the float house and setting. I was there for spring break with my teen boys and they also thought it was cool. Very quiet but also spring weather which may have helped. It was a great location to be for tourists to the San Fran area. Close enough for easy access to the city and all other attractions. Sausalito is also a great town and Salitos restaurant was delicious. The home is spacious, the pictures don't do it justice.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Apr, 2023
Thank you for your kind review. I'll take better photos to show that this space is really much more of a house, than a 'boat' which it is not :) So glad your sons thought it was a great place to be and loved that you were able to enjoy the time and area with them. Best, Janell
Verified

8/10 Good

Lisa D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique experience

We enjoyed our stay overall. The home is a little dated, but the primary bed was comfortable. We didn’t cook, so can’t speak to that. It was conveniently located for excursions to many places that we wanted to see. The neighbors were very friendly.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

christine h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical!!!

Incredibly inviting in every way. Attention to even the tiniest details of needs for a relaxing stay. Janell was prompt and timely for any necessary communication. The place exudes spiritual connection and kindness. A communion to the rhythms of nature. An "A+ host"!! Stayed a month, not wanting to leave.
Stayed 28 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 31 May, 2024
Thank you for the very kind review. You are the most ideal and perfect guest for our sweet floating home. You appreciate its magic. So happy it was a respite and wonderful place for you to spend time with nature. May this become an annual retreat! Best to you.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brigitte M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a treat!

We rented this lovely float home for our 30th wedding anniversary and it was our first time to San Fran but we wanted the more laid back feel of Sausalito. This property and location didn’t disappoint and we had a wonderful time. Walking distance to a small cafe and mini market and we Ubered everywhere else. The float home was as advertised and our host was lovely and responsive. She even left a special treat on our first night. Highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 May, 2023
Thank you for the lovely review. I'm so happy your first experience to San Francisco and Sausalito was worthy of your 30 anniversary celebration!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ben J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Stay on an Incredible Sausalito Houseboat

If this property is available, and it lines up with your travel dates, just book it! I’ve stayed at many places, and this was one of the most comfortable and clean places ever. The host is super-responsive and clearly cares for this “floating home.” Upon arrival, the boardwalk will greet you with potted succulents while the home is warm and unexpectedly spacious. One can feel the tidewater surroundings of this incredible location where birds fly overhead and herons wade. Plenty of supplies covered all of the essentials. Highly recommended!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kirk M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stylish, sparkling, roomy and extremely well equipped.

For those of you thinking a "houseboat" means a decrepit, leaky and sorta dark and musty hulk, well, think again -- this airy "floating home" at the north end of the Sausalito docks is none of that: It's stylish and roomy, with capacious rooms, surprisingly high ceilings and LOTS of windows and light. The kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms are surprisingly well equipped with first-rate equipment (pans, knives, etc. are better than many home kitchens), and lots of extra high quality towels, sheets, etc. The environs are that perfect mix of friendly and sometimes quirky neighbors who completely respect a desire for privacy. The bars and restaurants are a quick drive or easy bikeride into the denser parts of Sausalito, and it's a lot of fun to just walk along the many docks, savoring the wide range of houseboat types and styles. But it's always good to come back to this thoroughly delightful little oasis. It was a LOT of fun, and our host was incredibly responsive and accomodating for our entire stay. Really top flight!
Stayed 12 nights in Apr 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 May, 2022
So happy to share our magical, light-filled oasis with you!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heidi E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The owner was gracious and helpful throughout the stay. She kept in touch in a GREAT way.

Because we had three students staying in her home she accommodated us by making a side room into another bed room. This made the whole internship program work. She had a few questions during the time the students were there and they were able to be resolved. The host was wonderful!
Stayed 60 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Janell Pekkain

Host profile image
I grew up in the Bay Area and landed on the houseboats in Sausalito in the late 80s. I fell in love with the ambiance, and at that time, the edginess of the docks. The characters were colorful and diverse and the living was soul-nourishing. Our mt bikes hanging in the dining room would sway with the current. Fast forward, my mother moved to the houseboats in the 90s and also fell in love with the magic of the water, the light, and the lifestyle. I have come full circle and am back on the docks. My mother and I have always enjoyed sharing this special healing place throughout the decades with others. We hope you love it as much as we do.

Why they chose this property

This houseboat has had one owner in 30 years - my mom. Throughout the decades it's been open for friends, family, seekers to enjoy too.

What makes this property unique

Besides the amazing feeling of space and openness in this 1200 sq ft floating home, the views are healing and spectacular. Replace the sounds of leaf blowers and lawnmowers with birds and water. The proximity of the dock close to the freeway provides easy access. It's also close to downtown(30 min walk) and the local's merchant corridor (20 min walk). There's also a sweet restaurant, Bayside Cafe, owned by one family for over 30 years for breakfast and lunch a short few minutes walk away. Venture a bit further by car and you're in Muir Woods, Rodeo Beach, Tennessee Valley for hiking, biking, and head-clearing. Marin is home to many quaint villages to explore with a plethora of restaurant and activity options.
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