The inspiration for the Otis Redding song (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay, Sausalito stands at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge. A stream of visitors comes to the little city each day, lured by its boutiques, bars, restaurants and sleepy aura of romance.
Begin your splurge at Hubba Hubba (11 Princess Street, Sausalito, tel: 1 415 331 7577). Here, the gear is psychedelic, reminding you that San Francisco is the birthplace of flower power. Check out the distressed leather handbags (US$200) and vibrant reversible wraps (US$200).
Back on the main drag is another shop for the smart set, Jewelry by the Bay (below; 660 Bridgeway Avenue, tel: 1 415 332 0660), which carries designer silver, unique artisan costume handbags, original home accessories and collectables. But the mainstay of the privately owned, 20-year-old business is jewellery sourced from around the world. Admire well-known lines (Judith Jack, Majorica), designer jewels (Lunch at the Ritz, Silver Seasons, Ayala Bar, Tabra) and pieces created by Californian artists (Holly Yashi, Sean Hill, Fredric Duclos, Mary Frances, Michou). A typical piece will set you back between US$30 and US$300.
At The Edith Caldwell Gallery (819 Bridgeway Avenue, tel: 1 415 331 5003) the paintings sell for about US$5,000, which gets you extraordinary drawings by mid-career artists. Watch out for work by Arizona-born pop artist Wayne Thiebaud (pronounced 'Tee-bo'), whose feted creations are of cakes, pastries, boots, toilets, toys and lipsticks.
If you still have an urge to splurge on artsy fare, enter origami temple Pinestreet Papery (421 Caledonia Street, tel: 1 415 332 0650). This store stocks everything from a battery-powered chandelier (US$18) to a porcelain head tattooed with butterfly stencils (US$65).
