6 Reasons to Make Mare Island Your Next Weekend Trip

Get into boozy drinks, artist studios, hiking, and more at this former naval shipyard in Vallejo that’s just a quick ferry ride from SF.

away from Six Flags Discovery Kingdom , the city of Vallejo in Solano County is n’t usually on many San Franciscans ’ radiolocation . But there ’s a reason for that to switch . Less than an 60 minutes northeast of SF , the hot - atmospheric condition metropolis is home to Mare Island , built in 1854 as the West Coast ’s first naval base . bring up after General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo ’s clean cavalry that swam to the island after surviving a shipwreck , the island ’s naval base maneuver until 1993 . Since then , the waterfront has transform intoThe Wet Mile , which presently includes a brewery , still , winery , prowess studio apartment , hiking , architectural gem , and of course , plenty of naval history to behold . It ’s deserving a day stumble as it is , but this is just the get-go of expectant , longsighted - terminus evolution for this peninsula that ’s bordered by the Napa River . Mare Island ’s waterfront will soon be home to more artisanal makers , like coffee roaster and bakers , in increase to go on stroll evolution like benches and ignition . Bonus : you could take theferryfrom SF to visit Mare Island . Here ’s everything you’re able to do once you go far :

Taste some tipples at Savage & Cooke American Distillery

Founded by a former winemaker , Savage & Cooke offers tours that include a smell inside barrel and output rooms , gorgeous rooftop view , and a sit around - down tasting of theme song booze like The Burning Chair Bourbon , led by a senior member of the team . For something more free-and-easy , do a unretentive degustation - only session at the Browning automatic rifle , or pretermit by the eating house for lunch or dinner , Thursday to Sunday . Feast on Southern Fried Chicken and sides , of course paired with S&C ’s spirits or foxiness cocktails . How to go : Booktoursandtastingsonline . walk of life - ins only at the eating house .

Beer it up at Mare Island Brewing Co.

With three taprooms total , including ones in Vallejo proper and Benicia , it feels a bit more particular to drink and consume at MIBC ’s Coal Shed Brewery that ’s really on Mare Island . Started by two former vintner , enjoy brews like the Hydraulic Sandwich IPA and Saginaw Golden Ale against a backdrop of flit , foosball , corn hole , a beer garden , and plenty of indoor seating area . taphouse food like sandwich and salad number from the Pie Wagon . How to order : take the air in or parliamentary law beeronline(California cargo ships only )

Learn the island’s history with Mare Island Historic Park Foundation

A petty history lesson with your island crapulence should balance out the day nicely . The Mare Island Historical Park Foundation offer Saturday morning rubber-necking tours that admit the St. Peter ’s Chapel , which was make in 1901 and is the oldest naval church in the country . It feature a long ton of gorgeous Tiffany sully - drinking glass windows . you’re able to also reserve a combo tour that adds the Victorian Admiral ’s Mansion and surrounding gardens , plus the USS Vallejo Submarine Sail Memorial and a few more historic ken . In addition to the duty tour , there ’s also the memorial park to check out , which is the first naval graveyard on the West Coast . How to visit : leger tours ( 1 - 2 hr each ) in advanceonline , conducted at 10 am every first and third Saturday .

Get cultured at Mare Island Art Studios

Located at the northmost end of the waterfront , the fine art studio apartment atomic number 27 - op was one of the first entities to repurpose the old shipyard buildings . See the fruit of 20 - plus years of labor and residential area - growing in the gallery , retail shops , and classes offered by the 19 artists who currently work there . How to claver : Open on Wet Mile Sundays 12 - 4 phase modulation , during artistic production shows , and by assignment .

Sip on wine in a mansion at Vino Godfather Winery

Vino Godfather Winery specialise in small - batch , handcrafted wines , like its smoky 2018 Prohibition Tempranillo and full - corporal 2016 St. Peter ’s Church Clone Old Vine Zinfandel . It open its smack room on Mare Island in 2015 , in a former officer ’ mansion that ’s more than a century old . Book a tasting , or take the air in to relish live “ Music at the Mansion ” on Saturdays for just a $ 10 cover . Smokey T ’s BBQ is often there sling rib and poulet . Vino Godfather also has a wine nine with costless tastings and first access to fresh releases . How to visit : take the air in , or Good Book in advance ( electronic mail or call ) for chemical group of six or more .

Walk off the booze and brews with some hiking

At the southernmost part of the island lies a wooded park that ’s more than 100 demesne magnanimous . The Shoreline Heritage Preserve has the old naval cemetery , osprey nests for bird lovers , a steep one - sea mile salary increase to the top of the island for 360 - grade views , as well as an easy four - mile San Pablo Bay Trail along the water .

Mare Island Brewing Co.