Explore Today’s Mare Island
Mare Island has a rich history and a future full of promise. A visit to the island offers a glimpse of both, along with a rich experience in the present day.
It’s less than an hour’s drive (or, better yet, ferry ride) from The City, and closer still to Napa Valley. Yet even Bay Area natives may not know what awaits in this welcoming and well-kept secret spot. So here are a few ways to spend a day enjoying the past, present, and future of Mare Island.
Hop the Ferry
The best way to visit an island steeped in naval history is, of course, by boat. The ride across San Francisco Bay from the San Francisco Ferry Terminal to Vallejo and Mare Island is an experience in itself. Bring a bike on board to ride on arrival. More Information on the Ferry
Gather for Events
The Mare Island Company, City of Vallejo, and other partners stage events regularly on the island. Come for the annual July 4th Spirit Ship Celebration (with fireworks, games, prizes, and a kid zone), September’s Dock of the Bay Music Festival, or special events like NightMARE Island on Halloween, or the Pedalfest urban cyclocross races. See our event calendar to make plans.
Hit the Trails
The San Pablo Bay Trail along the island’s western side boasts incredible views of San Pablo Bay, Mt. Tamalpais, the East Bay hills, and the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. The 4-mile round-trip trail is flat and punctuated by benches and educational panels that orient you to breathtaking sights and local wildlife along the way. Bring your on-leash dog to share the journey.
On the southern side, the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve is 215 acres of open space with walking trails, diverse wildlife, and stunning vistas. The park is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m. to one hour after sunset. More information about the preserve
Salute the Spirit Ship
Stationed on the preserve at the island’s southern end overlooking San Pablo Bay where it joins the Sacramento and Napa rivers, the endearing Spirit Ship is a sculpture dedicated to the workers of Mare Island Naval Shipyard and marks the closing of the shipyard in 1996. Stop by and snap a picture of one of the island’s signature structures.
Soak In Some Art
Perhaps inspired by the spirit of the Spirit Ship, the island has become a gallery for permanent and rotating art works and installations. On the Promenade near the brewery, you’ll find a rotation of outdoor sculptures. Step inside the Coal Shed Art Studios to see more. Elsewhere, murals adorn several of the original buildings with bright modern visions. And the old gantries, buildings, and bridge structures throughout the island make for photographs like you’ll shoot nowhere else.
Step Through Time
Mare Island Historic Park Foundation offers walking tours every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. Step back through 142 years and see the Historic Core of the first US Naval Base on the Pacific Coast that served until the end of the Cold War, the former Naval Chapel with dedicated stained-glass windows and tablets, Alden Park planted with trees brought from around the world by ship captains, finish on the waterfront where thousands of ships were built and repaired, and maybe picnic on the lawn next to a Polaris missile. Tour Information
Stop For Lunch
If you haven’t packed a picnic, the island offers two great spots to grab a bite for lunch or early dinner.
Just inside the distillery at the Historic Core, the restaurant at Savage & Cooke serves Blanchard’s famous fried chicken and soulful southern sides paired with curated craft cocktails. The menu, by Master Sommelier and Kentucky Colonel Chris Blanchard, focuses on southern fare with family recipes perfected over generations. Visit Savage & Cooke
Mare Island Brewing Company’s Coal Shed location is poised along the scenic waterfront with a taproom, a spacious outdoor beer garden, plenty of indoor seating, and games (cornhole, darts, and foosball). Grab delicious soups, salads, sandwiches, tacos, and more from our Pie Wagon (named as homage to the historic food trucks of WWII) on the promenade. Visit Mare Island Brewing
Taste and Sip
Wine, beer, and spirits tastings are also on the menu for a day at Mare Island:
Mare Island Brewing Company offers beers on tap, a huge beer garden, and waterfront views in a completely restored and renovated waterfront historic building turned state of the art 15-barrel brew house. Visitors are welcome by appointment for tours and tastings, and larger private events. Open Thursday to Sunday. Visit Mare Island Brewing
Savage & Cooke distillery, owned by Napa Valley winemaker Dave Phinney, distills, ages and bottles a range of brown spirits including Bourbon, Whiskey and Rye. Schedule an in-depth tour of the barrel room, production room and rooftop followed by a tasting in the historic Vault hosted by a senior production or management team member. Visit Savage & Cooke
Vino Godfather is housed in a refurbished Naval Officers mansion that serves as their “Gateway to Napa Valley”. They produce handcrafted, small batch wines and offer walk-in tastings and a variety of events. Visit Vino Godfather
Tour the Trees
Alden Park is famous for its exotic non-native trees, many over 100 years old. Commodore James Alden, Mare Island’s eighth commandant, is credited with enticing ship captains in the 1860’s to bring back plants and trees from around the world, but the practice was really started by Admiral Farragut in 1856. Schedule a tour or grab your own self-guided map. More Information
Stage Your Own Event
Mare Island makes space for private group events at venues like Mare Island Brewing Company, Savage & Cooke, Vino Godfather, and many other venues (indoors and out) around the island.
Imagine What’s Next
All around the island, you’ll see the potential and opportunity of shared history, community, nature, and can-do spirit come together. Check back regularly as new plans, tenants, residents, and events emerge.
On Mare Island you’ll find echoes of the past, foreshadowings of the future, and many ways to spend a great present day.
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