Sausalito or Pacifica for 25yr old female

[Twin Peaks]

Both areas are good for what you want. There's the Golden Gate Recreation Area near Sausalito for hiking. Take a look at Craigslist to compare apt. and 2-br. house rents in both areas, and let that be the deciding factor. Good luck. Let us know how it works out. Probably finding a place that will allow a dog will be your biggest challenge, just fyi.

[NorCalLover]

You're going to have a tough time on that budget with a dog, so I'd go anywhere you can secure a place.

Other areas to look into that are on the beach:
East Bay- Alameda (see this listing)
San Francisco - Outer Sunset
Outer Richmond
Treasure Island

You may also want to consider Berkeley itself. While not on the beach, you'll meet a lot of likeminded folks, and it's still possible to find reasonable rent.

[davdaven]

Honestly, I think you should stick with Berkeley or Oakland, or at least the East Bay in general (Alameda, Albany, and El Cerrito). Sausalito and Pacifica have very little to offer for active young people. In fact, the employment and housing mix and people/nightlife scenes are absolutely terrible in comparison to Berkeley or Oakland...or even a "quieter" town like Alameda or El Cerrito!

Berkeley and Oakland are home to miles and miles of hiking trails in the hills, and both have huge bayside waterfronts with walking trails too. There are also several trails and paths in town. In comparison, Sausalito has very few paths and trails within the town, and many of the streets even lack basic sidewalks, which means you would have to drive to Marin Headlands or elsewhere whenever you want to "experience nature." Also, Pacifica is really foggy and I can't imagine having to put up with that all the time, especially since that is the only unique thing it has to offer (besides a Taco Bell on the beach).

In terms of budget and housing, your money will go furthest in Oakland and El Cerrito. However, you will have an easier time finding roommates in Berkeley. In either case, having a dog will severely limit your choices in both towns, and a dog may mean getting nothing at all in a place like Sausalito.

In terms of herbal medicine, eastern culture, etc. you would feel at home in Berkeley in particular. People often describe Boulder as the Berkeley of Colorado, and a good friend of mine moved here after grad school in Boulder in part for that reason. This "culture" extends through the East Bay on account of the large hippie and Asian populations. Sausalito and Pacifica aren't really a good cultural match; you might have some luck in Fairfax or Daly City, but again, I don't really see the point as they are somewhat limited.

[NewbiePoster]

Some Berkeley nightlife venues are actually closer to El Cerrito than they are to parts of Berkeley. And rents are cheaper in El Cerrito. But the herbal medicine market is saturated in Berkeley and the East Bay, due to the presence of several Tibetan doctors. Unless the OP could create her own niche, somehow. And on the budget she has planned: $2400 for a 2-br. house, she should be able to find something in Marin, though rents are better in Pacifica. She can check Craigslist to scope out her options, in any case. Do we know if the OP even cares about nightlife? It might be a non-issue.