Updated June 2021
The San Francisco Bay Area is known for many things, like Karl the Fog, Chinatown, oh and the Golden Gate Bridge of course! But one of the best things about SF is the nature. So we made a list of some outdoor must-dos for your next trip to the Bay.
HAVE A PICNIC AT ALAMO SQUARE PARK
If you have ever watched an episode of Full House, then you probably recognize this famous park. Alamo Square Park is located at one of the most perfect spots in San Francisco! The view of the city & Painted Ladies is absolutely breathtaking. On a very nice day, when Karl is hiding, locals like to lay out on the grass for picnics or relaxation.
TAKE A STROLL ON BAKER BEACH
There are several areas in SF that offer amazing views and Baker Beach is one of the top locations! You can take a stroll with the Golden Gate Bridge & Marin Headlands as your view. And when it's warm enough you can take a little dip in the Pacific or even enjoy surfing with some of the locals.
The rocky and windy trails along with the beautiful greenery at Lands End make it a great place for a light hike. The Coastal Trail is the most popular at Lands End because it offers beautiful views of the ocean!
WALK AROUND THE PALACE OF FINE ARTS
If you love art, but also want to spend time in the outdoors the Palace of Fine Arts is the perfect spot for you! There are also some yummy local restaurants nearby where you can pick up food for a picnic on the lawn.
RELAX AT THE JAPANESE TEA GARDEN
The Japanese Tea Garden is a serene place where you can be immersed nature. If you want a more relaxing outdoor experience, this spot serves tea that you can sip while walking around the garden. There are also many plants and flowers to photograph. There is an admission fee to the garden, but it is very worth it!
PLAY AT MISSION DOLORES PARK
Mission Dolores Park is another one of San Francisco's most popular parks with a view. But if you want to do more than relax, they also have 10 tennis courts, soccer fields, and a basketball court where you can play with some locals! The park also has a dog play area along with a playground for kiddos.
LEARN ABOUT THE SUTRO BATHS
If you take a trip to Lands End, you can also visit the historic Sutro Baths. The baths used to be a public saltwater swimming pool, but you'll see how much they've changed now. This is also another great location to watch the sunset!
BIKE THE CITY & ACROSS THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
Although the Bay Area is packed with people, San Francisco is not very large, especially compared to LA. The main peninsula is only 49 square miles, so biking the city is a very popular activity for tourists. You can visit several sights & landmarks in no time at all while getting a workout.
Located just 15 miles north of downtown SF, the Muir Woods National Monument is a the perfect park for nature lovers. This park is filled with coastal redwoods, which are the tallest trees in the world! Although the Redwood National Park has the tallest known tree, the Muir Woods' tallest tree towers over 250 feet! Other than the trees, there are plenty of trails to hike through. If you get a chance, this is one place we highly recommend visiting. Laslty, there is an admission fee to get into the woods.
Located on the west side of Golden Gate Park is Ocean Beach. This beautiful beach is great for relaxing, reading a book, or even jogging. Depending on what you're wanting to do, it's a great location if you're wanting a more low-key beach scene.
Central Park is the most visited park in the US, but Golden Gate Park is right behind it & it's also about 20% larger! Golden Gate Park is about 3 miles long, but the amount of scenery will keep you distracted if you decide to walk through the entire park. There are many museums, gardens, and activities to do that you can spend an entire day there!
