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 | San Francisco Beaches / Pacific Coast Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 45 |  |
 | |  |  | Beaches / Pacific Coast: Ocean Beach (Part 1)- GGP north to Cliff House | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
What comes to mind when you think of your average Californa beach? Chances are it won't look anything like SF's Ocean Beach. An average day at "OB" is gray, cold, and breezy - if not blustery. You may see surfers, but they won't be in bikinis... full-body wetsuits is more like it. You probably won't be tempted to go in the frigid waters, but if you are, be sure and read the numerous signs posted warning of the extremely dangerous undertow and riptides (these are no joke, either... people die here every year!) Have I scared you off? Good! Then I can enjoy the true beauty of OB - which is taking a walk along the awesome Pacific shoreline, preferably during a light rain, when the place is indescribably beautiful! Watching the freighter traffic entering the bay, looking out at the Farralon Islands, hearing the crashing of the surf. This is the soul of Ocean Beach - not the crowds of gangstas and roller-blading yuppies and people yelling into cell phones who descend here en masse on rare hot days. Between Lincoln and Fulton Streets - or, in other words, the north/south boundaries of Golden Gate Park - is the Esplenade, the most crowded section of the beach, mostly because this is where the parking lots are. If you're looking for the beach scene - such as it is - it's here. To get away from the hordes, you can walk north towards the Cliff House or south towards emptiness. The Beach Chalet, where you can get food, is close by, as are the windmills and tulip garden - all just across the highway. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Beaches / Pacific Coast: Don't miss Lincoln Park and Land's End | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
So, you're downtown in Union Square, or someplace in Chinatown or North Beach, rubbing elbows with all the other tourists doing the northeast quadrant thing in the City, right? You vaguely suspect that less than six miles from this tiny urban jungle lies the Pacific Ocean and the splendid Golden Gate National Recreation Area. You look on your map and see that Geary St. goes all the way to ocean, so you go for broke and jump on the express bus. A half an hour later you see the ocean and suddenly realize that this little exploration was worth it. You chose right. Most tourists don't get out to the end of the city. True, it really doesn't compete with all the touristy stuff downtown because, well, San Franciscans live out here, not downtown with all the other New York refugees and tourists. The Richmond district, where you are at this point if your following my lead, is not a very exciting neighborhood. It's typically foggy and brisk out here, and the population is primarily Asian or Russian, but it has it's charms. The Sutro baths are a great place to begin walking along the coast trail that will lead you through some of the most scenic parts of the G.G.N.R.A... Walk along past Fort Miley and find the Coast Trail that will take you to Land's End, and then past the Palace of the Legion of Honor. On a clear day, with the bridge in the background, one can argue this area easily defeats any of San Francisco's scenic attraction. It can't be beat. Keep walking along and you will pass through Sea Cliff (the Beverly Hills of S.F.) and along past Baker Beach and you will be even closer to the Bridge. After a few turns and up Lincoln Ave., you will be in the Presdio... and then, just a little further ahead...
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San Francisco
on May 13, 2004
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