Sports / Recreation, San Francisco

BIKE RENTAL: Leave from Fisherman's Wharf and cross the Golden Gate Bridge and ride into Sausalito or Tiburon in Marin County. Go to www.tiburon.org.

Here's a great website to see these routes www.bikeroute.com/BlazingSaddle.htm.

Use the Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals Store at 1095 Columbus@Taylor. (They also have a store at Pier 41 in Fisherman's Wharf, but your best departure point is from the store on Columbus).

Rentals are $7/hr or $28/day. Last time I checked, you can get a $10 discount at www.destinationcoupons.com/California/sfo/attractions.asp.

If you're going to Sausalito/Tiburon it takes 1.5 to 2 hours, one way. They recommend riding past the city of Sausalito, all the way to Tiburon. From Tiburon you can take a $6 commuter ferry boat back to the City's Pier 41. (There are ferry boats that leave Sausalito, also.)

Another option, once you're in Marin County, is to bike all the way back to the City.

At the bike shop, they will give you maps, ferry times, answer all your 'pre-flight' questions.

Hours: 8am-8pm (7 days a week) Phone:(415) 202-8888.

On your bike route, when you get to the Marina Greens, take a small detour at Fillmore Street (1) buy sandwiches at Lucca Delicatessan at 2120 Chestnut Street, and (2) continue down Chestnut Street to Baker Street to ride past the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts.

El Corte de Madera.

This woodland preserve is a big favourite with local mountain bikers and hikers. I went with my sister and her husband who are both experienced cyclists so i was thrown in at the deep end. The trails were very challenging and i was really tired at the end of the day plus the hangover didn't help either ;). there are loads of trails ( around 18 miles of official trails) to do some of which are quite technical. Be sure and bring loads of water! Not for the faint hearted :)

further info @ :

www.openspace.org

If you like to play pool, there is a superb, somewhat upscale billiard hall called Chalkers in the Rincon Center downtown (101 Spear Street). Never crowded, a LOT of pro-size tables, good cues, decent appetizers, nice bar, and waiter/waitress service while you play. Call ahead because they sometimes get booked up for private parties, particularly during the year-end holidays.

Rent a bike or a car (or take a *long* walk) and go over the Golden Gate bridge and into Tennessee Valley, a large park (part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). Great for hiking and biking. If you're in the mood for a hard core hike, buy a map and make the difficult trek to Pirate's Cove, a small beach about 100 yards long which you'll have to climb down a slope of rocks to get to. There are rarely any people there.

More great hiking can be found in Pacifica, a town south of SF on the coast. The drive there (on Rt. 1) is very picturesque (and you'll recognize the cliff views from the car ads that have been filmed here). Numerous beaches as well as hiking trails (especially around Mt. Montara).

Sausalito - fun, quaint little town with houseboats, yacht marinas, restaurants, bars and shopping. You can take a ferry here from Fisherman's Wharf.

Tiburon - an expensive residential neighborhood on the north side of the Bay. Take a ferry from Fisherman's Wharf, have a drink on the water at Sam's Anchor Cafe (always packed when the weather is nice!) and then jump another ferry to Angel Island for some easy hiking and fantastic views of the whole Bay area.

I took this picture while mountain biking around Tennesee Valley. If you drive North over the Golden Gate Bridge and look up and and to your left when you pass the second upright, you'll see the hill on which I took this picture.

Useful information about the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is available here.

Fishing for leopard sharks in Bolinas is pure joy... the place is magic even if you're not fishing. It is north of Stinson Beach (but old-school hippie locals don't like tourists so they remove the signs). I cannot tell you how to get there, but if you find it, have a beer for me at Smiley's! Cheers!

Windsurfing anyone? I wish my pics of me showing off my windsurfing skills had turned out. Oh well... But you get the point.... Do a record-breaking stun and try windsurfing here!! :-)) It really isn't that difficult. Trust me.

this place is a great place to sit above the fog and take it in.

Check out the fishing in Pacifica. Crabbing is also good and the Salmon run during certain times of year. Take the 101 south and exit at Pacifica, about a 20 minute drive from San Francisco.