| When you are planning a vacation to Maui or Rio de | | | | Beach popular among locals, surfers and visitors. The |
| Janeiro you may put beaches on the top of you list of | | | | Cliff House towers above Ocean Beach perched on |
| things to see. However, when planning a trip to San | | | | the edge of a coastal bluff that borders the north end |
| Francisco, you may have heard of North Beach, but | | | | of the beach. The beach is perfect for building sand |
| North Beach doesn't have any beaches (though the | | | | sculptures and hosts a yearly sand sculpture contest. |
| neighborhood was named after a beach that used to | | | | Ocean Beach has a very slight slope, making it ideal |
| be on its north shoreline). If fact, San Francisco has | | | | for wading in the surf. Surfers wearing wet suits are a |
| several beaches that provide diversions for residents | | | | common sight along this section of Ocean Beach. |
| and visitors alike. | | | | Baker Beach is located in the Presidio just south of the |
| Make no mistake about it, San Francisco is not Los | | | | San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. With its panoramic |
| Angeles. Unless it's an exceptional day, San Francisco | | | | views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin |
| beaches tend to be a little chilly, windy and foggy. | | | | Headlands, Baker Beach is a popular beach and picnic |
| However, this should not deter you from enjoying a | | | | destination for San Francisco locals, especially on the |
| nice afternoon at the beach. Many San Francisco | | | | weekends. Several picnic tables with barbecue pits are |
| beaches have beautiful panoramic views of the Marin | | | | located to the east of the north parking lot. The beach |
| Headlands, Point Bonita Lighthouse and the Golden | | | | has strong rip-tides, so swimming can be hazardous. A |
| Gate Bridge. Just be prepared with a sweatshirt or | | | | few fishermen may dot the shoreline. The north end of |
| jacket in addition to your shorts or swim suit. Because | | | | the beach is clothing optional, so families typically stay |
| of the latitude of San Francisco, the waters may be | | | | toward the middle and south ends of the beach. |
| too cold for swimming (unless you brought your wet | | | | Other beaches in San Francisco include Lands End |
| suit). Bring your beach towels, a sand bucket, a good | | | | Beach and China Beach, named for the Chinese |
| book, a kite and a Frisbee to make the best of your | | | | fishermen who used to camp nearby. San Francisco |
| afternoon at the beach. | | | | Castro Beach is not really a beach at all. It's a park |
| San Francisco's most popular beaches are Ocean | | | | that has garnered the "beach" nickname because of all |
| Beach and Baker Beach. Although East Beach at | | | | the Castro sun bathers that blanket its lawns. |
| Crissy Field in the Presidio has become quite popular | | | | Adding a beach to your San Francisco agenda may |
| since the restoration of Crissy Field. | | | | be a great way to slow down the frenetic pace of |
| Ocean Beach is San Francisco's largest and longest | | | | sightseeing and enjoy a more relaxed appreciation of |
| beach running 5 miles up the entire west side of San | | | | San Francisco's natural beauties. Visit San Francisco |
| Francisco. The northern end of San Francisco Ocean | | | | Beaches for more information. |