Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [146]
PARKS In addition to Golden Gate Park and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco boasts more than 2,000 acres of parkland, most of which is perfect for picnicking or throwing around a Frisbee.
Smaller city parks include Buena Vista Park (Haight St. btw. Baker and Central sts.), which affords fine views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the area around it and is also a favored lounging ground for gay trysts; Ina Coolbrith Park (Taylor St. btw. Vallejo and Green sts.), offering views of the Bay Bridge and Alcatraz; and Sigmund Stern Grove (19th Ave. and Sloat Blvd.) in the Sunset District, which is the site of a famous free summer music festival.
One of my personal favorites is Lincoln Park, a 270-acre green space on the northwestern side of the city at Clement Street and 34th Avenue. The Legion of Honor is here, as is a scenic 18-hole municipal golf course (see “Golf,” above). But the best things about this park are the 200-foot cliffs that overlook the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. To get to the park, take bus no. 38 from Union Square to 33rd and Geary streets, and then walk a few blocks.
RUNNING The Bay to Breakers Foot Race ★ ( 415/359-2800; www.ingbaytobreakers.com) is an annual 71⁄2-mile run from downtown to Ocean Beach. About 80,000 entrants take part in it, one of San Francisco’s trademark events. Costumed participants and hordes of spectators add to the fun. The event is held on the third Sunday of May.
Bay to Breakers Foot Race, now sponsored by Zazzle.
The San Francisco Marathon takes place annually at the end of July or first weekend in August. For more information, visit www.thesfmarathon.com ( 888/958-6668).
Great jogging paths include the entire expanse of Golden Gate Park, the shoreline along the Marina, and the Embarcadero.
TENNIS The San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department ( 415/753-7001) maintains more than 132 courts throughout the city. Almost all are available free, on a first-come, first-served basis. An additional 21 courts are available in Golden Gate Park, which cost $5 for 90 minutes during weekdays and $10 on weekends. Check the website for details on rules for reserving courts (www.parks.sfgov.org).
WALKING & HIKING The Golden Gate National Recreation Area offers plenty of opportunities. One incredible walk (or bike ride) is along the Golden Gate Promenade, from Aquatic Park to the Golden Gate Bridge. The 3.5-mile paved trail heads along the northern edge of the Presidio out to Fort Point, passing the marina, Crissy Field’s restored wetlands, a small beach, and plenty of athletic locals. You can also hike the Coastal Trail all the way from the Fort Point area to Cliff House. The park service maintains several other trails in the city. For more information or to pick up a map of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, stop by the park service headquarters at Fort Mason; enter on Franklin Street ( 415/561-4700).
Although most people drive to this spectacular vantage point, a more rejuvenating way to experience Twin Peaks is to walk up from the back roads of U.C. Medical Center (off Parnassus Ave.) or from either of the two roads that lead to the top (off Woodside or Clarendon aves.). The best time to trek is early morning, when the city is quiet, the air is crisp, and sightseers haven’t crowded the parking lot. Keep an eye out for cars, however, because there’s no real hiking trail, and be sure to walk beyond the lot and up to the highest vantage point.
SPECTATOR SPORTS
The Bay Area’s sports scene includes several major professional franchises. Check the local newspapers’ sports sections for daily listings of local events.
Major League Baseball
Going, going . . . gone! The Giants' first baseman, Aubrey Huff.
The 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants ★ play at AT&T Park, Third and King streets ( 415/972-2000; www.sfgiants.com), in the China Basin section of SoMa. From April to October, 41,503 fans fill the seats here to root for the