As a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, it would be easy to take one of the world's greatest cities for granted, but I never do. Often I marvel at the spectacularness of the City by the Bay, and it never disappoints. The diversity is depicted clearly in the neighborhoods designated throughout the city. And while I've been crossing the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges since I was a kid, I still find an undiscovered spot in the city nearly every time I visit.
It is not untypical for us to go over to San Francisco just to ride the cable cars. I often marvel at how many native Bay Areans skip this San Francisco Treat. The tourists never do as evidenced by the languages spoken on board. My kids love the ride as much as I did as a kid, and now as an adult, I can remember my folks taking us over to the city to ride the cable cars. We usually catch the Union Square trip out to Ghirardelli Square. And either head over to Fisherman's Wharf or the Buena Vista near the square.
Recently, I had the pleasure of eating at Scoma's; a true depiction of an excellent seafood San Francisco restaurant. The restaurant is slightly tucked away off the Wharf and away from the main tourist thoroughfare. The food is excellent. And, the venue is slightly family style dining with many seafood specialties! The restaurant can get crowded and at times there is a wait. But, if ever in the area, I recommend a stop at Scoma's in the city!
Today, we stopped in at China Beach near Sea Cliff. Juxtaposed with Baker Beach (another favorite), China Beach would easily be skipped for its smallness and rocky beach. Yet, while the crowds will flock to Baker Beach, there is always a chance that a coveted parking space might be had at China Beach.
Nestled below the mansions of the Sea Cliff neighborhood, China Beach is a land mark of San Francisco history, and a great place to cool off on a summer day. The views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands are some of the best in the city. Of course, if sand is what you are looking for you might be better off heading to Ocean or Baker Beach. China Beach has some rocky outcroppings probably due to its proximity to the entrance to the Golden Gate. There is a nice set of steps that facilitate the descent to the beach, and not a lot of room for large crowds.
So, this is an excellent option in order to avoid the crowds when a day in San Francisco calls for a day at the beach!
San Francisco, for me, is quite easy to figure out and I could drive aimlessly throughout the city and never get lost; eventually I'll run out of land except in the southerly direction. So, most of the major streets are laid out in north/south and east/west directions. At least, that is what I've come to know it as in all my years visiting. And, while there are treasures to be found in every city, these few have brought many a happy memories for my family, and me! I hope they do the same for you, too!
