Top Outdoor Activities in San Francisco

Pier 39

This San Francisco landmark features some of Fisherman's Wharf's best shopping and attractions. Ride the carousel or watch the sea lions. There are more than 25 one-of-a-kind gift stores that carry automobile, Hollywood, and rock 'n' roll memorabilia, as well as flags of the world, Russian dolls, collectible knives, hammocks, kites, and more. But that's not all. You will find more than 30 more stores, including the famous Na Hoku to shop for clothing, jewelry and toys. It is a great place to pick up high-end San Francisco souvenirs. Credit card acceptance varies by store. Pier 39 is a magnet for locals and tourists for many reasons, including their nearly year-round calendar of special attractions for the whole family like the Tulipmania tulip festival held in late February on both levels of pier 39 or the Holiday Tree Lighting in November.

Golden Gate Park

In the late 1800s, a Scotsman named John McLaren transformed more than 1000 acres (405 hectares) of sand dunes into a wondrous haven in the midst of busy city life. Stretching from Stanyan Street to the Pacific Ocean, the lush landscaping features ever-changing settings at every turn. There are trails for walking, jogging, biking, horseback riding, as well as a golf course, lawn bowling greens, soccer fields and a baseball diamond. For those seeking less strenuous diversion, check out the California Academy of Sciences and an authentic Japanese Tea Garden. For families with children, there are playgrounds, a live buffalo reserve and a carousel.You could also find the Shakespeare Garden going down a hidden lane in The Golden Gate Park.

Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay is a unique nature center and the only Aquarium dedicated to animals of the San Francisco Bay and neighboring waters. The Aquarium gives visitors the opportunity to feel like a skin diver without getting wet as they walk through the Aquarium's crystal clear tunnels, while more than 20,000 sharks, bat rays, skates, octopi and other aquatic animals. With daily and special activities including behind the scenes tours, shark feeding presentations, a water discovery Lab for underwater detectives and much more; there is truly something for everyone to see, touch, discover and learn at Aquarium of the Bay.

Exploratorium

Developed by physicist Frank Oppenheimer and opened in 1969, this innovative and interactive museum behind the Palace of Fine Arts is dedicated to art, science and human perception. The hands-on displays unveil the mysteries of science and language. The exhibits present theories simply and succinctly. For a different kind of hands-on experience, check out the tactile dome, a labyrinth of different textures that explorers negotiate in the dark. Seminars on quirky subjects are offered on weekends.

Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center

The Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center is only year-round ice-skating rink in San Francisco. An attractive, all-new facility atop the Moscone Center, the ice-skating center offers recreational skating (with plenty of skates to rent) day and night. Skating lessons are also available for beginners, as are hockey games, adult hockey workshops, and figure-skating lessons. With so much going on, it's advisable to call ahead to check the schedule. The arena can be rented for private groups or parties. The brand new bowling alley built atop the Moscone Center, right next to the skating rink, is a great place to take friends or kids. In fact, it can be rented for bowling parties. Lessons and league bowling is offered, as well. The bowling center is attractively designed, too (in a bowling-alleyish kind of way), and it has a very friendly feeling.

Fort Point National Historic Site

The idea behind building this fort to in 1861 was to fend off attacks by the Confederacy. It proved to be a non-issue, though. This place went on to achieve cinema immortality as the spot from which Kim Novak took her plunge into the San Francisco Bay in the Hitchcock classic 'Vertigo'. There are spectacular views of the Marin Headlands from just beneath the soaring south anchorage of the Golden Gate Bridge. Tours are offered and the museum houses a collection of military memorabilia. Take note, it is usually very windy at Fort Point, so dress accordingly.

Strybing Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

This is a living museum in Golden Gate Park that is home to a wide array of rare and exotic plant life from around the world. Visit the 70-acre garden and explore seemingly endless trails past duck ponds, an arbor, herbs, flowers, blooming trees and redwoods, and smaller, specialized gardens with names like the Garden of Fragrance. Also on hand is an education center that provides different gardening, horticulture, botany, and environmental classes for adults and children, plus a horticulture library and bookstore. The public is allowed to stroll through the garden anytime, although they are asked to keep on the paths.

Candlestick Point State Recreation Area

This state park, located on the shoreline next to the San Francisco 49ers' 3Com Park, offers a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy. In addition to great views of the San Francisco Bay, it features picnic and barbecue facilities, an exercise trail and a bike trail lined with California poppies. It also has two piers available with fishing and fish-cleaning facilities. Windharp Hill, which consists of permanent metal wind chimes and harps is what visitors usually remember about Candlestick Point. The park is popular with windsurfers (big winds, small waves) but is not recommended for beginners.

The Cartoon Art Museum

With a collection of over 6,000 original pieces of cartoon art, this museum is the largest in the US, dedicated to Comic art. It all began in 1984, when a group of artists set up a series of open-air exhibitions of their work. Impressed by the dedication of this group, 'Peanuts' creator Charles M. Schulz helped the group set up a permanent home to display comics and comic art. You can find the works of Bud Fisher (Mutt and Jeff), George Herriman (Krazy Kat) and Charles M. Schulz (Peanuts), and a variety of other comic works on display at this museum.

Museum of the African Diaspora

SF's MoAD devotes itself to showcasing, through various mediums, the movement of Africans throughout the world. Photographs, artwork, narratives, all of these contribute to a growing understanding and appreciation of this complex human phenomenon. The museum holds a wealth of exhibitions, both on-location and on-line. Call ahead for admission prices and other details.