San Francisco is renowned for its art and culture. As a city built on 43 hills on the largest landlocked harbor, however, it should come as no surprise that this beloved city by the bay also gives visitors and residents ample opportunity to stay fit and active outdoors. Fend off the summer fog to fly a kite with your kids on the beach; paddle a kayak with your family around the San Francisco Bay for an out of the ordinary sightseeing experience.
Biking
For a city that is home to Trips for Kids/Recycling, a group dedicated to making sure even disadvantaged children can have a bike to ride and a place to ride them, biking in San Francisco is serious business. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition campaigns to ensure safe bike paths in the city. The Presidio YMCA offers Bike Smart Ride Safe classes for children up to 12 years old by certified bicycle safety instructors; bicycles and helmets are included.
Indoor and Outdoor Recreation
The inviting colorful plastic playground equipment beckons children to Crocker Amazon Playground, an enormous public park that offers six ball fields, a Bocce court, six tennis courts, two play areas and a recreation center. For some indoor entertainment, children can ice skate all year round at Belmont Iceland. Recreational skating is available, in addition to hockey and figure skating programs.
Fitness
For a fun fitness challenge there is Mission Cliffs, a Touchstone gym that provides indoor rock wall climbing. They offer special programs just for kids to introduce them to the sport of rock climbing. From birthday parties to day camps, there is a program specially designed to fit the occasion. There is even an after-school rock climbing session that spans ten weeks; it teaches children between the ages of 7 to 12 techniques, such as belaying, knotcraft, basic movement technique and rappelling.
Water Activities
For a different way to see the city, City Kayak offers trips around the San Francisco waterfront. These trips can range from a half-hour to two hours. Its Youth Trip is for kids ages 12 and up; this hour-long trip comes with an optional lunch. Trips include gear, the kayak and a guide on the water.
Parks
Golden Gate Park is San Francisco's giant city park. Cars are banned every Sunday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., allowing bikers and rollerbladers freedom to tour the park at their leisure. Ocean Beach boasts the widest and longest expanse of sand along the San Francisco shoreline; yet, due to strong currents, most guests prefer to stay out of the water when they visit. Instead, fly a kite or explore the dunes.
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