Visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area understandably want to take in the sights of the city. Combine your exploration of this dynamic West Coast metropolis with a visit to some of the recreational venues on the eastern side of the bay. Take the opportunity to fish, hike, bike and even spend the night under the stars. Take home memories of an active, well-rounded vacation.
Active Learning
Exercise body and mind at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Take the circular walkway up the four stories of the Rainforest exhibit and find animals and brightly colored flowers hiding in the forest canopy. Climb into a glass-walled elevator to descend to the Amazon Basin exhibit. Touch a starfish in a tide pool at the aquarium and explore the wonders of outer space at the Morrison Planetarium. Just outside the museum, take the tunnels underneath the roadway to the picnic area and concert bandstand and then to the Japanese Tea Garden. Wander the flower-strewn pathways, climb the circular bridge and enjoy a healthy snack in an authentic Japanese tea house.
Cruise the Hills
Tour the ocean-side streets of Fisherman's Wharf or the grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts on a two-wheeled, space-age personal transport machine known as the Segway. You ride these standing up and once you've figured out how to balance them, they allow you to zip from place to place. Once you get comfortable on these machines, challenge some of San Francisco's hills, including the crazy curves of Lombard Street. The Electric Tour Co. offers tours and lessons.
Explore the Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is open to pedestrian traffic. Take advantage of the opportunity to literally walk across the entrance to the San Francisco Bay. The entire Bay Area and a portion of the Pacific Ocean are at your feet. Watch giant freighters and tankers navigate under the span on their way into or out of port. Count the sailboats out for a daily sail and watch the red stacked tug boats as they motor along on their way to their next job. Once you get to the Marin side, follow the trails to some of the old bunkers used to guard the bay during times of war. If you'd rather bike across the bridge, rent a bike from an outlet in Fisherman's Wharf. This collection of shops, restaurants and tourist haunts is a four-mile ride from the southern entrance to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Pier Fishing
Just across from San Francisco is the city of Berkeley. Known for its university and the embracing of alternative lifestyles, this free-thinking town is also home to the Berkeley Pier. Stretching 3,000 feet into the San Francisco Bay, the pier was originally built as part of the area's ferry system. If you walk out to the end, not only will you get to stretch your legs, but you'll have a better chance of catching a fish. You don't need a license to fish off the pier.
Play in the Parklands
Located in the Oakland Hills, Anthony Chabot Park, part of the East Bay Regional Park District, offers visitors a chance to get out and explore the outdoors. Hike, jog or bike on the East Bay Skyline National Trail, a 31-mile stretch through the East Bay hills. Camp at the Chabot Family Campground adjacent to Lake Chabot and do some fishing. Campsites are available for RVs and tent campers. Lake Chabot and the campground are on the southern end of the park on the Oakland/San Leandro border. Rent a boat at the Lake Chabot Marina and spend the day on the water.
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