If you're going to San Francisco, California, and are looking for some exciting outdoor and physical activities, it's likely you won't be disappointed. The city offers almost any outdoor adventure you can think of in a green, rolling landscape with plenty of fresh, healthy fare to fuel you along the way.
Parks and Wilderness
Visit the Golden Gate National Recreation area or the Point Reyes National Seashore. If you're passionate about wildlife, you won't go far without seeing some. Look for seals and birds on the waterfront, deer in the parks and plenty of native plants. Because San Francisco has wet winters, you'll see splashes of color year-round in the wealth of wildflowers around the city.
Hiking
Simply walking around the city's steep hills provides you with a challenging workout. Golden Gate Recreation areas offers multitudes of hiking trails, and Presidio Park's San Francisco area offers rugged, coastal terrain and ocean views. Point Reyes offers all levels of trails for beginners and seaoned veterans. It also has backpacking trails. For a hike at an historical site, visit the Presidio, an old fort covering 14,90 acres, according to "The "New York Times." The National Park Service now runs it, and you can still visit forts and lookout points where soldiers guarded the Pacific Ocean coastline. It also provides a breathtaking view of the San Francisco Bay.
Fishing
If fishing is your thing, San Francisco's got plenty of it. For an exciting chance at a big catch, do some deep-sea diving off the coast in a boat. Golden Gate Park provides a place for fly-fishing, You might also go fishing in San Pablo Bay. Also try the nearby deltas. Common fish here are striped bass, catfish and salmon, among others. Make sure you have a valid California fishing license.
Bicycling
According to Gorp.com, San Francisco is a bike-friendly city. It has the most extensive regional trail system and bike-catered public transportation system in the United States. For a notable experience, go downtown on Friday to see the "Critical Mass," a multitude of bikers cruising through the hub to send a message about decreasing reliance on cars. Look for unforgettable biking experiences in the Mission District, panhandle and the Embarcadero. All of these areas provide a fairly flat ride.
Fresh and Healthy Eats
You probably want to eat as healthy as possible to energize you for so many exciting activities. This is not hard to do in San Francisco. The health-conscious city offers bountiful farmers' markets with wholesome, locally grown foods from the Pacific coast pastures and Napa Valley. Look for colorful seasonal fruits and veggies, goat cheese, beef, nuts, organic honey, olive oil, beef among other treats. The markets are usually crowded with people and offer entertainment. Most give out samples so you can learn more about food--such as the differences between two varieties of strawberries, for instance.
Don't miss the Ferry Plaza Market on Saturdays and Tuesdays. "The New York Times" calls it "the finest foodie marketplace in the country." For a more low-brow, eclectic scene, visit the Alemany Market Saturdays during spring.
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