We lived in San Francisco for more than five years, and it remains one of our favorite cities.
No matter how many times we return, we always discover something that makes us wish that we could move back to the city by the bay tomorrow.
When we visited San Francisco in mid-December, our friends Michael and Marion introduced us to an incredible place for a Saturday morning walk by the ocean with their dog Lily.
Fort Funston is a former military installation located in the southwest corner of San Francisco. Now as a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the park features hang gliding, hiking trails, horseback riding and an off-leash dog area. Signs detail historical and present-day facts about the area.
Fort Funston’s strong, steady winds make the cliffs overlooking the beach a popular site for hang gliding. Birds like the area as well as human hang gliders.
It’s a steep, strenuous hike down the beach and backup to the top. Crazy locals were trying to run up and down the steep beach trail five times in less than 30 minutes.
We suggest allowing 30 minutes, minimum, for a each one-way trip, slowly to enjoy the view.
Known for strong currents, the beach is for walking rather than swimming.
Expect to encounter many off-leash dogs on the beach.
Dogs love this beach even more than their human companions.
What a view!
What a way to get some Saturday morning exercise.
Just remember, you do have to make the hike back up the cliff to the parking lot.
A ramdom fact about Fort Funston: in 2003, Erin Hemmings set the world record here for the farthest thrown object, by throwing an Aerobie flying ring 1,333 feet.
Fort Funston is located in southwest San Francisco near Lake Merced. Reach it off of Skyline Boulevard at at John Muir Drive.
What’s your favorite destination for an ocean-view hike? Please share in comments below.
Check out these posts on other ocean and or beach destinations we’ve explored: