Posts by author: Brad Thompson
You may have noticed the tall square-rigged sailing ship, like a floating prop left over from a pirate movie, moored at the Hyde Street Pier near Ghirardelli Square. But most San Franciscans don’t know its name, or that it’s part of a larger collection of genuine treasures, just steps away from the chintzy gift shops [...]
For the first few minutes, you’d be forgiven for thinking your directions were wrong. Park in a gravel lot off the main road, walk past a row of houses and down a wooded trail, and descend through switchbacks deeper into the forest. This couldn’t possibly be the right path, could it? Your patience during the [...]
Tomales Bay is like San Francisco Bay’s kid brother, a lesser-known and more tranquil inlet, but nonetheless teeming with wildlife and offering picturesque views of surrounding farmland. It’s just an hour our so north of the city – just farther north than Pt. Reyes Station – also happens to be a great spot to to kayak. At a small private marina in Inverness, you can rent equipment from Blue Waters Kayaking, or, if you’re new to the sport, instructors will run you through the basics.
Sweeney Ridge, in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is a national park hidden in plain view just beyond the suburban streets of Pacifica. A short open terrain hike to the top of the ridge, and you’ll be on the very spot where Gaspar de Portola became the first European to lay eyes on the San Francisco Bay. Hike a little farther along the trail and you’ll discover the fascinating, if dilapidated, remains of the SF-51C Nike missile control facility.
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