The Natural Beauty of San Francisco

By: Rahul Kishore - Rahul's Musings

Big cities aren't usually associated with natural beauty. But San Francisco is a city with a special mix of trees and greenery along side concrete and steel.

I find that the best place to start any trip to San Francisco is at the tip of Point Reyes. Point Reyes National Seashore is north of San Francisco in Marin. From the top of the point you can look down along the shore and see huge lines of waves slowly coming towards the beach. The cold sea breeze is constantly whipping across your face, and you can see the old Eucalyptus trees which have been warped by the wind. Point Reyes is a great place to witness the power of the Pacific, breathe in the sea breeze, and view some of California's wildlife.

Continuing south from Marin towards San Francisco, make sure to stop at the old military installation on Bunker Road that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge and the ocean. Who could ever imagine two golden red gates rising from the mighty Pacific at the beginning of the open ocean? Standing from one of the many vistas, you can see hundreds of miles of open ocean on a sunny day. There are few places where you get this feeling of infinite expanse seeing nothing but the deep blue water of the Pacific, all the way to the horizon.

After making your first greeting with the Pacific and the California coast, head south across the Golden Gate and into the Presidio. This sanctuary on the northern tip of San Francisco is a great place to hang out, walk around, and take in the sights. The Presidio has been the seat of three different nations in California since it was built, and is indicative of the diverse history of California.

As you continue you’ll come to the edge of Golden Gate Park where you can experience the new and modern San Francisco. Try visiting the DeYoung Museum, the San Francisco Botanical Gardens, or the new California Academy of Sciences.

Make sure to roll down your windows as you head out to the coast on Fulton Street. Let the signature San Francisco fog refresh you and the sea breeze guide you out to towards the ocean. When you get to the Great Highway you’ll have plenty of opportunities to park your car, run out onto the beach, and stick your feet in the water. Be careful, it’s freezing cold.

As you head south you’ll merge onto Highway 35, Skyline Blvd. The road starts hugging the curves of the coast, giving you beautiful views of huge waves that slamming against the sheer rock faces.

Once you go south of Daly City, you’ll have made it to Highway 1, the famed Pacific Coast Highway. You can ride all the way down the coast to Los Angeles, San Diego, and Baja California. Along the way there are beautiful coastal towns, nestled in the mountains that line the California coast. To read more about driving the California Coast, click here.

Photo credit: flickr cc Http2007, Mike Baird