PARKS 

Alamo Square || Douglass Playground Slide || Fort Point || Glen Canyon Park  || Golden Gate Park || Huntington Park || Mission Dolxores Park || Precita Park || Presidio & Golden Gate Bridge ||  Portrero Del Sol Park || Top of Quarry Hill || Strybing Arboretum

Alamo Square: Steiner & Hayes Sts.
Famous row of Victorian houses (Painted Ladies) set against the San Francisco skyline.

Douglass Playground Slide
Douglass & Seward
Quiet, almost hidden block reveals Park & Rec's best thrill ride: a tall cement playground slide. TIP: Bring your own cardboard and sprinkle a little sand on the slide before you push off. 

Fort Point
Below Golden Gate Bridge free always, open daily till 6 p.m.

Glen Canyon Park  Bosworth Street 
This beautifully preserved canyon complete with creek major rock outcroppings, meandering paths and plenty of dog walkers gives one the illusion of being far away from city life.  At the base is the Glen Park Rec Center which has nice playing fields and tennis courts

Golden Gate Park
One of the world's greatest parks that would take many days to see. Highlightts include Strybing Arboretum, Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, Museums, horseback riding stables, rollerblading, & children’s playground. 

Huntington Park Mason & California St, top of Nob Hill
Beautiful views from the top of Nob Hill. Located directly across from Grace Cathedral.

Mission Dolores Park
When the sun comes out, the boys come out, and they all seem to be headed to "Dolores Beach," the sloping hillside of Mission Dolores Park. With its great view of downtown, the park is a wonderful place to spread out a blanket, read a book, or catch someone's eye. 20th St. at Church, S.F.
Events at upcoming.org || Yahoo! Maps || Google Maps

Precita Park
Located on Precita Avenue, the park cuts a narrow green swath that stretches from Folsom to Alabama Streets.
Events at upcoming.org || Yahoo! Maps || Google Maps

The Presidio & Golden Gate Bridge 
Former military base, now a public park with miles of biking/hiking trails, abandoned military barracks, artillery batteries, Fort Point, The Army Museum, a pet cemetery, and major office development coming as well. 

Portrero Del Sol Park
Located at the end of Portrero near 101 and 26th
Yahoo! Maps || Google Maps

Top of Quarry Hill
Roosevelt at Museum Way, S.F. Called the Best place to watch the fog roll by Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay '99  The awe-inspiring view combined with the ancient feel of the surroundings will move your spirit to a higher plane. Eventually the cascade of surging fog breaking through the only opening in the coastal range for hundreds of miles will urge you back to a warmer, more protected spot.   

Strybing Arboretum
Golden Gate Park free always, open daily, 10 am-4 pm

BEACHES

Angel Island with a date 
Called the "Best Place to Get Laid Outside Where People Don't Usually Go to Get Laid" by bestofthebay.com '99  Pointing out that traditional spots like Red Rocks, the windmills in Golden Gate Park, the top of Buena Vista Park " are mostly good for anonymity, and they can get a little seedy." While Angel Island is full of hiding places and practically deserted on weekdays. 

Baker Beach: and access to Land’s End: off Lincoln Blvd, more and more clothing optional section and gay as you walk towards the Golden Gate Bridge 

China Beach: Seacliff & 28^th Ave, best for swimming

Ocean Beach end of Geary Blvd. Land’s End, below the Cliff House, The Cliff House (3 restaurants & gift store), Sutro Bath ruins, 3 miles of beach

Wave Organ End of Yacht Road jetty St. Francis Yacht Harbor, north of Marina Boulevard Bay Guardian suggest the Feisty crabs are the best part but if the sounds don't get you the view will

Climb and Descend the Enchanted Stairways
Best done with a guide or map

Laidley Street (Near the end of Noe)  Spectacular city views along ridge street between Noe Valley and Glen Park.  The 100 block features wildly painted houses on Harry Street. Accessible from Laidly or Beacon Street, is the best nearby landscaped stairway and will take you to the lower slopes of Billy Goat Hill in Diamond Heights, with views of Treasure Island along the way.

Pemberton Stairway (between Villa Terrace and Graystone) Terrace  Since they’re on the north side of Twin Peaks – running 

Vulcan Street Steps  Vulcan’s quiet and pine-tree-lined steps climb the southern slope of the Buena Vista hill, affording views south and east over the Mission. The stairs run between Ord and Levant.

Always Free Museums & Attractions
Museum web sites are always free too. Here's our webguide to San Francisco Bay Area Museums. 

Chinese Culture Center || Chinese Historical Society || Creativity Explored || Fort Mason Center || Grace Cathedral || Mission Dolores || National Maritime Museum || North Beach Museum || San Francisco Cable Car Museum || San Francisco Fire Department Museum || SFO Museums || Wells Fargo Museum || World of Oil

Chinese Culture Center
750 Kearney St free always, open tues-sat, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Chinese Historical Society
650 Commercial St free always, open thu-sat, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Creativity Explored 
Multi-media, visual arts center for disabled adults. 

Fort Mason Center
Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street
Offers a variety of activities of the highest quality at minimum or no cost, suitable for all ages and interests.

Grace Cathedral
This notable tourist destination is open to the public. Located at 1100 California Street

National Maritime Museum 
End of Polk St (aquatic park) free always, open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Search www.maritime.org

North Beach Museum
1435 Stockton St (in Eureka Bank) free always, open mon-fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

San Francisco Cable Car Museum
1201 Mason St free always, open daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Artcom Museum Tour: San Francisco Cable Car Museum || Cable Car Museum || The Cable Car Home Page

San Francisco Fire Dept. Museum
665 Presidio Ave free always, open thu-sat, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
AV #88429 - Video Cassette - The San Francisco Fire Museum

SFO Museums
At any hour, for no admission, you can enjoy fine artwork and eclectic and unexpected displays, with themes drawn from science, history, design, and anthropology.  You can see the new spaces created by the Airport's latest $3 billion expansion. Check the Web site for location and details of displays spread throughout the huge beast, with plenty of moving sidewalks.   (650) 652-2772

Wells Fargo Museum
420 Montgometry St free always, open mon-fri, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 

World of Oil (Chevron Tower)
555 Market St free always, open mon-fri, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.