Marine Dr, Presidio

One of the best places in SF for a flat, fast run, a leisurely stroll, a picnic, or sunbathing on the beach! (Take that, Ocean Beach!) The beauty surrounding you is amazing: on one side, you've got Crissy Field and views of the Presidio; on the other, the beach and the bay. On warm days, the entire area is *packed* with runners and walkers, cyclists, kitesurfers, windsurfers, families, and dogs. (One time, I even saw some poor, misguided woman walking her *cat* here. Wow. That image is seared in my mind.) As for facilities, there are places to picnic--although I think you'll need reservations if you want an actual picnic table and grill--relatively clean bathrooms, and a water fountain; the last two items are particularly appreciated right before or right after a long run... You can grab food at the Warming Hut or at the Crissy Field Center. One of the incredible public spaces that truly makes SF the awesome city that it is.

Marine Drive is a little known side street that leads directly to Ft. Point Historic Site. This is also home to arguably the best view of the Golden Gate bridge, and the location most famous pictures of the bridge were taken from. There is parking off the side of the street to viewing, and also for Ft. Point. It's also surrounded by some beautiful natural scenery. If you want to take a good look at the bridge, or visit Ft. Point, you'll have to travel down Marine Drive. Just beware though, traffic can get a bit congested during the peak tourist season.

This street runs along a sandy beach which boasts magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge. This was one of my favorite streets when traveling to San Francisco. On the other side of the beach area there are fields for playing with the kids while still soaking up all the sun and views of the bridge and bay area. I highly recommend this street.