Willow Ave, California

On a nice summer day, Shoreline Highway is filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic as cars line up to get to the beach. Visitors come far and wide to get to what is perhaps the best beach on the north side of San Francisco, and the attractions are abundant. Bikers enjoy the rolling hills and smooth roads, surfers can catch clean, smooth waves on the long breaks, families can lounge with their children on this safe, kid-friendly stretch of sand. For hikers, the coastal cliffside trails provide a solid workout, and sunbathers of the more *ahem* open variety can enjoy the nude beach tucked away just south of the main beach (not to worry - it is secluded from the main area and only visible from the shoreline rocks).

This place also HAPPENS to be a rock climbers' paradise, with challenging sport routes on rock-solid, albeit ocean-eroded, granite. Oh, and did I mention the views? No matter where you stand, the views of the Pacific Ocean are stunning, with blue water and clean white breaks on a sunny day. With ocean on the left and cliffs on the right, there really are few drawbacks to this area. Unfortunately, everyone in the Bay Area agrees and subsequently does their part to increase the traffic to a standstill, one car at a time. That is the ONE point that keeps me from giving this place a five-star rating.