Beaches in San Francisco

Taking in a beachside sunset is the perfect way to end a busy day in the city (assuming the fog hasn't blown in for the afternoon). Always bring a sweater—even the sunniest of days can become cold and foggy without warning. Icy temperatures and treacherous currents make most waters too dangerous for swimming without a wetsuit, but with a Frisbee, picnic, or some good walking shoes, you can have a fantastic day at the beach without leaving the city.

An urban beach, surrounded by Fort Mason, Ghirardelli Square, and Fisherman's Wharf, Aquatic Park Beach (www.nps.gov/safr) is a tiny, ¼-mi-long strip of sand with gentle water, bordered by docks and piers. The waters near shore are shallow, safe for kids to swim or wade, and fairly clean (admirably so, for a city). Locals—including the seemingly ubiquitous older-man-in-Speedo—come out for quick dips in the frigid water. The Golden Gate Promenade, with dog-walkers, inline-skaters, and cyclists, passes just behind the beach, so this isn't a secluded spot. Facilities include restrooms and showers.

Members of the Dolphin Club come every morning for a dip in the ice-cold waters of Aquatic Park; an especially large and raucous crowd braves the cold on New Year's Day.

Baker Beach (Gibson Rd., off Bowley St., southwest corner of Presidio), with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands, is a local favorite and an established nudist spot. (Never seen nude Frisbee? This is the place.) The pounding surf and strong currents make swimming a dangerous prospect, but the mile-long shoreline is ideal for fishing, building sand castles, or watching sea lions at play. On warm days, the entire beach is packed with bodies—including those nudists, who hang out at the north end. Picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and drinking water are available. Rangers give tours of the 95,000-pound cannon at Battery Chamberlin, overlooking the beach, the first weekend of every month. The 1904 weapon can still spring into firing position. Sheltered China Beach,one of the city's safest swimming beaches, was named for the poor Chinese fishermen who once camped here. (Some maps label it James D. Phelan Beach.) This 600-foot strip of sand, south of the Presidio and Baker Beach, has gentle waters as well as changing rooms, bathrooms, showers, grills, drinking water, and picnic tables. Despite its humble beginnings, China Beach today is bordered by the multimillion-dollar homes of the Seacliff neighborhood, including a massive pink structure owned by actor Robin Williams. The hike down to the beach is steep. The largest—and probably best—of San Francisco's city beaches, Ocean Beach stretches for more than 3 mi along the Great Highway south of the Cliff House, making it ideal for long walks and runs. It isn't the cleanest shore, but it's an easy-to-reach place to chill; spot sea lions sunning themselves atop Seal Rock, at the north end of the beach; or watch daredevil surfers riding the roiling waves. Because of extremely dangerous currents, swimming isn't recommended. After the sun sets, bonfires form a string of lights along the beach in summer. (Fires are prohibited north of Fulton Street or south of Lincoln Way, the northern and southern edges of Golden Gate Park.) Restrooms are at the north end.