A Bike Ride in San Francisco

June 22, 2017
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United States
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A bike ride in San Francisco may seem like a crazy and torturous idea (those hills!), but seeing a city by bike will always be Arie’s first request. We had driven to San Francisco for the weekend to see friends, and we were trying to figure out how to spend the day. Our friends were working, so we planned to do a little touring. Arie insisted that he had a magical bike map which routed around any steep hills, so I reluctantly agreed.

We started the morning by biking to b. patisserie for a kouign amann, an inverted croissant type pastry, the perfect breakfast to fuel us for our physically challenging day. We then headed to The Presidio, San Francisco’s Great Escape, which overlooks the Pacific and welcomes travelers to “The Golden City.” This spot wasn’t always so welcoming, however. In the late 1700’s, it was home to an armed fort built by the Spanish. The location, on the edge of the bay had the best vantage points for defense. One hundred years later, after the Spanish had left, The Presidio became home to the U.S. Military. When the army left, The Presidio and the forest that surrounds it became a National Park. The remnants of the base and any remaining homes are shadowed by dense Eucalyptus forest, a green relief from the concrete jungle just a short ride away. There are biking and hiking trails throughout, and many of them have views of the foggy Pacific coast. Most importantly for us, these trails lead to the entrance of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Phew, by the time we arrived at the bridge, with the exception of a very steep hill before The Presidio entrance, the bike ride hadn’t been too strenuous! We took our time crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, dodging the tourists as best we could, and headed down the hill towards Sausalito, a cute little town on the bay with a perfect view of San Francisco. After World War II, the town developed into a wealthy yet artistic enclave of people looking for a quieter life while still being conveniently San Francisco adjacent. Today, Sausalito has that classic California, beach-town charm. Homes, simple in style but extravagantly priced (the median cost of a home in Sausalito is $1.4 million), stagger up the hillside, each with a view of the bay and San Francisco beyond.

By the time we reached Sausalito, the morning fog had burned off and it was sunny and warm. We rode our bikes along the waterfront path, looking for a healthy lunch spot. We did not have much time to see the town since we had to get back to the city by afternoon. After a veggie-filled sandwich, we hopped on the ferry for an even better view (and a break from biking). We passed by Alcatraz before docking at Pier 39, the heart of the tourist zone.

Tourists flock to Pier 39 to eat, shop, and enjoy the view. It is the perfect spot to see many of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks: Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge. There is also a large community of California Sea Lions! These sea mammals have always had a presence here, but they used to spend the majority of their time on Seal Rocks, a group of islands located off the Pacific coast. They slowly began to migrate to Pier 39 where they can be seen casually lounging on a group of floating, wooden platforms. Some think that they prefer the safety of the bay, but I personally think they just like the attention, so many tourists snapping their photos! I had visited San Francisco in middle school and had fond memories of the sea lions at Pier 39. I remember seeing 100s of them, lounging in the sun on their private docks. Unfortunately, when Arie and I were there, most of lions were “on vacation.” In June, they typically head to the warmer waters of the Channel Islands, located off Southern California.

By then it was late afternoon and although it was sunny, the saying held true, “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.” A warm drink was just what we needed, and since we were on vacation, it was the perfect time to relax with a warm glass of Irish coffee. The Buena Vista in Fisherman’s Wharf makes the most delicious Irish coffee; topped with a healthy scoop of whipped cream, it’s even more delightful. The little bit of sugar and warmth were enough to give me the strength to bike home. I have to admit, a self-guided bike tour of San Francisco was a pretty OK way to see the city.