Crissy Field050

Formerly a military airstrip, this 28-acre waterfront park at the northern edge of the Presidio is newly restored and offers spectacular Bay views.

The most popular staging area for windsurfing on the San Francisco Bay, Crissy Field's features include a flat, two-mile-long pedestrian pathway nestled between a broad sandy beach and a tidal marsh - perfect for jogging, biking or walking, even for very young children.

Children can't swim here; the current is too rough, and the beach so windy it's often too cold to strip down to bathing suits. And no lifeguards are on duty. But there's no reason you can't have sandcastle-building contests, or collect rocks (sea shell pickings are slim).

Further up Marina Boulevard is the Marina Green, a huge grassy park surrounded by a paved pathways, perfect for in-line skating, flying kites, kicking a soccer ball, or just hanging out and watching the boats pass.

Crissy Field Center, an environmental education center, is located in Building 603 on the corner of Mason and Halleck Streets in the Presidio of San Francisco. This historic site was built in 1939 and first used as an Army commissary, later as a film and photo lab, and is now an environmental center offering lots of family workshops throughout the year.

Warming Hut: A nice little cafe (and restroom) is located at the end of Crissy Field closest to the Golden Gate Bridge. Parking is always available, making this a great place to meet. Open Thu-Mon 9am-5pm.

Crissy Field is a short walk to Fort Point, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium, and the Presidio.