Lake Merced in San Francisco, CA 94132

Lake Merced is encircled by a paved 4 1/2-mile path popular with bikers, inline skaters, joggers, and walkers. The path can get crowded. But an even bigger problem for parents of wobbly-legged children is all the traffic streaming around it. Even if your child is sure of bike and skate with no chance of veering into the street, the noise makes this experience anything but peaceful.

Drive into Lake Merced, though, and you can find some tranquility. There is a beach and picnic tables and some respite from the traffic. The water's a bit murky and chilly but your kids may enjoy splashing around in it. Bring sand toys. Nice place for birdwatching: Loons, grebes, egrets, cormoranets, hawks, and smaller birds like to hang out here.