caroline's top five favorite picnic locations in san francisco

May 27, 2004

The Spring and Fall bring some of the best weather San Francisco has to offer. Those who dwell in The City know that every warm sunny day must be appreciated to its fullest since it might be the last nice one before the chill of Summer or Winter sets in.

To really take advantage of a beautiful San Francisco day, grab a friend and head outdoors to one of the following spots for a picnic. There are great locations for every occasion.

5. the Ferry Building

Out-of-town guests? You can't beat the Ferry Building for showcasing the area's best local produce and beautiful bay-side views of the Bay Bridge and the East Bay.

Don't bother bringing your own picnic food to the Ferry Building -- Saturday mornings feature the best farmer's market in the Bay Area (though if you want to avoid the crowds you'd be better off checking out the smaller lunch-time version on Tuesdays and Thursdays). Gardeners will also enjoy browsing the Sunday morning flower market (though you'll probably have to go inside to purchase your picnic food -- only 2-3 produce stands are open).

If you can't make it on a market day, the Ferry building itself houses an assortment of permanent vendors who are sure to delight any foodie and give you plenty of picnic options. I suggest grabbing a couple of cracked crabs from Ferry Plaza Seafoods or some oysters from Hog Island Oyster Company, a sourdough baguette from Acme Bread Company, and a bottle of buttery Chardonnay from the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant. Don't forget your corkscrew!

You can find a few picnic tables and benches on the Bay side of the building, towards the right of the square as you look towards Berkeley. Otherwise there are readily accessible tables and chairs outside most of the cafes on the Bay side of the building.

Ferry building hours, parking, and public transportation information is available on their website.

4. Fort Funston

Dog lovers and kids love Fort Funston, located just south of Ocean Beach between John Muir Blvd and John Daly Blvd on Skyline (Highway 35). This portion of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the last places in San Francisco that allows dogs to run off leash, and you can often find dozens of dripping wet pooches frolicking in the waves.

Above the beach cliffs, hang gliders take advantage of the brisk winds and soar for hours, hypnotizing everyone below with their graceful swoops and dives. You can watch them take off and land near the main parking lot, next to the wooden observation deck.

The deck itself is a perfect location for a picnic, featuring several levels with lots of room for kids to play and explore. After lunch, you can hike on trails up and down the coast, or you can make your way down to the beach on the Sand Ladder trail, a short and steep descent.

There's always plenty of parking in the main lot, or you can take MUNI #18 to Skyline and John Muir Drive. It's often breezy, so elaborate picnics with lots of napkins and items that will blow over are not recommended.

3. land's end

Those who want a more romantic and nature-friendly picnic spot need only find their way to the North-Western-most tip of San Francisco: Land's End. This urban retreat is one of the most rugged natural spots left in San Francisco and features a two-mile multi-use trail with non-stop views of the Pacific and several spectacular vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge. Along the wooded trail you'll find several different kinds of wildflowers, cypress trees, and a whole community of small wildlife skittering to and fro. Sharp eyes can pick out seals playing in the waves below.

Several benches are strategically placed so that you can picnic with a great view. Alternatively, you can bring a blanket and create your own picnic spot on one of the hillsides along the trail. If you want to make a full afternoon of it, visit the Palace of Legion of Honor museum before or after your meal -- about 1/2 a mile from the main parking lot (just above the Cliff House and Sutro Baths), a path leads up to it from the main trail. Paths also lead down to the rocky beach below, but beware: there are patches of poison oak, and the beach itself is a favorite of local nudists.

Parking is available either above the Cliff House and Sutro Baths (another great place for a picnic), or along the street near the corner of El Camino del Mar and 32nd Ave (near the 17th hole of the Legion of Honor golf course). You can also visit Land's End by taking Muni #38 "Point Lobos" from downtown to the Cliff House area and walking north from Point Lobos Avenue on Merrie Way.

Bikes are only permitted on part of the main trail -- if you want to ride, you'll need to stay on the half of the trail closest to the Cliff House and take the right turn towards the golf course and Legion of Honor.

2. stern grove

Elegant picnickers with an affinity for music bring their wine, cheese plates, and other gourmet fare to Stern Grove on Sunday afternoons in the summer for the free concert series. Acts range from the San Francisco Symphony and Ballet, to avant garde jazz performers and world music groups.

The concerts always start at 2 pm, and no advance reservations are required unless you want to sit at one of the picnic tables in the back of the main meadow. Tables that can seat up to six people are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis by calling the Recreation and Parks Department, (415) 831-5500, at 9 am on the Monday before each concert. Seats are available directly in front of the stage, but many simply bring blankets and sit among the eucalyptus trees surrounding the meadow. Bring a jacket -- it's often foggy and cold during the day.

Parking in the area is very limited, so organizers suggest you take public transportation. The MUNI 23 and 28 buses both have stops at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, or you can use the K or M lines and exit at Sloat. Check out the festival's website for more information, including a full list of scheduled performers.

1. Stow Lake

Golden Gate Park deserves its own list of favorite picnic locations since there are so many beautiful and hidden spots to explore. Among them, however, Stow Lake is my favorite, since it offers a serene setting with waterfalls, picturesque stone bridges, a Japanese pagoda, beautiful flowering trees, and a tangle of hidden trails to wander. Rent a pedal-boat and circle the lake, climb to the top of the island and admire the view, or simply watch the people go by as you sit on a bench and admire the ducks and swans.

Boat rentals range from $11 to $15 per hour, depending on the type of boat and the number of passengers. The boathouse also rents bicycles, including quadcycles for families. To get there, take Stow Lake Drive from John F. Kennedy Drive, or MUNI lines 28, 29, or 44.

Fort Funston offers views up and down the coast, including hang gliders on windy days.