San Francisco is known for its world-class restaurants, shops, museums, and sports teams. But some of the most memorable moments I’ve spent in the city by the bay have been in settings far removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Angel Island offers a quiet reprieve from the city’s busy tourist attractions and offers visitors access to one of the most spectacular picnic spots in the country.
To get to this serene spot (Angel Island is an uninhabited island surrounded on both sides by urban skylines) you must take a 45-minute ferry ride from San Francisco. The commute offers spectacular views of Alcatraz Island and the city’s skyscrapers, which makes the ride seem a lot shorter than 45 minutes.
As soon as you step off the ferry you are greeted with huge grassy fields peppered with picnic tables and barbeque pits. It is here where you can lay out your lunch and gaze at the island’s rolling hills and forests. If you forget to pack a spread you can pick up some eats at the island’s snack bar. If you want to forgo your meal until later you can take advantage of the island’s other recreational options, including bike rentals and historic tram tours. Angel Island was once a processing and detention center for new immigrants — particularly the Chinese — during the first half of the 20th century. These days, most (if not all) visitors to the island participate in one of the many immigration station tours.
If the designated picnic spot near the ferry landing is not to your liking your other option is to hit the paved Perimeter Road, which traverses the edge of the island through eucalyptus forests and desert landscapes. If you can hold off on eating I would recommend taking the 5-mile hike to the summit of Mount Livermore in the middle of the island. Talk about an ideal place to have a picnic. The 360-degree view of the San Francisco skyline and the bay is beyond breathtaking. And by the time you reach the top any type of food you have packed will taste great.
Along with Angel Island, I consider the waterside promenade at Crissy Field, another fantastic spot to picnic in the San Francisco area. The 100-acre park, which was once an Army airfield, was restored to its original marshy condition about five years ago. The park offers a variety of great picnic spots. My favorites are the ones along the small beach and in the huge grassy field located next to the Warming Hut. Crissy Field is a great place for kids who have been cooped up in a car or plane for a long period of time. They can roam on acres of grass, fly a kite or throw a Frisbee. What’s more, the city skyline including the Golden Gate Bridge offers the perfect backdrop for whatever activity you choose to partake in at Crissy Field.
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