Tag Archives: Golden Gate Park

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San Francisco Running Trails

Running trail in San Francisco
San Francisco is home to some stunning running trails, each one promising to inject your run with some extra motivation. From the diverse views through the Golden Gate Park to the challenging inclines of the Presidio Coastal Trail, there are so many different running trails to choose from, no matter where your experience level may lie.

Presidio Coastal Trail
The Presidio Coastal Trail is an ideal one for those who are more advanced runners, as it incorporates a number of different hills with various incline levels. The seven-mile trail is best started at California Street and Arguello Boulevard, and you will reach your first incline in a matter of minutes.

Golden Gate Park
The 1000 acre Golden Gate Park is home to several different dirt trails that crisscross their way around the park. Since the park boasts a number of the city’s top attractions, you will be able to take some of these in during your run, from the Japanese tea gardens to the Botanical Garden to the Rose Gardens.

Land’s End Trail
The Land’s End Trail travels through a woodland area that runs alongside the Pacific Coast, and splits off into multiple trails, meaning that you can choose between shorter and longer routes. The terrain throughout the trail is varied, which makes it a really interesting run, and many parts of the trail offer panoramic views out across the ocean and its surrounding cliffs, as well as of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you are running here while the tide is low, keep your eyes peeled as you are likely to be able to spot various shipwrecks down below, which date back to the early 1900’s.

Crissy Field
Crissy Field is where you will find some of the city’s most popular running trails, and it is an area that is extremely pet-friendly as well as family-friendly. There are various routes that you can take, although the most common path runs for about five miles, running from Fort Mason to the Golden Gate Bridge and back again. The views from this trail are incredible, and since there is a separate lane for bicycles, you will be able to spend more energy focusing on your running.

The Embarcadero
Starting at AT&T Park and running along the bay, before finishing at Fisherman’s Wharf, the Embarcadero is an extremely lively running route, and you will pass everything from street performers to the Exploratorium to the Ferry Building Marketplace. While there are plenty of pedestrians in the area, runners are frequent here, and pedestrians are quick to move to the side if they see you approaching.

San Francisco is such a beautiful city, that it is no surprise its many different running trails offer unbeatable views, as well as a diverse terrain that keeps every run interesting. Being a relatively compact city, many running trails pass by some of San Francisco’s top attractions, and by planning your run in advance, you will be able to take in many of the city’s top sights while staying fit and healthy.

Travel |

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Weekend in San Francisco

You’re going to see the Golden Gate Bridge. There really is no way to avoid it when you go to San Francisco. If you don’t go or you fail to take pictures, then everyone you know is going to doubt you were ever there. Once you’ve gotten that social obligation out of the way though, you get to explore San Francisco on your own terms. A weekend in San Francisco is a distinctly picturesque way to experience part of California without ever leaving a city. Between the Golden Gate Bridge and famous neighborhoods, it often seem San Francisco was made for pictures. OROGOLD has a few other things to suggest beyond taking pictures of everything though.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Visit Golden Gate Park
California has several large municipal parks and the Golden Gate Park is one of them. While not quite as sprawling as Griffith Park in Los Angeles, Golden Gate Park still encloses a variety of attractions. You can simply tour the park by foot on one of its many trails to get away from the city…or you can visit one of the aforementioned attractions. The De Young Museum will let you sample a bit of art while you’re in the park, but you might prefer the Steinhart Aquarium instead if you’re feeling a bit more zen. Two arboretums are available for you to wander if you want to take in beautiful flowers on a somehow rainy day, but on a clear day you should consider the Japanese Tea Garden. The latter is not only beautiful, but of historical interest as well.

Cable Car in San Francisco

Ride a Cable Car
Cable cars are as much a part of San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge itself. These moving antiques remain in excellent condition and offer you a chance to travel through the city at a slower rate to take in the sights. There are several lines that each ensure you’ll get your fair share of the taste of San Francisco. You can easily ride them through some of the more historical areas and hop off to explore when you see a likely candidate. But riding them all the way to the end will give you a true San Francisco experience and let you relax and enjoy the day at the same time. Just keep a tight grip if you’d don’t have a seat. Those hills are steep.

Castro neighborhood, San Francisco.

Andrey Bayda / Shutterstock.com

The Castro
The other thing a visit to San Francisco wouldn’t be complete without is a little bit of pride. This neighborhood is often a must for LGBT travelers, but certainly isn’t restricted to only them. It acts as at once a slice of civil rights history, a colorful enclave, and a great place to find a bite to eat or do a bit of shopping. The area is certainly flavored by its history though and signs of it are everywhere. There’s not guarantee of there always being a parade going on, but you certainly aren’t likely to find anyone bothering with being sedate. No matter why you visit The Castro, you’re sure to come away with a lighter step than you entered thanks to the lively locals.

Like all places in California, San Francisco is an eclectic mix of history and an absolute driving dedication to the here and now. Finding where to enjoy a week is simply a matter of getting in touch with the pulse of the city and seeing where it takes you. OROGOLD recommends talking to friendly locals on your way in or checking with a driver for other places to see. The ones here barely scratch the surface of what all you could do in a couple of days.