It’s no wonder that Self magazine voted San Francisco one of the Top Ten Healthiest Places to Live, and the Journal of American Podiatric Medical Association voted San Francisco one of America’s Greatest Walking Cities. San Francisco has hills, beaches, and yes, many gyms. But no membership is needed when surrounded by the diverse natural topography of San Francisco.
A Scenic Walk Around The City
Strolling around the streets of San Francisco is often enough to get your heart racing, the City is brimming with scenic routes just waiting to be discovered. Walk down Hyde Street to find Lombard, "the crookedest street in the world," or head to Fisherman’s Wharf where jugglers, artists and magicians entertain visitors for hours.
Organized walking tours are a great option for those who crave adventure, but don’t want to miss a thing. Cover some ground while you take in the culture of the hippie Mecca, Haight-Ashbury, explore the streets of Chinatown, or find out why the Castro became America’s gay capital.
You could even learn about the earthquakes and fires that forced the City to rebuild time and again, resulting in the diverse architecture depicting each era. Do all this while an experienced guide leads you through history.
Step It Up Those who prefer the steep grades should head towards Filbert Street between Leavenworth and Hyde, or 22nd Street between Church and Vicksburg. Both of theses stretches boast a 31.5 percent grade, more than twice the measly 15 percent grade that gym treadmills can simulate.
The City is the perfect "random" workout program, as it would be depicted across the screen of an elliptical machine. You can walk for miles and hit stints of uphill, downhill, flat, and curved streets as you cross through handfuls of colorful districts. Cow Hollow, the Mission, Richmond, Sunset, North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, Pacific Heights, Marina, the Castro – all of the City’s neighborhoods are at your feet, side by side.
Hit The Links
With five public courses within the city (and more than 130 public and private courses within the surrounding Bay Area) San Francisco has a course to fulfill every golfer’s dreams. Whether in search of a quick round, or a getaway with magnificent views of the City’s most popular sights, satisfaction is just a swing away. Different degrees of difficulty as well as varied ranges of green fees are easily accommodated, though San Francisco’s famous fog sometimes makes play extra challenging.
Bike It
Park your car, rent a bike for the day, and visit the Presidio. Once home to the U.S. military, this is a very open space, as opposed to most of compact San Francisco. Scattered with former barracks and brick administration buildings, the Presidio air is laden with the aroma of fresh eucalyptus trees that line the winding roads and navigable trails. These paths offer breathtaking views, intoxicating scents, and the occasional challenging hill. From there you can head out of the City across the Golden Gate Bridge and take on the Marin Headlands and Tennessee Valley for a daylong biking excursion across the bay.
Go For A Jog
Do like the locals and join one of the numerous marathons or triathlons. The most well known Bay Area races are the "Bay to Breakers," a mid-May 12K run starting at the Embarcadero, running through Golden Gate Park and finishing at the Great Highway, and the mid-June "Escape from Alcatraz" triathlon, consisting of a 1.5-mile swim through the bay, an 18-mile bike and an 8-mile run.
If you don’t feel like waiting for an organized race, set out on your own. Stride across the grass at Crissy Field, charge through the grueling sand ladder at Baker Beach, and finish off on the path that leads over the Golden Gate Bridge. You will end up on the North side of the Bay leading over to Marin, Tiburon and Stinson Beach. When you reach the end of the Bridge, look over your shoulder and enjoy the City’s skyline.
Feeling a little empty? You may find that you left your heart in the City like Tony Bennett did in his famous song. So take yourself back across the bridge and know that San Francisco has it all – awe-inspiring views, impressive skyscrapers, sandy beaches and towering hills. And when asked what gym you recommend while in the City, you can proudly say with a smile, the streets of San Francisco.
