If someone complains to you that there’s nothing going on at any given second in SF, they’re lying. Hop on a bike and pick a direction — you’re bound to stumble onto something good.
America’s Cup! The catamarans were incredibly powerful and majestic and although we had no idea what they were doing it certainly seemed impressive [turns out they just had to do laps around two buoys, but with all the varied tacking strategies it looked more like an oversized kindergarten soccer game than a professional race].
The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps Project, aka the Moraga Steps, are a secret treasure tucked in what Google Maps calls Golden Gate Heights [huh?]. Inspired by a decorated staircase in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the mosaic was designed by local artists and made by residents of the neighborhood — 163 steps depicting a sweeping progression from ocean to sunrise. Continue climbing at the top to Grand View Park, which, as the name implies, offers a panorama from Sutro Tower to the Presidio.
Snack time! [when isn’t it??] Pitstop at Beachside Coffee Bar and Kitchen for a fried oyster po’boy and mac and cheese.
Up the coast to Lands End and the Legion of Honor. With an organ concert in the Legion providing mood music, I could pretend we had teleported to Italy; clambering down to the rocky beach and watching tankers pass under the Golden Gate Bridge was a reminder of the fantastic place we really were. Cheesy, huh? But true . . .