Alternative San Francisco: discovering the city in a new light

I have lived near San Francisco for four years now, and whenever friends come to visit, there are a few classic activities I always recommend. These include walking or cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge, taking the boat to Alcatraz Island, and checking out Golden Gate Park – the usual bucket list suspects. But for all its postcard-ready landmarks, San Francisco (or “SF” as it’s known locally) has plenty of surprises.

The immediately recognisable Golden Gate Bridge (c) Lucy Woods

On a recent visit to the city, I had the chance to explore it in a completely different way as I focused on activities connected to the Bay Bridge. The 8.4-mile bridge links San Francisco to the city of Oakland, via Yerba Buena Island and the charmingly named Treasure Island, a 400-acre artificial island which is open to the public.

If you have already hit SF’s most famous landmarks, consider booking on of these offbeat activities.

Exploring the bay by water bike

There are multiple ways to explore SF’s scenic bay, a broad, tidal estuary that connects to the Pacific Ocean via the Golden Gate Strait. You can book a boat tour, head out on a kayak, or explore the bay on a private yacht (if you happen to have friends in high places).

One of the more unique ways to see the Bay Bridge up close is by water bike with SpinOut Fitness. The meeting point is at Pier 40, a short walk from Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. The prototype for these water bikes, which resemble a standard exercise bike attached to two flotation devices, was invented by a resident of nearby Sausalito named Jessica Schiller. They are easy to operate and we were told by SpinOut Fitness founder, Damien McCloud, that no one has ever capsized.

My first time water biking with SpinOut Fitness (c) Damien McCloud

The group tour lasted for about 1.5 hours and we pedalled our way out of the dock and right underneath the Bay Bridge. It was a beautiful autumnal day in the city and the sun was warm and inviting. The view of the bridge overlooking the San Francisco skyline, with its tall glass buildings framed by distant mountains, was a fantastic sight. We also spotted some dolphins, sea lions, and seals up close, which is a common occurrence here. By the time we re-entered the dock, I felt like I had enjoyed a decent workout, and was excited to add this to my list of outdoor pursuits.

Whiskey cocktail making on Treasure Island

Treasure Island is an artificial island that was constructed in the 1930s from, rather unromantically, sediment and sand that had been dredged up from the bay. Its original purpose was to host the 1939-40 Golden Gate International Exposition, a glitzy World’s Fair that celebrated the opening of both the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges.

Today, the island is open to members of the public and is also home to over 2,000 residents, and it is possible to reach by car or ferry ride. The island’s standout landmark is the Administration Building, an impressive Art Deco structure with a gleaming white façade, which has featured in films including “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “The Parent Trap”.

Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery cocktail class (c) Lucy Woods

Inside the Administration Building is the Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery, where you can take part in a whiskey cocktail making class. We learned how to make three signature whiskey cocktails, including an Old Fashioned and Paper Plane (made with Bourbon, Aperol, fresh lemon juice, and a herbal liqueur called Amaro). We also had the chance to sample several Gold Bar Whiskies. I appreciated the elegant setting, small class size, and excellent value – classes start at just $69 per person.

Catching a baseball game at Oracle Park

Though an obvious choice for American sports fans, watching a baseball game is not an activity many of my British friends would typically consider. However, seeing the Giants play ball at Oracle Park is a special experience, in part because the views are pretty awesome. The partially covered stadium seats more than 42,000 people and the upper decks provide a clear view of the bay.

Fabulous view at Oracle Park (c) Lucy Woods

If you have ever watched a cricket game live, the baseball has similar vibes, except everything is thoroughly American – there’s even an 80-foot-long statue of a Coca-Cola bottle in the stadium that doubles as a children’s slide.

The atmosphere is fun and family-friendly, and many people bring their own picnics into the stadium (although you will have to purchase alcohol on site). The rules are fairly simple to follow, and it is rather thrilling to watch a home run in action. Once I was lucky enough to witness the fabled “splash hit”, when a player thwacks the ball right out of the stadium and into the bay’s watery depths.

Where to stay

Just a short walk from both Oracle Park and Pier 40 is San Francisco’s trendy LUMA Hotel (see full LUMA Hotel review). Located in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Mission Bay, the sleek hotel features some clever innovations including robots that can deliver breakfast to your room. It also features a well-equipped gym with high-tech cardio equipment and a fun rooftop bar, Cavaña, which serves delicious Latin-inspired cocktails and snacks.

Breakfast delivering robots (c) LUMA Hotel San Francisco

If you are interested in either water biking with SpinOut Fitness or cocktail making at Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery, LUMA Hotel can assist with booking these experiences.

And remember…

An important consideration for any outdoor activities in SF is the changeable weather. For most of the year, the sun shines obligingly, making exploring the city an easy pleasure. That said, San Francisco has rightly earned its title as the City of Fog, and the mist is so much of a fixture here it has affectionately been named Karl.

Even on the brightest days, it’s wise to keep some extra layers handy, as Karl can descend quickly. Many a tourist here has been forced to purchase an overpriced jumper from a tacky gift shop because they are expecting LA weather. This is Northern California people!

FIND YOUR FLIGHT

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