Only 30 minutes outside the city, Mount Tam State Park beckons outdoor enthusiasts with stunning vistas, waterfalls, rigorous hikes, and ... beer. … (The Sōsh Concierge)

Active, Family Fun, Good for Groups, Hiking, Hiking & Biking, Local Trips, Outdoor Activities, Parks, Scenic

One of the few free adventures left in the city, the Seward Slides have been a long-time mainstay of a quiet Castro neighborhood. Take a trip down the famed steep… (Casey Near)

Active, Family Fun, Free, Historical Sites, Nature Appreciation, Outdoor Activities, Parks, People Watching

As the infamous Mary Poppins taught us long ago, flying a kite can inspire the most grumbling of grouches into song and dance. So grab a sweeping Marina field, a… (Casey Near)

Active, Family Fun, Nature Appreciation, Outdoor Activities, Parks, Scenic

The hardest thing about Buzzard’s Roost in Big Basin Redwoods State Park is having to eventually leave it. The around-the-compass views call for lots of lingering. But the summit is… (Weekend Sherpa)

Active, Family Fun, Fitness, Good for Groups, Hiking, Hiking & Biking, Local Trips, Outdoor Activities, Parks, Scenic

Cooking dinner on the grill, falling asleep under towering redwoods, waking up to miles of premier trails to explore: that’s state-of-the-art camping in Butano State Park. This gem of a… (Weekend Sherpa)

Active, Adventurous Activities, Camping, Family Fun, Good for Groups, Hiking, Hiking & Biking, Local Trips, Outdoor Activities, Parks, Scenic

For a hike that’ll transport you back in time—and to a place with legendary panoramas—head to the Peninsula’s Sweeney Ridge. In 1769, Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá trudged over this… (Weekend Sherpa)

Active, Family Fun, Free, Good for Groups, Hiking, Hiking & Biking, Outdoor Activities, Parks, Scenic

Even in a city known for dazzling peaks and sweeping views, Mount Davidson, San Francisco's highest hill, stands out, soaring above San Francisco at 938 feet. (SF Chronicle)

Active, Athletic Activities, Free, Hiking & Biking, Outdoor Activities, Parks

Morse's Gulch Falls is a hidden beauty. Get away from the crowds on all the popular hiking trails of the Mt. Tam area. This waterfall is just a couple miles… (Local Hikes)

Active, Adventurous Activities, Athletic Activities, Free, Hiking & Biking, Outdoor Activities, Parks

Claremont Canyon may be compact but it offers the kind of untrammeled solitude you wouldn't expect from a place that's just minutes from a busy city. Relax on the lone… (Weekend Sherpa)

Athletic Activities, Good for a Date, Good for Groups, Hiking, Hiking & Biking, Local Trips, Nature, Nature Appreciation, Outdoor Activities, Parks

This marks the 76th year for the beloved (and free!) Stern Grove Festival—and this year's concert series is just as jammed pack with local bands, cultural institutions, and world-renowned artists… (San Francisco Magazine)

Arts & Entertainment, Concerts, Family Fun, Festivals, Free, Good for Groups, Live Music, Outdoor Activities, Parks, People Watching, Performing Arts, Picnics, Shows & Events, Summer