Crissy Field Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy San Francisco

Crissy Field was once a military airfield and is as old as aviation in the U.S. The area was released to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1974 and, since then, has undergone several renovations. And, for the sake of this article, as well as the reference used by most residents, Crissy Field encompasses the area between San Francisco Bay, Highway 101, and Baker Street on the east side.

One of the highlights of Crissy Field is the sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge, which you can appreciate from almost anywhere on the Field. Also, there is a medium-sized beach on which you can lay down and relax. And, as an added value to dog owners, you can take your pooch to walk around, explore and swim in the Bay from this beach.

Getting there and around

Although there is car parking near Crissy Field, I recommend you leave your car at home and eighter bike or take a bus here. Besides the second option, biking, being better for the environment, there are great bike paths around this area, including riding under Highway 101 and extending your visit to the Presidio. Also, wherever you go afterward, there are great places to see on your ride back home.

However, you decide to get to and from Crissy Field, go to www.sfmta.com to plan your trip to Crissy Field and back home.

What to see

Although many consider Crissy Field a place to go if you want to relax, take a walk, walk your dog, jog, and so on, the area actually contains some interesting sites, as well as places to shop. Regarding the former, try and check out:

• The NOAA Farallones Marine Sanctuary (farallones.noaa.gov) is housed in historic structures dating back to 1890. The visitor center is worth a stop to see the building.
• Crissy Field Marsh: this site is dedicated to preserving a safe place for 100 species of local and migrating birds, as well as a home to 110 native plants.
• Shopping and Recreation:
• Sports Basement (sportsbasement.com) If you are a sports enthusiast or need to buy a pair of comfortable sneakers, you need to make a stop at the Sports Basement. They are a discount store with hundreds of square feet of inventory, including apparel and equipment for skiing, biking, swimming, hiking, etc. They have a huge selection of discounted shoes for any sport, and they even sell some healthy snacks.
• Le Petite Balleen (swimlpb.com). I took my daughter there when she turned 6 months. This is a swim school for all ages, but it does an especially great job with kids. Great place to teach your child to swim as early as possible, plus they have great teachers, and the people are very friendly.
• Planite Granite (planetgranite.com) is a recreational rock climbing gym, which is very popular for sports enthusiasts of all kinds, plus people training to do some actual rock climbing worldwide.
• House of Air (houseofair.com) is an indoor trampoline park located in San Francisco’s Crissy Field. Opened in 2010, it is located in a converted Presidio air hangar. The facility features over 8,000 square feet of trampoline space in all directions.

Where to eat

There are several picnic areas throughout this area, plus you can also layout a picnic blanket on the beach and have a meal there. However, if you do not feel like carrying food around or if you run out of snacks or need a warm cup of coffee, you can go to:

• Warming Hut Bookstore and Café (parksconservancy.org) is a popular place to warm up, as the name implies, as well as pick up a snack, book, toy, or souvenir. It is definitely worth your while to stop and check it out on your way to the Golden Gate Bridge foot.

Additionally, you can always go to the neighboring Marina District, where you will find a large assortment of cuisines to choose from and food stores to buy your own snacks, and even a Safeway close to the eastern end of Crissy Field.