Beaches

Get your feet wet where the sand meets the water at some of the bay’s most beautiful beaches.

Credit
Ben Kaufman

Crissy Field (San Francisco)

The beach at Crissy Field is simply one of the most stunning urban beaches in the world. With a backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Fort Baker, birds, dogs, sailboats and massive container ships, it’s hard to go wrong.

Crown Memorial State Beach (Alameda)

There’s a beach in Alameda! At 2.5-miles long, this is one of the longest beaches on the bay. Spend a sunny day enjoying the amazing views of the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge. At the western end of the beach, there are picnic areas with BBQs and a windsurf/kite sail rental shop.

China Camp State Park (San Rafael)

China Camp State Park is a beautiful place for a picnic, for setting sail from a human-powered boat, or playing in the water. Learn about the important historical contributions made by Chinese immigrants and Chinese-Americans, and stop at the snack bar that is open on the weekends and run by a descendant of one of the original shrimping families.

McNears Beach County Park (San Rafael)

Set in a beautiful sheltered cove with mature landscaping, the narrow bayside beach offers a fun, safe place for general beach recreation and easy carry-in boat access for kayaks and canoes. McNears is a designated “trailhead” on the San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail.