Ocean Beach, San Francisco: One of the Best Walking Beaches in California

Stretching for five miles from the Cliff House to the north to Fort Funston to the south is San Francisco's largest beach, Ocean Beach. The Outer Richmond, Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods border Ocean Beach. This magnificent beach is by far one of the best walking beaches in California. The terrain for the most part is flat and sandy, perfect for runners, walkers or dog walkers. It's said that you can walk it all the way from San Francisco to San Mateo. I haven't made it that far; the best I could do was walk from Judah to Sloat and back.

My love affair with this beach began on my first visit to San Francisco two years ago. Although in the city, the beauty of the beach is breathtaking. Ocean Beach is where the city melts seamlessly into the Pacific Ocean.

Ocean Beach is protected by sand dunes. On the other side of the dunes is the Great Highway, a four-lane road that follows San Francisco's western border. There is a walking path near the roadway, and for a stretch, a nice paved seawall walkway follows the beach. On the other side of the road, a multi-use path, popular with joggers and bicyclists, runs along the highway.

Since I have bad knees, walking is my choice of exercise. Walking in sand will give you a good workout without damaging your joints. The added allure of walking this beach is that along the shore, you will forget that you're in a major city. Close to the surf, you can't hear traffic at all.

The wildlife here is interesting. Part of the Golden Gate Recreational Area, Ocean Beach is home to the Western snowy plover, a small bird on the endangered species list. In addition to the plovers, Ocean Beach is home to many gulls, and you can occasionally see pelicans flying by. When the tide goes out, it's possible to find some shells and sand dollars, as well as sand tumbled glass.

The best time to walk the beach is in the early morning. As dawn breaks, you won't find many walking the beach area. You may run into a few surfers and fishermen trying to make a catch. Ocean Beach seems to be very popular with dog walkers as well. Most walkers are friendly and will smile and say hello.

When walking the beach, dress warmly and in layers. Because of the microclimate in San Francisco, the weather is often cool, windy and foggy. Ocean Beach is located in an area where the fog seems to settle in and stay. If the sun breaks and temperature rises, you can always shed a layer.

Later in the day, the beach will fill up with more people and activities, and at night there are plenty of bonfires and parties. There are several good coffee houses within a block or two of the beach, including the Java Beach, which is at Great Highway and Judah. For full meals, you can stop at the Cliff House or Beach Chalet.

If you like nature, walking, the ocean and are in San Francisco, take a walk along Ocean Beach.