Exclusive | San Francisco: What to See & Do Part Six

OUTDOOR/ATHLETIC
Sightseeing in Stairmaster City will give you a thorough aerobic workout, unless you plan on taking public transportation everywhere. For residents, San Francisco's mild climate and hilly terrain makes leading a healthy, active life of jogging, biking and other outdoor sports easy. We advise only the most able Rollerbladers to set off on these hills. Make sure you have plenty of protective gear if you're blading or biking. A fall on one of San Francisco's steep hills (some with inclines up to 20 degrees) can be especially injurious.

Rent bikes and skates from Golden Gate Park Bike and Skate at Golden Gate Park (3038 Fulton Street at Sixth Avenue; 415-668-1117) and pedal or roll your way through one of America's most beautiful parks. On Sundays, the roads in the park are off-limits to cars, making biking and blading here especially relaxing. Different Spokes/San Francisco (P.O. Box 14711, San Francisco, 94114) is a gay bicycle club that welcomes visitors to join them on their weekly rides. A favorite local cycling route is through the Presidio and over the Golden Gate Bridge.

North Baker Beach (at Sea Cliff Ave. and El Camino del Mar) is the official gay beach of San Francisco (nudity is common), but also on weekend days, the south side of Dolores Park (bounded by Church and Dolores St. on the east and west; and 18th to 20th on the north and south), a.k.a. Dolores Beach, where the park crests in a steep hill, is solidly gay for sunbathers, and a good place to meet locals. There's also a great view of Downtown from the crest of the park.

The Gay and Lesbian Tennis Federation/San Francisco welcomes visitors to their practice sessions for a fee. Runners should join a San Francisco Frontrunners (415-978-2429) run on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Call for details on time and locations.

The San Francisco Hiking Club (P.O. Box 14065, San Francisco, CA 94114-0065) organizes group hiking expeditions in and around the Bay Area. Gay Volleyball (Jay 415-864-0257) meets every Sunday at 18th and DeHaro (Potrero Hill) from noon to 4 p.m. in an outdoor school yard, and charges no fee for visitors.

SAGA North is a ski and snowboard club, with a range of events planned throughout the winter. Across the Bay Bridge, Gondola Servizio (866-737-8494) offers rides in an authentic Venetian Gondola on Oakland's beautiful Lake Merritt. For full moon nights, make reservations at least a month in advance.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six

Part Seven | Part Eight

San Francisco: Introduction
San Francisco: Where to Stay
San Francisco: Where to Eat
San Francisco: Where to Play/Meet
San Francisco: Where to Shop
San Francisco: Resources