** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more I didn't know San Francisco had its own Fountain of Youth. OK, I knew we had one, but I thought it was at the Red Door Spa near Union Square. But I guess Elizabeth Arden isn't the only one holding the key to your eternal childhood. This spring, according to Ohlone legend, apparently allows women sipping its water to pump out kids over a long life. I don't know what the water does to those of us who don't reproduce, but it is a congregation place for COVID-weary teachers needing to take their charges on a field trip. Why not? After all, there's a stone well from which presumably the water springs and plenty of flora and streams in which the kids can frolic to the delight of their teachers. Of course I did not partake of the frolicking as I didn't want to get 5-10 at Folsom State, but I still enjoyed the bucolic setting from a distance. RELATED - Exploring the Marina? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2HyFdzC

El Polin Spring has a very short trail appropriate for a leisurely stroll. During the winter the…read morecreek runs through but it's pretty much dry for the rest of the year. Bathrooms are located at the base as well as about 5 parking spots. During the weekend unrestricted parking is available on the street however it's permit only during the week. At the beginning of the trail there are a couple of picnic tables and remnants of the base of an Adobe house from colonial days. You can always hear lots of birds chirping and it's populated with wildflowers in the spring. The trail is a loop about a quarter of a mile which is good for people that want to get out for something short. To hike farther, at the loop take a left and there is a trail that goes up by the playground. This trail can circle around with the Lovers Lane trail which is about 1.5 miles. Another option is to take a right before the spring which goes up to the Ecology Trail which you can circle around as well.

According to Presidio's map it's 1.5 miles but that also includes the Ecology trail, El Polin…read moreSpring and starting at Crissy Field Beach. By itself it's much shorter. Tennessee Hollow is a path along a watershed and it's better in the winter when there is water in the creek. There's a parking lot off Presidio Blvd that faces the trail. Parking $2.50 per hour. This is nice place to sit in the car with lunch while looking at open space. The main part of the specific Tennessee Hollow is the path between Presidio and Lincoln then cross the street between Lincoln and Gorgas. There are a lot of birds, plants, and flowers in the watershed. I'd recommend going to the Tunnel Tops park afterwards.

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more I don't know what a 'hollow' is, but then again, I don't understand what a lot of things mean. I'm assuming Tennessee Hollow refers to the valley that this trail follows in the Presidio. Otherwise it's my brain that must be hollow because I have no explanation for the Tennessee part of the name. All I know is that it's a two-mile route that I walked north to south and back again. I started at the Crissy Field Marsh on the Golden Gate Promenade. That's where I crossed a couple of footbridges through the newly excavated Quartermaster Reach Marsh (photo: https://bit.ly/3cyrZ51). There wasn't much to see here yet except the underpass of the Presidio Parkway. I eventually made it to Lovers' Lane Bridge which didn't strike me as a spot for a romantic tryst (photo: https://bit.ly/3eIdnmr). I walked along the residential MacArthur Avenue until I found myself at the legendary El Polin Spring. Lots of kids were frolicking around the stone wells (photo: https://bit.ly/2PYDGdH). I climbed up to the Ecology Trail passing by a redwood grove (photo: https://bit.ly/38EjX9Y) and made my way back by taking a detour through the Main Post. It was a pleasant walk, quite scenic in parts though heavy on pavement for some stretches, but a good way to get acquainted with this hollow...or maybe it's a watershed. It doesn't matter because I don't know what 'watershed' means either. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nUl

The California Coastal Trail is amazing and beautiful! It's the public trails for walkers,…read morebikers, runners, cyclers, and others along the 1200-mile California coastline. Coastal walk and hike along the California Coastal Trail is the best. The ocean sound, and spectacular ocean view and breathtaking beaches are simply the best. Don't miss out! Go check it out!

This is one of my favorite trails for scenery, it's so majestic. I love being near the ocean for…read morethe endless calming sounds of the waves breaking and the fresh breeze which invigorates. The hike from the bridge to 25th Ave is about 3 miles round trip. To make it longer you can go .5 miles through some side streets then hit the Lands End trail beside the Legion of Honor. The Batteries to Bluffs trail and California Coastal trail intertwine and are often mixed up with each other. Technically the Coastal trail goes along Lincoln while Batteries to Bluffs goes down closer to the beach and alongside the batteries but usually most people will go down one and come back the other way. There are so many beautiful photo opportunities but keep in mind that it's usually slightly to extremely foggy in these parts though there are some rare completely sunny days.

This is a good trail to stroll on if driving to Inspiration Point and want a small hike afterwards…read more To walk from Inspiration Point to the end of the trail at Hardie Ave is about 1 mile there and back. The trail is partially canopied in trees and many parts in the sun have wild blackberries growing. The trail parallels a busy street so you can hear cars go by but there are also sounds of many birds, trees swaying, and the fog horn in the distance (sometimes) which is always soothing. I usually do a loop to the Lyon stairs which is a little over 2 miles RT.

Nature, berries, happy dogs, nice people, and fairly easy trail…read more It's a great little break from the city, nice variation of trees, cool birds, and yet like close enough that you can hop in the car after and go get lunch. Perfect for when you need to air out children and take yourself offline for a while.

Inside Presidio Park, I got a lovely view of the Bay on a clear winter day. It was perfectly…read morelovely. Please come and create your own adventure.

This is a nice stop while hiking in the presidio. But there's a pay parking lot here for…read moreconvenience, too. There are several different maps on site, featuring the golden gate national recreation area (beaches, wildlife, historic former military installations), points of interest in the presidio, hiking and biking trails, and transit options. A couple of benches allow for seating, and it's certainly a lovely space for relaxing among nature. But it's hard to just sit back when there are such lovely views all around, to explore. Looking over the concrete edge, you can see the water in the distance with sailboats floating by and the islands of the SF bay adding to the scenery. Beautiful landmarks can be seen, like The Palace of Fine Arts and Alcatraz. Toward the right, former military buildings of the presidio, as well as SF residences lining the hills. And trees and greenery. LOTS of trees! You would think they are partially blocking the views. But the way I see it, they make the views what they are... captivating!

One of my absolute favorite field trip spots for my students is the Wood Line in the Presidio of…read moreSan Francisco. This is a super popular place for professional photos. A quick tip: because of the way the Wood Line is designed, this stretch can turn into a full-on wind tunnel. Definitely layer up; it can get chilly even on a sunny day. What makes this area so special for young students is the natural layout. The rows of eucalyptus trees create built-in boundaries, which makes it much easier to manage a group while still giving them a sense of freedom and exploration. There are also spots nearby where kids can build and expand on makeshift shelters using fallen branches, perfect for imaginative play, teamwork, and a little hands-on engineering. There are often dogs off leash in this part of the Presidio, but we've never had any issues along this particular stretch. One especially memorable visit included spotting an owl nesting in the trees. A park ranger was stationed nearby to ensure the owl's safety, and my students even got to ask questions and learn more about the habitat. It turned into an unexpected and magical lesson in urban wildlife. If you're looking for a unique, outdoor San Francisco, add the Wood Line to your list.

Simply beautiful 1200 ft winding line of recycled eucalyptus trunks in a forest beneath eucalyptus…read moretrees. A great place for photos or taking a walk and getting fresh air. It was very quiet and tranquil when we went. I wasn't wearing the right shoes so we didn't walk through, but it was easy to access for me to just admire it.

This trail offers incredible scenery, from peaceful forested sections to beautiful views of the San…read moreFrancisco Bay. I've hiked parts of this trail before, and the scenery never disappoints. My one frustration is the lack of clear trail signage. Even though we had a trail map and were watching for markers, we still ended up going in circles several times. Better trail signs--or more detailed maps--would make the experience much more enjoyable, especially for first-time visitors. On the plus side, parking was easy to pay for by phone and was very reasonably priced, which we appreciated. Despite the navigation challenges, the beautiful scenery made the hike worthwhile.

This review is for the part of the trail that goes through the Presidio. The Bay Area Ridge Trail…read moreis mix of different trails that circles the whole Bay Area. This leg starts at the Presidio Golf Course and goes along a tree lined path. The art installation Spire by Anthony Goldworthy who also did nearby Woodline is to the right. The trail continues by the golf course and farther along you can see views of the Bay and Alcatraz to the right side. The trail hits Washington Blvd at Deems where you must walk along the road, which I don't like too much because there isn't a great space for a sidewalk so you are sharing the road with cars. I don't think it's the safest for pedestrians but there is no other way around it and at least it's not too long. This part has a lot of wild blackberry bushes which are in season late summer. The trail continues by the cemetery with lots of Ivy and greenery abound. To Rob Hill Campground is 1.5 miles one way so 3 miles round trip. Technically according to the Presidio Map this trail goes to the Bridge and it is about 2.5 miles one way but you are also connecting with the California Coastal Trail.

Trail starts at 40th avenue and goes along the golf course to the back of the Legion of Honor. This…read moremight be nice to park in lieu of the parking lot over there if going to the museum since that lot is known to have lots of car break-ins. This trail is only about .3 miles long so not really a destination to itself but it's best if used as an add on to the Lands End Trail. The trail forks right before going to the Legion of Honor so if you take the left side the trail takes you through to the street going through the SF VA Medical Center. From here it becomes a trail again going through Fort Miley where there are some batteries and an old Octagon House. From there loop around with the regular Lands End Trail. To do this loop is a little under 2 miles. For a list of more SF hikes and walks: https://bit.ly/43PhQtL

The Clement Trail is a useful little connector that runs through Lands End and lies on the western…read moreedge of Lincoln Park Golf Course. If you are trying to cut across the park, this is the most direct route. The trail is not all that long and is most definitely not a destination. But, it's secluded, has good views of the golf course and is a good way to expedite your travels across Lands End. A couple of notes: *The Trailhead on the Clement End starts at 40th Avenue. *There are restrooms located on the north end of the trail. *It's also easy to miss the start from this side. It's just to the right of the tee box behind the museum. *Keep an ear open for "Fore!" as you are right along a golf course.