West Bluff: an In-Depth Guide to Visiting this San Francisco Beach
with Kids
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San Francisco Beach Day with
Perfect Bay Views
Visitors to San Francisco typically prioritize tourist spots like Fishermans Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge, but very few will consider visiting one of San Francisco’s great beaches, and with the city’s cooler temperatures and often overcast conditions, it’s not surprising why.
However, the weather should definitely NOT discourage visitors from visiting the West Bluff Picnic Area and beach, located in the beautiful Crissy Field.
The West Bluff Picnic Area has a small, kid-friendly beach that is often times frequented by local families because it’s in a great location, has gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge, offers plenty of space to play, and is in close proximity to so many other great things to do.
This article is your go-to guide to the West Bluff Picnic Area and beach. Here we’ll answer all the questions you might have about this area so that you and your family can be fully prepared to make some truly unforgettable, bayside memories here.
Then, at the end, we’ll explore a couple more fun San Francisco beaches that you and your kids will absolutely love and will never forget.
What is the Crissy Field West Bluff?
Crissy Field West Bluffs is a great outdoor recreational space a the northern tip San Francisco.
This space has picnic tables, barbecue grills, walking, paths, large grassy areas, and a cute little beach. It’s absolutely perfect for any family looking to get some fresh air by the bay.
Every day, even when the skies are overcast and the temperatures are cool, you are likely to find San Francisco locals strolling along the beach’s shoreline with the gorgeous Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
On warm, sunny days in San Francisco, the beach at West Bluff is a prime spot for families since the bay water here is calm enough for kids to play in, and the view are just simpily amazing.
Where is
the West Bluff beach?
This cute, little beach is located in the Presidio’s Crissy filed, which is on the northern side of the city, right by the San Francisco Bay.
The beach at West Bluff isn’t too big, but because of its great location and views, it is definitely a very popular destination for local families looking for beach fun by the bay.
Since this beach is located inside the Presidio of San Francisco, and it’s close to other great areas like the Palace of Fine Arts and Ghirardelli Square.
Plus, it offers great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Angel Island.
What's the weather like at the West Bluff Picnic Area?
The city of San Francisco typically is known for having mild weather year-round. The temperatures in the city usually sits within the 50s-60s, so it’s rarely every blistering cold or sweltering hot. Perfect weather.
Because of this, the weather at West Bluff is also really mild throughout the year.
However, during the city’s historically hottest month of October, the temperatures at West Bluff have been known to reach the 80s and 90s, and sometimes even the 100s!
Can I swim at
West Bluff?
Since the bay water in this area is free from the rough waves that you might find in other San Francisco beaches like Ocean Beach and Baker Beach, it is relatively safe for kids and families to wade and play in.
However, here are a couple of things to consider before sending the kids out to swim at West Bluff:
- The water temperature at West Bluff is very cold. Even during rare heat waves, the water temperature sits at around at 48 degrees.
- There are absolutely no lifeguards on duty at West Bluff, so swimming is at your own risk.
What activities can I do here?
Even though the mild weather at West Bluff might not be like the tropical weather in beach destinations like Hawaii, there are still so many great outdoor activities your kids would truly enjoy here.
Here are some great examples:
- building sand castles
- flying kites
- picnicking
- watching the fishermen on the pier
- building beach forts from driftwood
- frisbees
- volley ball
- strolling along the shoreline
- biking on the promenade
What other things are there to do around West Bluff?
The Presidio, which is where West Bluff is located, is a prime area for great activities in the northern side of San Francisco.
Here are some other kid-friendly things to do once your family has had their fill of the beach.
- Palace of Fine Arts: The Palace of Fine Arts is a beautiful structure located east of West Bluff. This particular exhibition center is a place that hosts events like weddings, conventions, and trade shows, but is also a great place for kids to explore because it looks like a building straight out of ancient Greece or Rome.
- Fort Point: Fort Point is an old military fort that was built between 1853 and 1951 as a part of a chain of defense systems to protect the San Francisco Bay. You can get a free, ranger-led tour here twice a day.
- Lombard Street aka Crookedest Street: Lombard Street is within close driving distance from West Bluff. You can even take a fun segway tour of the San Francisco hills that takes you down this famous, winding street!
Is there parking available?
Yes!
There are plenty of paid parking options at Crissy Field West Bluff in the San Francisco Presidio.
1) West Bluff Picnic Area parking lot: This parking lot gives you the best access to the picnic tables, barbecue grills, restrooms, pier, and beach. You’ll want to aim to snag some parking here if you intend on spending a long day here. You can pay for parking with a credit/debit card.
2) Crissy Field parking along Mason Street: If the West Bluff Picnic Area parking lot is full, there is also plenty of paid parking along the street that leads up to West Bluff Picnic Area. Parking meters here accept credit/debit cards.
One thing to note, however, is that parking in this area can be really tricky on rare, hot days when local families flock to the shore.
If you do end up visiting this beach area during a heat wave, plan on arriving early in the day as it will give you the best chance at scoring a good parking spot.
Are there restaurants near West Bluff?
While there are no big strips of restaurants in the Presidio, there are a great handful of family-friendly places to eat at within a few miles of the area.
Here are a few areas near West Bluff that offer delicious bites that they entire family can enjoy.
- Ghirardelli Square: Ghirardelli Square is a commercial shopping space thats really popular among San Francisco visitors looking for unique shops and eateries. It is also where you can find the famous Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate shop where you and the kids can share a decadent, hot fudge sundae.
- Presidio Tunnel Tops: This outdoor recreational area of the San Francisco Presidio is right down the street from West Bluff and is an amazing place for families. The Presidio regularly invites local food trucks and food carts to set up shop at Tunnel Tops. These pop-up restaurants serve up a variety of foods including tacos, empanadas, bao, pupusas, crab sandwiches, and ice cream.
- Chestnut Street: This strip of restaurants and shops is a bustling part of the city’s Marina District. With plenty family-friendly cafes, restaurants, and dessert shops, it’s a great place for yummy, sit-down meals with the kids.
San Francisco Beach Day Packing List
Before we wrap up this guide to West Bluff Picnic Area it is important to pack the right things in order to have the best time possible with your family. Here is a simple, but helpful packing list to help you and your family prepare for a great San Francisco beach day.
- Layers of clothing so you can adjust to the weather
- beach towel or picnic blanket
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- sun hat or cap
- kite
- comfortable walking shoes
- bluetooth speaker
- bag to put your trash in
- container for collected sea shells
- sand toys
- drinks and snacks
- beach chairs
- sports equipment: football, frisbee, and/or volleyball
In Conclusion
Crissy Field's West Bluff Beach is a Must-do for Families
San Francisco’s West Bluff beach is a popular place for many local families looking to to spend some quality beach time, but it would also definitely be be a great place to experience for families who are simply visiting the city.
With spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the San Francisco Bay, you just can’t miss.
It’s in an amazing location for many kid-friendly beach activities like sandcastle-building, kite-flying, and fort-building. In addition, the entire Crissy Field area is great for group picnics, loud barbecues, scenic walks, and bike rides.
West Bluff is also in close proximity to other great, family-friendly things to do like Ghirardelli Square, Palace of Fine Arts, and Lombard Street, so there’s plenty to do in the area once the kids have had their fill of beach time.
So, with all that said, don’t hesitate to pack up your beach bag for a day at the beach!
And make sure you keep this guide handy to have a truly memorable family day out at this
local, family favorite.
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