At San Francisco's northwestern end lies abundant
outdoor enjoyment: You can bicycle through Golden Gate Park - the largest and most interesting
city park anywhere, with its flora, fauna and mostly-merry weather - and out to Ocean Beach,
the vastest expanse of public beach this East Coast-bred Goddess has ever laid eyes on; then,
up beyond the famous (and infamously overpriced tourist trap) Cliff House Restaurant, the
adventuresome will find the Land's End Trail which, as its name implies, skirts the edge of
the coast (toward the north and the Golden Gate). Fantastic views await those who are not
daunted by a little exercise - though don't expect a major workout, as most of this trail is
pretty flat. Be sure not to miss the Sutro Bath ruins on your left just past the Cliff House.
Don't be afraid to go down and poke around the cave - it's worth it!
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| Great Egret eats crustacean, Strybing Arboretum | Great Egret goes on the hunt | Great Egret hangs with turtle pals |
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| Strybing Arboretum, Golden Gate Park | Early magnolia blooms, Golden Gate Park | Stream & Cala lilies, Golden Gate Park |
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| Snowy Egret stalks lunch, elsewhere in the Strybing | Trail, Golden Gate Park | Pond dwellers, Golden Gate Park |
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| Historic Camera Obscura | Cliff House | Seal Rock and friends |
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| Sutro Bath ruins, 1-1-00 | Solitude... the Golden Gate near sunset | Lone windsurfer, Ocean Beach |
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| Strybing Arboretum, Golden Gate Park | Sutro Bath ruins at night | Land's End Trail at dusk, looking out to sea |
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| Gone fishin' | Sutro Baths & cave | Sailing into the sunset, 1-1-00 | Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden |
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| Strybing Arboretum | Nuzzling horses | Magnolia petals and stream | Great Egret takes flight |
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All images copyright Cynthia Mitchel 2000