Stephanie Denman knows she only has to venture outside to experience the magic and diversity of San Francisco.
While San Francisco battles tough issues, it’s discouraging to hear the constant drumbeat about the city’s “doom loop,” when it has so much to offer.
My family and I recently hiked a portion of the 17-mile “Cross Town Trail” – a path split into five zones, running from South San Francisco to Lands’ End. Walking it was a great reminder of San Francisco’s natural beauty and vibrant communities. We started at Grandview Park which – with its spectacular vista spanning the Pacific Ocean to the Bay – truly lives up to its name. From there we took the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps – a project started in 2003 to connect the community through beauty – and stopped at every landing to look up at the colorful Marine life steps. We tip-toed down a bed of mosaic flowers on the 15th avenue stairs on our way to Irving Street in the Sunset. It was tempting to join the line at the Pineapple King Bakery, but we opted for other Chinese pastries a few doors down. We also grabbed a baguette at Day Moon bakery, a Hoagie at Palm City and other picnic supplies at Clancey’s before heading into Golden Gate Park.
There were no doomsayers in sight on the Chain of Lakes Drive which was like stepping into a French impressionist painting with picnickers, a wedding, families, skaters and bikers reveling in the park’s riches. We gushed over the green waterfall at Lloyd Lake before watching boaters on Blue Heron Lake.