This mellow hike was a joy in spring: wildflowers everywhere, great views, no fog. We chose the hiker-only trails where we could, but bike routes cover similar ground.

Hill 88, towering 1,053 feet above Rodeo Beach, is reached via a 2.5-mile segment of the Coastal Trail. It starts flat but features a steep climb. Along the way, you'll pass Battery Townsley and ascend Wolf Ridge. A spur trail takes you to former gun emplacements and bunkers.

Restored in 2001, Crissy Field wasted no time in becoming a San Francisco icon and a gem of the Parks Conservancy. The former military airfield now sports a clean, smooth promenade with views of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, and the North and East Bays.

Take Golden Gate 70/80 from Civic Center in San Francisco to Marin City transfer station. A short walk through a residential neighborhood will lead you to the Pacheco Fire Road trail head.