Gaze in wonder towards the Bridge and Marin Headlands from outside the Golden Gate at mile-long Baker Beach. It's nestled at the foot of rugged cliffs on the Presidio's western shore. An easy stroll from the parking lot, you'll find a picnic area with tables, grills, and restrooms.

Discover one of the parks' richest wetlands along the lush coast west of Mt. Tamalpais. Bolinas Lagoon is a 1,100-acre tidal estuary between the eccentric village of Bolinas, Highway 1, and the sandy arc of Stinson Beach. Its pristine, water-snaked marshes are home to a fascinating diversity of bird life.

You'll imagine you're in the English countryside while strolling the rolling hills of Bolinas Ridge, a 10.5 mile trail through pastoral farmlands in lovely western Marin. Before you stretches Olema Valley, the San Andreas Rift Zone, and to the north Tomales Bay, the entry to Point Reyes.

Locals consider China Beach a civic secret, tucked between Lands End and Baker Beach in the Sea Cliff neighborhood west of the Golden Gate.

Explore this remarkable environmental makeover near the Marin Headlands coastline. Formerly an army installation, Fort Cronkhite at the end of the Rodeo Valley is now a magnet for science and the arts.

Hold on to your hat. Fort Funston features 200 foot high sandy bluffs on San Francisco's southwest coast where the winds blow reliably wildly. No surprise it is one of the premier hang-gliding spots in the country. Dog owners will be happy to know they can take leashes off here.

Everywhere you turn in this 1,200-acre greenbelt on the City's northern waterfront, you'll find endless options for relaxation and stimulation. This former military installation, with its jaw- dropping view of the Golden Gate, is headquarters for the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.