Destination: Bernal Heights, San Francisco
Summit Bernal Heights, play on the Esmeralda Slides, and improve your short game at Urban Putt. Bonus Stop, Balmy Alley.
This is part of a series of family-oriented day trip outings around the San Francisco Bay Area I look forward to enjoying with my kids once social distancing and shelter in place isn’t the norm any longer.
Swing at the top of Bernal Hill by Cody Tolmasoff
Social Isolation — Day 31
I didn’t want to go to the supermarket today. Maybe it was the warm weather, maybe I could have been better organized, but I couldn’t face going to wait in the socially distanced line at Trader Joes. Maybe tomorrow.
I did manage to put together a nice ‘meatless Monday’ meal. I found a quick recipe for pizza dough and found some decent veggies leftover in the fridge. Toss on some goat cheese and crack a couple of eggs on top, it all turned out really well.
I’m looking forward to a warmer week.
Destination: Bernal Heights
Summit Bernal Heights
Play at the Esmeralda Slides
Play 18 holes at Urban Putt
Bonus Stop: Balmy Alley
Summit Bernal Heights
Walking up to Bernal Summit by Cody Tolmasoff
I love a walk to the top of Bernal Heights. We took a trip for my birthday last fall, and the weather was perfect.
It’s a good climb, but not too steep. It offers one of the best views of the city too. I’d say it's comparable to Twin Peaks, but without all the people driving in and parking(since you have to hike to the top). And if you make it to the very top, you might find a rope swing at the top (if Park & Rec hasn’t taken it down).
Play at the Esmeralda Slides
Esmerelda Slides Via BernalHeights.com
On the western side of Bernal Hill is the Esmeralda Slide Park. It’s an extra-long slide next to a stairway. Originally dedicated in 1979, then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein took a turn down the slide during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Play 18 holes at Urban Putt
SF Themed putting green at Urban Putt by Cody Tolmasoff
Urban Putt is a San Francisco themed indoor mini-golf course. They pack a lot into this small space with well thought out, beautifully crafted, holes to play. Plus they offer snacks and (adult) beverages to buy up at the front. This is a great spot to spend a couple of hours.
Bonus Stop: Balmy Alley
Photo by Tobias Fischer on Unsplash
Want to get a dose of local artwork, take a quick stroll through Balmy Alley on your way to Bernal Summit.
Cody Tolmasoff is an author and publisher for Adventuring.in. He is a recovering programmer and a San Francisco native, raising two daughters, and regularly finding new adventures around the SF Bay Area. This article is an excerpt from an upcoming book, 52 San Francisco Bay Area Weekend Adventures, Day Trips With Your Kids!
Find him on Twitter @codyo, and read his most recent title Adventures in Getting Out on Amazon, filled with advice on successfully getting your family out for day trip adventures.
Originally published on Medium on 13 April 2020