Point Lobos Ave, Lincoln Park

Sutro Heights Park offers a unique mix of hiking, beach, and city life all rolled into one. Located in the northwestern corner of San Francisco, it can often feel like the end of the earth. Morning fog rolls in and lingers for the better part of the day, and the sunshine barely permeates through the forest canopies, making it easily one of the coldest spots in the Bay Area. Summers barely creep above 50 degrees.

However, when the fog lifts, you are rewarded with some of the best views imaginable. Panoramas of the Pacific Ocean and the Marin Headlands spread before you, and are easily accessed without having to hike for miles to the top of a hill. The recent parking lot renovations make it a lot easier for drivers to get here, but even on the warmest and sunniest of days, the area remains relatively uncrowded. The remote feel and lack of sunshine make it a relatively affordable area to live in the city, which could be the ideal California dream for beach lovers on a budget.

Aside from the proximity and the cooler, foggier weather, I am hard-pressed to find anything wrong with this area.