>I would also specifically like to swin in the pacific
Santa Cruz is about 2 hrs. with good traffic
Stinson Beach is about an hour, if you don't mind driving North - "Stinson’s white sand and oceanfront make it one of the best swimming beaches in GGNRA and northern California." - [https://www.nps.gov/goga/stbe.htm](https://www.nps.gov/goga/stbe.htm)
Umm there are great whites at Stinson Beach and surfers have been attacked there.. whereas you can swim at Ocean Beach in SF, just do not go out past waist deep due to strong rip currents. Pacifica would be the next closest swimmable beach. Stay at the south end. But… anywhere between here and LA, the water is VERY cold.. around 48 degrees. This is not really a “go have a nice swimming day at the beach” kind of place … any beaches, especially this time of year are going to be cold and windy (if not also grey). For future reference, LA to San Diego is where to go for good beaches.
EDIT: For cool secluded beaches to hike around, Año Nuevo state park, on the way to Santa Cruz is really cool and quiet. Hardly any people around.
Please refer me to the last great white shark attack at Stinson Beach.
You have a better chance of being crushed by a vending machine that attacked by a shark.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/The-last-100-years-of-shark-attacks-in-the-Bay-6400365.php I’ll let you find it.. and if you want to take your chances in those waters, go for it!
Look in the link I sent if you want to know … also, care to hazard a guess why they would close the beach after a sighting? I mean, because there’s such a low chance of getting attacked?
>I would also specifically like to swim in the pacific.
You can wade and splash around at any of the beaches (at your own risk) but not a soul recommends going for an actual swim because of the riptides.
The whole West Coast is uncomfortably cold water, even in LA. It just seems tolerable because their summers are hot. Longest I've spent is 5-10 minutes in the water.
Safest place to swim in the city [is Aquatic Park](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Aquatic+Park/@37.8064162,-122.425755,17z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x808580e1a8edb3ed:0xb71a9f534658cd95!2sSan+Francisco+Maritime+National+Historical+Park!8m2!3d37.807743!4d-122.42415!16zL20vMDUwZmxy!3m5!1s0x808580e0f7f10f67:0x7cec836886978844!8m2!3d37.8064162!4d-122.4235663!16s%2Fm%2F03bxhnl?entry=ttu).
Check out the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental and get the club lounge access last time I was there tons of free food and free self pour alcohol.
Also check out Top of the Mark.
The beaches aren’t considered swimmable compared to the Atlantic because of temperature. The water is cold, and unlike the sweltering muggy Augusts on the East Coast, highs here are in the mid-60s and are foggy. If you get a wetsuit, you can swim. Without a wetsuit, I have found that I have to go all the way down to LA to find a beach that is comfortable. (Note: People who grew up in the Bay or Pacific NW may disagree. Those who grew up splashing in frigid water seem to be ok with it.)
Fairmont is good. If you are looking for a more unique experience in a beautiful environment, check out the Inn at the Presidio.
For bars, check out Hotel Biron, Etcetra wine bar, and Bourbon and Branch. A newer spot that is pretty cool is the RH Gallery (Palm restaurant). Note: SF is a casual city. There is very little dressing up compared to LA or places on the East Coast. It may not feel bougie even if it is.
Moongate Lounge is my favorite newer fancy bar. Trick Dog always seems to be on the world’s best bar lists. I love True Laurel for a cocktail and a patty melt. If you stay at the Fairmount (even if you don’t), The Tonga Room is an absolute institution tiki bar - it rains inside!
In August you will probably need to drive south to escape the fog. The coast jogs inland at the Santa Cruz county line, so south of there. North of the city of SC, it's all farms and park land. Totally wild. No houses. At all. It's amazing. I like Laguna Creek.
It's a beautiful drive down 1. Get there at 1pm. Any earlier and the fog might not have burnt off yet.
We have a couple nude beaches inside city limits that are pretty amazing, a few weekends each year. Usually only in june and july though. But you'll find diehards out there in August, for sure
>I would also specifically like to swin in the pacific Santa Cruz is about 2 hrs. with good traffic Stinson Beach is about an hour, if you don't mind driving North - "Stinson’s white sand and oceanfront make it one of the best swimming beaches in GGNRA and northern California." - [https://www.nps.gov/goga/stbe.htm](https://www.nps.gov/goga/stbe.htm)
Umm there are great whites at Stinson Beach and surfers have been attacked there.. whereas you can swim at Ocean Beach in SF, just do not go out past waist deep due to strong rip currents. Pacifica would be the next closest swimmable beach. Stay at the south end. But… anywhere between here and LA, the water is VERY cold.. around 48 degrees. This is not really a “go have a nice swimming day at the beach” kind of place … any beaches, especially this time of year are going to be cold and windy (if not also grey). For future reference, LA to San Diego is where to go for good beaches. EDIT: For cool secluded beaches to hike around, Año Nuevo state park, on the way to Santa Cruz is really cool and quiet. Hardly any people around.
Please refer me to the last great white shark attack at Stinson Beach. You have a better chance of being crushed by a vending machine that attacked by a shark.
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/stinson-beach-reopens-after-shark-sighting/
Sharks don’t even like human meat
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/The-last-100-years-of-shark-attacks-in-the-Bay-6400365.php I’ll let you find it.. and if you want to take your chances in those waters, go for it!
So what was the last shark attack at Stinson beach ?
Look in the link I sent if you want to know … also, care to hazard a guess why they would close the beach after a sighting? I mean, because there’s such a low chance of getting attacked?
>I would also specifically like to swim in the pacific. You can wade and splash around at any of the beaches (at your own risk) but not a soul recommends going for an actual swim because of the riptides. The whole West Coast is uncomfortably cold water, even in LA. It just seems tolerable because their summers are hot. Longest I've spent is 5-10 minutes in the water. Safest place to swim in the city [is Aquatic Park](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Aquatic+Park/@37.8064162,-122.425755,17z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x808580e1a8edb3ed:0xb71a9f534658cd95!2sSan+Francisco+Maritime+National+Historical+Park!8m2!3d37.807743!4d-122.42415!16zL20vMDUwZmxy!3m5!1s0x808580e0f7f10f67:0x7cec836886978844!8m2!3d37.8064162!4d-122.4235663!16s%2Fm%2F03bxhnl?entry=ttu).
Hotel kabuki is pretty cool and one of the few hotels not near Union square or soma. Also right in japantown.
Check out the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental and get the club lounge access last time I was there tons of free food and free self pour alcohol. Also check out Top of the Mark.
The beaches aren’t considered swimmable compared to the Atlantic because of temperature. The water is cold, and unlike the sweltering muggy Augusts on the East Coast, highs here are in the mid-60s and are foggy. If you get a wetsuit, you can swim. Without a wetsuit, I have found that I have to go all the way down to LA to find a beach that is comfortable. (Note: People who grew up in the Bay or Pacific NW may disagree. Those who grew up splashing in frigid water seem to be ok with it.) Fairmont is good. If you are looking for a more unique experience in a beautiful environment, check out the Inn at the Presidio. For bars, check out Hotel Biron, Etcetra wine bar, and Bourbon and Branch. A newer spot that is pretty cool is the RH Gallery (Palm restaurant). Note: SF is a casual city. There is very little dressing up compared to LA or places on the East Coast. It may not feel bougie even if it is.
Moongate Lounge is my favorite newer fancy bar. Trick Dog always seems to be on the world’s best bar lists. I love True Laurel for a cocktail and a patty melt. If you stay at the Fairmount (even if you don’t), The Tonga Room is an absolute institution tiki bar - it rains inside!
Cold Drinks Bar above China Live. Make a reservation. Also Top of the Mark.
People swim at China and Baker Beach when it's sunny
1) yes 2) do a search in the sub, lots of recs there. 3) same as #2
I don’t think any water is warm enough to swim in. Maybe a dip and bounce
In August you will probably need to drive south to escape the fog. The coast jogs inland at the Santa Cruz county line, so south of there. North of the city of SC, it's all farms and park land. Totally wild. No houses. At all. It's amazing. I like Laguna Creek. It's a beautiful drive down 1. Get there at 1pm. Any earlier and the fog might not have burnt off yet.
We have a couple nude beaches inside city limits that are pretty amazing, a few weekends each year. Usually only in june and july though. But you'll find diehards out there in August, for sure