Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
226
Joe DiMaggio
North Beach Playground
at Lombard and Mason streets (
&
415/274-
0200
) and
Rossi Pool and Playground
(Arguello Blvd. at Anza St.;
&
415/666-7014
).
The
Embarcadero YMCA
(169 S teuart S t.;
&
415/957-9622;
www.ymcasf.org/
embarcadero) and the
Presidio YMCA
(Letterman Pool, 1151 Gorgas Ave.;
&
415/447-
9622;
www.presidioymcaaquatics.org) both hav e large indoor pools, and if y ou are a Y
member in your hometown, you can use their facilities for $3. Nonmembers are charged
$12 per day at the P residio pool and $15 at the E mbarcadero location. Call in adv ance
to check on community swim hours and to be sur e swim lanes are available.
Over at the University of San Francisco campus on Turk and Parker streets near Laurel
Heights is the
Koret Health and R ecreation Center
(
&
415/422-6811;
www.usfca.
edu/koret). It's primarily for students and locals, but nonmembers may use the Olympic-
size indoor swimming pool on a dr op-in basis for $15 per person. Swim teams regularly
practice in the pool M onday to Thursday afternoons; w eekends and mornings ar e the
best times for casual use. As with most pools in to wn, kids must be accompanied b y
adults. The
University of California, San Francisco
(UCSF) campuses at 500 Parnassus
Ave. and M ission Bay (at 16th
and 3rd sts.) both hav e pools with dr op-in rates of $15
for adults and $7 per child. The Mission Bay Community Center has a warm indoor
pool and a 25-yard, cool outdoor lap pool (
&
415/502-4446;
http://campuslifeservices.
ucsf.edu/fitnessrecreation).
TENNIS
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department operates 132 free tennis courts at parks
and recreation centers spread throughout the city. Most are available to players on a first-
come, first-served basis. Additionally, the 21 courts in
Golden Gate Park Tennis Complex
can be reserved in advance for a nominal fee. R eservations for weekends are taken starting
the previous Wednesday for the upcoming week by calling
&
415/753-7131.
Reservation
fees for walk-ups are $4 weekdays ($2 for seniors and free kids under 18) and $5 weekends;
$6 for advanced requests. Hopefully you're planning on playing with a local, because proof
of residency is a requirement to use the courts at peak times. Otherwise, feel free to try the
courts at the Moscone Recreation Center, Dolores Park, Alta Plaza Playground, the Presi-
dio, Joe DiMaggio North Beach Playground, and so on. City r esidents (kids and gr own-
ups) have the pleasure of signing up for fr ee tennis classes offer ed through the Recreation
and Park Department at courts throughout San Francisco.
WINDSURFING/SAILBOARDING
Before Crissy Field was conv erted into a national par k, windsurfers from around the B ay
Area would descend on the abandoned militar y airstrip and begin setting up their equip-
ment. Now that it 's a lo vely recreation area, the eastern end of C rissy Field is ev en more
popular as an access point to some of the best windsur fing in nor thern California. S ince
then, kite-boarding has exploded in popularity. Most afternoons you'll see at least a doz en
windsurfers and kite-boarders in the water , and on the windiest days y ou'll see hundreds.
Watching the boarders attain death-defying v elocities while to wering cargo ships loom in
the background is a hear t-stopping spectacle. This challenging spot is for exper ts only; no
lessons are available here.
Boardsports Windsurfing & Kiteboarding School
(
&
15/385-
1224;
http://boardsportsschool.com) rents gear from their San Francisco location at 1200
Clay St. However, lessons are offered out of their San Mateo or Alameda branches.
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