Fun Places For Doggies and Their People

*and by lil 'uns I am referring to the the hairy, four-legged 

      creatures that outnumber children in The City.

San Franciscans love them some dogs, making San Francisco one of the most dog-friendly cities in the nation and possibly even the world. So where do the locals take their pooches for some quality outdoor romping? Below is a list of the best places around to get out and explore nature with your own little beast(s). 

Fun Places For Doggies and Their People:

(in order of awesomeness) 

1. Fort Funston-This has got to be one of the most beautiful public off-leash areas that exists anywhere. Epic views of the bay, ample room to run around, and beach access makes this the best doggie fun spot EVER!
2. Chrissy Field- Another great place for both humans and dogs, Chrissy Field boasts one of the best views of the Golden Gate, beach access, and a huge lawn perfect for long-distance frisbee. Also off-leash, but beware of bikes. More on Chrissy Field here. 
3. Ocean Beach-What dog doesn't love running in the sand, splashing in the waves, and sampling washed-up sea delicacies? Dogs are allowed off-leash from Kelly's Cove (which is the side of the beach nearest to The Cliff House restaurant) to about the Windmill across the street (there is a small sign marking the boundary on the beach as well). *Small dogs will not want to miss Saturdays at 10am when hordes of mini-beasts gather on the beach around Lincoln St. The sheer volume of these little buggers make them hard to miss, and on nice days it is not uncommon to see them number in the hundreds.

All of these places have robust parking situations, and can easily be located using MapQuest. If you don't happen to have wheels, don't worry. Muni allows one muzzled and leashed dog per bus to ride for a fare equal to the owner's (except during the weekday hours of 5-9AM and 3-7PM.) Muni directions can be found here.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Two Non-Boring Ways To Pass a Wet San Francisco Day:

1. Japantown Center-The Japan Town Center, located on Post between Buchanan and Webster, is a good place to wander around when it is wet outside. Here you will find dozens of cute little stores selling japanese items, as well as a sword shop, a bookstore with a huge collection of Manga, and a place where you can get your picture taken at an array of little photo-booths. There are also plenty of places to eat and most of them are good. On a cold and rainy day my favorite way to warm up is through consuming a steaming bowl of miso ramen topped with japanese mountain vegetables from Mifune, located in the area of the center called the Kintetsu Mall.

Attached to the Japantown Center at Fillmore and Geary Streets is the Kabuki Spa, which is also a great place to kill a few hours. Kabuki is not cheap at $25, but for this price you can enjoy their dry sauna, wet sauna, cold pool, and hot tub for as long as you like. They also offer tea, magazines, and lounge chairs which makes it easy to put in some serious hours. If it is still raining when you finish the Sundance Kabuki Cinema is just around the corner.

2. Exploratorium-This wild and wacky museum is not just for kids! (Although it is a good place to keep them entertained if you happen to have some). Located at 3601 Lyon at Jefferson in the Marina District this science extravaganza is the perfect place to head towards if your Crissy Field outing starts to get a bit wet. And no worries if it happens to turn ugly while you are in a different area. Directly outside the Exploratorium the parking is free and the spots are a-plenty

Unlike other museums that tend to have a look-but-don't-touch policy, the Exploratorium encourages its patrons to man-handle the exhibits. A few of the cool things you can do here: Stand in a giant bubble, suspend a ball on a stream of air, make a full body contact photo on a huge screen, and teach a computer to talk. For an extra $5 you can also visit the Tactile Dome, which is a pitch-black space that you must walk, crawl, and slide through relying only on your non-seeing senses. While not for the claustrophobic or faint of heart, making your way through the Tactile Dome is a completely unique sensation that must be experienced to be truly understood.

This place does draw a rather kid-heavy crowd so if the thought of sharing the fun with a bunch of rug rats sounds unappealing, check out the adults-only "Exploratorium After Dark" series on the first thursday of each month from 6-10pm. With special adult themed exhibitions and booze, it is worth the trip even in the nicest weather. You can find more info on the Exploratorium here.
  

I Live Here SF

I Live Here SF is a great blog that proposes to, "share the spirit and fascinating layers of this city through the words and faces of those who live here." This interesting and worthwhile project really does a fantastic job of capturing The City's spirit, and should not be missed by anyone curious about the people who call it home.

The most recent profile caught my attention because the subject Rose Marie is just soooo San Francisco. Check her out here.

Bottoms Up

What is there to do in San Francisco? Well have a drink, of course. According to the Daily Beast The City is the 3rd drunkest in America, out-ranked only by Milwaukee, WI and Fargo, ND.

So if you want to do as the locals do, park yourself at one of the numerous bars and -BOTTOMS UP!