China Beach and the beautiful, upscale, sweet-smelling Sea Cliff neighborhood are in between Lands End on the west side and the vast Presidio to the east.
There’s a long stairway down to China Beach and the beach itself is very pleasant, so one would think I’d go there more often. But I constantly get distracted by the huge viewparks on either side of this little beach with their many trails, stairways, overlooks ‘n beaches. It was named for Chinese fishermen who used to camp at the beach, but also used to be called Phelan Beach. The waves are noticeably calmer than those at Beaches Ocean and Baker.
Got off at 30th Ave. and walked into the Sea Cliff ‘hood. There’s a sign that says “Public Beach” and a few steps. Turn left. The main long (mostly wood) stairway is 105 or so steps (first three pix).
There are a few other, shorter, stairways with about the same number of steps that descend to the beach itself. My favorite shorter one is over on the west side (last photo). This starts off as wood but the last several are rough concrete, from the last step to the beach being a steep enough drop so that I was obliged to sit and ease myself down to the sand. Unique, this.
There are picnic tables, showers and restrooms. Several people were sunbathing at the top of this building (21 steps up). Another 20 steps back down to the walkway at the foot of the long stairway.
After I ascended the long one again, walked east along El Camino del Mar and then Sea Cliff Blvd. to reach the stairway that will take you down to west Baker Beach (about 49 wood steps) from the dead-end at 25th Avenue North and Sea Cliff Blvd. (Note that this is a different street from 25th Avenue.) There’s a fence with an open gate and a sign that says “Baker Beach.” Noticed the foot of these sandy steps last time I was at Baker Beach, and felt another stroll around here was long overdue.
But then after this, what a bummer of an experience today on the #1 California bus. Had to wait 31 minutes for it and then there was another five minutes behind it. Got on at 25th Ave. and already the bus was nearly full.
Got a seat and stayed there until my stop. The driver kept letting people on even though the bus was packed solid, so that there were several people in front of the yellow line and standing right next to the driver most of the time. They’re not supposed to let them stand there.
He should have told people to wait for the bus that was right behind, but he just suggested that one time the whole long trip.
When it came time to get off at my stop, I was packed in and had to squeeze by several people in order to get to the front door. That’s when my pocket got picked and my wallet stolen. I couldn’t feel anything as I made my way to the exit because of the squashed conditions as everyone was pushed up against everyone else.
I’ve already complained about the unsafe, crowded conditions on this bus to MUNI and on my Facebook page.
So when I got home I ran to the bank to cancel my debit card. I barely made it in time. They had just closed, this being Saturday afternoon, but I banged on the door and was let in to change my info. My CA I.D. was taken as well, so now have to go to the DMV to get another. I think MUNI owes me $20 or so for having to get a new I.D. because of the overcrowded conditions, but good luck with that I guess.
There’s a long stairway down to China Beach and the beach itself is very pleasant, so one would think I’d go there more often. But I constantly get distracted by the huge viewparks on either side of this little beach with their many trails, stairways, overlooks ‘n beaches. It was named for Chinese fishermen who used to camp at the beach, but also used to be called Phelan Beach. The waves are noticeably calmer than those at Beaches Ocean and Baker.
Got off at 30th Ave. and walked into the Sea Cliff ‘hood. There’s a sign that says “Public Beach” and a few steps. Turn left. The main long (mostly wood) stairway is 105 or so steps (first three pix).
There are a few other, shorter, stairways with about the same number of steps that descend to the beach itself. My favorite shorter one is over on the west side (last photo). This starts off as wood but the last several are rough concrete, from the last step to the beach being a steep enough drop so that I was obliged to sit and ease myself down to the sand. Unique, this.
There are picnic tables, showers and restrooms. Several people were sunbathing at the top of this building (21 steps up). Another 20 steps back down to the walkway at the foot of the long stairway.
After I ascended the long one again, walked east along El Camino del Mar and then Sea Cliff Blvd. to reach the stairway that will take you down to west Baker Beach (about 49 wood steps) from the dead-end at 25th Avenue North and Sea Cliff Blvd. (Note that this is a different street from 25th Avenue.) There’s a fence with an open gate and a sign that says “Baker Beach.” Noticed the foot of these sandy steps last time I was at Baker Beach, and felt another stroll around here was long overdue.
But then after this, what a bummer of an experience today on the #1 California bus. Had to wait 31 minutes for it and then there was another five minutes behind it. Got on at 25th Ave. and already the bus was nearly full.
Got a seat and stayed there until my stop. The driver kept letting people on even though the bus was packed solid, so that there were several people in front of the yellow line and standing right next to the driver most of the time. They’re not supposed to let them stand there.
He should have told people to wait for the bus that was right behind, but he just suggested that one time the whole long trip.
When it came time to get off at my stop, I was packed in and had to squeeze by several people in order to get to the front door. That’s when my pocket got picked and my wallet stolen. I couldn’t feel anything as I made my way to the exit because of the squashed conditions as everyone was pushed up against everyone else.
I’ve already complained about the unsafe, crowded conditions on this bus to MUNI and on my Facebook page.
So when I got home I ran to the bank to cancel my debit card. I barely made it in time. They had just closed, this being Saturday afternoon, but I banged on the door and was let in to change my info. My CA I.D. was taken as well, so now have to go to the DMV to get another. I think MUNI owes me $20 or so for having to get a new I.D. because of the overcrowded conditions, but good luck with that I guess.
Top of the long China Beach stairway
China Beach long stairway
Foot of the long China Beach steps
Down to China Beach, wood and concrete
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