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San Francisco

Hitting high notes with tourists, this diverse and liberal city is marked by rolling hills and notable landmarks

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About San Francisco County

San Francisco County and San Francisco City are just different names for the same place. They both have the same boundaries and the same beaches. There are more than ten different beaches in San Francisco and almost all of them are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The western-facing Pacific Ocean beaches include the narrow exposed beach at Fort Funston and Ocean Beach. The latter is wider and safer and stretches from the San Francisco Zoo to the Cliff House, including the beach at the foot of Golden Gate Park. From the point at Lands End to the Golden Gate Bridge there are five beaches below the high bluffs at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. In this area China Beach and Baker Beach have easy access, but other beaches nearby require steep hikes and are considered clothing-optional because of their remote status. East of the Golden Gate Bridge there are beaches at city parks in the Presidio area, along the San Francisco waterfront, and on San Francisco Bay. Across the Golden Gate Bridge there are excellent beaches in Marin County and south of San Francisco you'll find the beaches of San Mateo County, including Half Moon Bay just 30 miles away. See our list of the best beaches in the Bay Area.