If you want to experience a California beach in the Naturist way, be sure to visit the North Baker Beach in San Francisco, CA the World No. 4 nude beach as ranked by the New York bestseller book, "The World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts". One of North America's most popular naturist beaches, Baker Beach is about a mile long and offers an incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge with the Marin Headlands. The northern section of the beach forms the nude beach and gay beach.
It has a rocky shoreline of serpentine cliffs covered with rich flora, some very rare species. Hikers can pick up the Coastal Trail on the cliff side, but dogs are not permitted in this trail as it is mostly a bird habitat.
Large waves, undertow and rip currents make the beach unsafe for swimming and surfing. Though the mornings can be chilly, Baker Beach is warm for sunbathing and picnicking with clean medium grained sand. A picnic area with tables, grills and restroom facilities is available at the east end i.e. the clothed zone. If you are planning for a barbecue you have to be early as the tables are taken at first occupied basis. If lucky you can even glimpse a dolphin or a sea-lion.
You can also visit Battery Chamberlin in the North end of Baker Beach parking lot. It was built in 1904 to protect from underwater minefields laid outside the Golden Gate. The two 6 inch guns which were reinstalled here are used for demonstration purposes. These are conducted on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. An underground cartridge room is open for visitors and has photos and small exhibits on the coastal defenses of San Francisco.
There are a lot of cafe's in the nearby areas of North Beach for refreshments. Later in the day for a delicious meal visit the North Beach Restaurant - a top ranked Italian Restaurant in the neighborhood.
To reach North Baker Beach using a public transit system use the #29 Sunset Bus. If you are driving, signs are provided along the Lincoln Blvd to reach here. Free parking lots are available but on a sunny day these fill very fast.
You can never be bored at Baker Beach, as it has everything to satisfy any group of crowd.
