SF and Daly City: Beach Access, Part 2

Okay, so the fog is back on the coast here in San Francisco,, but I am going on with my Beach Access series anyway. Anyone who’s lived here– or plans to– for more than a year knows that a little fog is part of the charm of this city, and that picnics on the beach are only enhanced by sand in the food (wind is part of our charm too) and the need to cuddle closely with your companions.

So, if you’re the soul whose soul is soothed by the sea, then maybe you would like to live close to Fort Funston. Risen like a phoenix from the ash is this hiking park, dog park, hang gliding launch (specifically a Hang III for intermediates), whale watching spot, and picinic grounds that was once a military site and gun battery. Its dunes support a tremendous ecosystem of native plants and animals. The beach itself, a crescent shaped shoreline bordered by towering multicolored cliffs is always surprisingly uncrowded– even on the most brilliant of days.

One thing you will always find  a lot of, however, is dogs. Seriously: if you don’t like dogs, don’t come here. Fort Funston is legendary among the canine set as a place to run off-leash through sand and waves, chasing birds, digging holes, and sniffing the nether regions of new friends. It is, in fact, the nirvana my puppy, Buckley (pictured), dreams of when he lies on the couch, running and making little squeaks of joy in his sleep. If you are a dog owner or just a dog lover, you can’t find a more ideal space: safe, capacious, clean, gorgeous…  and fun.

On a practical note, the area is close to San Francisco State University and the 280 freeway.

Want to live near Fort Funston? You can do it in SF or Daly City since the land spans both cities. Here are a few listings:

$789,000: 4 bed/1.5 bath single-family home at 178 Westlawn Ave., Daly City

$589,900: 3 bed/1 bath single-family home at 143 Victoria St., SF

Photo credit: National Parks Conservatory, Googlemaps.com; Painting credit: Scott Erwert