The Presidio of San Francisco

These 1,480 acres of wooded highlands, beaches, and vintage buildings were used by the military for more than 200 years, from the Spanish and Mexican armies to the U.S. Army, from Civil War times to the 1990s. Now part of the National Park System, this magnificent park is threaded by quiet roads and paths for walking and bike riding.      
You can easily spend a day here, starting with a ranger-led tour or a self-guided expedition of the museums and architectural relics, from seventeenth-century bronze Spanish cannons to Civil War barracks, pre-earthquake Victorians, adobe walls built by the Spanish conquistadors, and picturesque rows of Queen Anne–style officers’ homes. Call for tour reservations: (415) 556–0865. Easy two-hour walks focus on history, architecture, nature, or historical personalities.      
Secluded trails wind through cypress, pine, and eucalyptus forests. Picnic tables are found in sunny meadows, hidden in lush rhododendron groves, or perched on breezy headlands with sea views. A meandering creek and a spring-fed pond are habitats for hundreds of birds. Along the southern border of the Presidio is an excellent playground and playing fields at Julius Kahn Park.      
On the west side of the Presidio, Baker Beach is unsafe for swimming but great for sunning and shore fishing, and there are World War II bunkers to explore. Smaller, more sheltered beaches and a waterfront promenade are found at Crissy Field beside the bay—also part of the Presidio.      
The Presidio is also home to Lucasfilm - the makers of Star Wars, the Disney Family Museum, an old bowling alley, the Legion of Honor, and a smattering of restaurants.