Spring has sprung! The sky is clear, the weather is warming up, flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and life is good. You are anxious to get out of your short stay apartment in San Francisco, get outside, and get to work on that summer bod! But when you live in shared housing in San Francisco, where do you go to get a breath of fresh air? Well, don’t you fret, we have got you covered. Even though you live in SF city housing, you also happen to live in one of the most active cities of the world, a buzzing metropolis filled with people biking, hiking, swimming, surfing, kayaking, rock climbing, and more! Plus, there are a number of beautiful spots in or around the city that are a must-see for nature lovers. So jump out of bed in your San Francisco furnished housing, grab your running shoes, dig out your SPF,  and let’s get going!

Bike it out.

A great way to get yourself outside and active is getting on some wheels! Bike rentals are available all over the city, like Blazing Saddles or San Francisco Bike Rentals in North Beach – right by a number of our SF furnished apartments including 371 Columbus and 524 Columbus. You can cruise the city and take in the sights freely, or go on a bike tour with someone to lead you to the best spots. You can also try one of San Francisco’s many beautiful bike trails for a scenic ride, like the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito route, starting from Fort Mason. If bikes are not your thing, take a spin on those new electric scooters you’ve seen lying all around the city. A simple app download, and you can whizz around with ease. Either way, wandering on wheels is a cheap, fun, and surprisingly active way to get out of your SF housing and see the city in the sunshine!

Kayak Your Cares Away.

Change your perspective of the city you live in by seeing it from a different perspective – the water! Grab a buddy and make a day out of it. There are a number of places where you can rent kayaks for the day, including CityKayak or San Francisco Kayak and Adventures. These companies offer kayak rentals, kayaking classes for all levels, and guided tours, so you can pick your poison. If kayaking isn’t your thing, you can always rent a sailboat or jet ski, but exploring the Bay from the water is a great way to cool off and get outside!

Nothing Rocks More Than Rock Climbing.

Even though it is springtime, SF weather knows no bounds. On a rainy spring day, rather than stay inside your single room in San Francisco, if you want to stay alive while doing something fun with friends, check out rock climbing! It is a killer workout that barely feels like work: challenging, rewarding, and unbelievably fun! Take some friends, and check out Planet Granite, Mission Cliffs, or Dogwatch Boulders. Get to work on that summer body before the sun really comes out to play.

Hike around the Bay.

This one is easy – grab your running shoes, tie your laces, and get out of the door! There are so many beautiful hiking trails all over San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area! You can hike around Golden Gate Bridge to see the sites and take in towering and humbling red woods at Muir Woods. If you want to make a day out of it, head to Marin and hike up Mount Tamalpais until sunset! If that sounds appealing, check out our blog post on Mount Tam  here.

Go For a Swim & Sun In the Sand.

Even though you may live in the middle of a bunch of skyscrapers, you’re on the Golden Coast baby! On a sunny day, there are a number of beautiful beaches nearby where you can go get your fill of sun, sand, and surf. Baker’s beach is the postcard image of your dreams, where you can get your tan on while gazing out at the iconic Golden Gate bridge. Stinson beach in Marin is everything you would imagine of a North California beach – a little cold, a little windy, a little gravely, but oh so beautiful. If you want to drive a little further, Santa Cruz is only an hour away, a SoCal beach town in NorCal, where you can get your fix of acai and sunshine. The beach boardwalk is unlike anything else. But remember, for all Northern California beaches – the water is cold, so bring your wetsuit!

If you are looking for a Summer sublet, check out all of our available San Francisco apartments and room rentals!

Interested in more fun things to do in San Francisco? Check out our other blog posts!

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Sometimes, you need to get out of the city. We all love the hustle and bustle of renting a room in San Francisco, but every now and then, you crave some fresh air, sunshine, and tall trees. Luckily, your housing is in San Francisco , a city surrounded by a number of unique little towns on the Bay. Today, we are going to introduce you to Mount Tamalpais in Marin, a beautiful spot to schedule a date night, a sunset picnic, a day hike, or your next photo adventure.

Mount Tam is located in Marin County, just across the Bay Bridge. For your day-staycation, start your morning by exploring Mill Valley, the cute little town right at the base of the mountain. The Mill Valley cuisine scene is largely local, which makes every  quaint dining experience feel extra personal and unique. There are a number of delicious breakfast spots, diners, and cafes located right in Downtown. If you are a coffee connoisseur, then stop by Equator Coffee for a latte that is sure to suit your expert tastes. Alternatively, you can grab something from the locally owned and operated Mill Valley Market, and take it to go sit in the sunny town square, where you can watch some lovely old men play chess or go dog-spotting. After your meal, you should go explore! There are a number of cute little boutiques that make for great window shopping, or you can catch a film at the old theatre. If you are on a date, do not forget to stop and smell the flowers at the charming outdoor flower stand -and maybe even purchase a pretty present for your partner! Once you have had your small-town fill, grab a meal to-go from Sol Food – trust us, do not skip the Sol Food – hop in your car, and head on up to Mount Tam.

This Mountain will take your breath away. As you drive up the curving hills towards the entry gate to the park, you are met with groves upon groves of towering redwood trees, a viridescent forest spanning your eyesight. The light beams through the leaves just so, and the whole forest looks like it is bathed in gold. Now is your time: crank the windows down, and breathe in the crisp air.

If you are exploring Mount Tam early and on a clear day, the view is unbeatable. You can see all the way down to Stinson Beach, and watch the boats floating in from afar. In the other direction is a magnificent view of San Francisco, the skyscrapers rising up to sparkle in the sunshine. If you look just hard enough, maybe you could even spot your San Francisco housing!

But, believe it or not, the best days to go to Mount Tam are the foggy ones. On foggy days, if you are lucky, you are perched directly above the clouds. Miles of cotton candy fluff stretch for as far as you can see, making you feel like a verifiable angel from above. It also makes for some absolutely heavenly photographs.

But the best view comes at sunset, when the entire sky lights on fire. The setting sun brushes the vast sea of rolling clouds and transforms them into a prism of red, pink, orange, and yellow.

This is when you should lay out your picnic blanket, break out your Sol Food or a bottle of wine, and enjoy. Mount Tam is the perfect place to escape from the city, a great spot to take a first date you want to impress, a must-see for photographers or creative-types, but also just a lovely haven to explore with friends.

So next time you need a get away, you don’t need to book a flight to Hawaii! Just hop on your car, cross the Bay Bridge, and aim for Mill Valley. Fresh air, unbeatable views, and adventure awaits.

You can check out more blog posts on where to explore beyond your SF housing right here.

Otherwise, check out Urbanests.com for all of your San Francisco Housing needs.

Post made by contributor Isabelle Kaplan.