SFGate Blog
10 scenes of Bay Area beauty that you can better appreciate from a boat
By Kristin Hanes on November 1, 2017 at 3:47 AM
window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' });
window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' });
Photo: Kristin Hanes
Image 1of/17
Anchored at China Camp in Marin County with the Richmond Bridge in the distance
Anchored out at Tiburon gives a different view of the Peninsula.
Anchored at Tiburon shows an amazing, wild side of the Peninsula.
The view from beneath the Golden Gate Bridge hasn't changed much since this 1988 shot.
Photo: Deanne Fitzmaurice / The Chronicle
A view of the South East Farallon Island.
Photo: Michael Macor/The Chronicle
The view out of a sailboat cockpit at Angel Island's China Cove. Nothing but trees and beauty.
Anchored out at China Camp at sunset feels like a world away from San Francisco
The Farallon Islands, part of San Francisco, are 26 miles off the coast.
Photo: By Jan Roletto
The beautiful Drake's Bay in the Pt.Reyes National Seashore
Photo: By Karenwongrn
Waves crashing ashore at the Farallon Islands, 26 miles from San Francisco
Enjoy a view like no other along Oakland's estuary shoreline.
Heading to Angel Island to anchor for the night. China Cove is a great spot best accessed by boat.
Anchored at the beautiful Angel Island watching cargo ships and ferries go past.
There's a lot of beautiful natural spots in the San Francisco Bay Area you can see on foot or by car, but traveling by boat lends another perspective. The same landmarks take on a different quality when you're moving slowly with the sea air on your face and the wind whistling in your ears. You see sides of places you never even knew existed.
Here are 11 scenes of Bay Area beauty best seen by boat.
1. China camp
China State Park in Marin county is the site of a historic Chinese-American shrimp fishing village. Many come to enjoy the beach and to hike, which costs money, but if you have a boat, you get to truly experience the magic of China Camp for free. This destination is a popular spot for sailboats and power boats to sit and chill for the afternoon or anchor for the night. The sounds of highways and cars give into nature sounds: waves lapping the hull of the boat and the call of seabirds. Out at China Camp, you feel like you're a world away from a bustling metropolis. The tree-lined park looks like a tropical paradise, and the sunsets are unbeatable.
2. The Delta
Very few roads criss-cross the Delta in California's Central Valley, and its best to explore the 1,000 miles of waterways by boat. Some of the most remote of the Delta's 57 islands are accessible only by boat, and provide untouched natural beauty. From the Delta you can access vineyards, state parks, abandoned Gold Mining villages and marinas where you can tie up for the night. There are waterfront restaurants and festivals galore. It's the perfect place to explore by boat no matter what time of year.
3. Drake's Bay
The more adventurous sailors and boaters can cruise on out to Drake's Bay, part of the Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Here, sailboats anchor out amidst the stark white cliffs that give this special cove its name. It takes hours to get from the San Francisco Bay to Drake's Bay, though, so it's not for beginners. Drake's Bay provides relief from the relentless pounding of the ocean waves, and on their way, boaters might even be luckily to catch a salmon or halibut on the hook.
4. Tomales Bay
This gem in an inlet of the Pacific Ocean in Marin County that's 15 miles long and averages 10 miles wide. According to the National Park Services, Tomales Bay is the largest unspoiled coastal embayment on the coast of California. It's a popular spot for all types of boating, from kayaking, to canoeing, to sailing. You can paddle over to Hog Island to look at seals, and also enjoy the myriad of seabirds that call the bay home. Pull up at Heart's Desire Beach to take a swim in the warmer months, then top off your boating outing with oysters in Pt. Reyes Station or Inverness.
5. The east side of Tiburon
Anchoring outside Paradise Park in Tiburon is one of the only spots you'll see the true beauty of this peninsula. You can chill for the afternoon or spend the night here as children play on the grass and fishermen lounge on the pier. If you're brave enough to test the cold Bay waters, jump in for a swim or bring a paddle board to roam around this gorgeous anchorage. Often, kayaks can be seen exploring along the coast. From the water, you'll have a great view of the Tiburon Uplands Preserve, and the amazing houses will blow your mind.
6. Angel Island's China Cove
Most people hang out in Ayala Cove when they go to Angel Island, since that's where the ferry drops off and picks up. But if you have a boat, you can pass the afternoon or spend the night at China Cove on the other side of Angel Island. This special spot used to be an immigration stations for several Asian countries. According to the National park Service, between 1910 and 1940, the station processed up to one million Asian and other immigrants, including 250,000 Chinese and 150,00 Japanese. It's a beautiful spot to hang out on the deck and drink some wine while watching the passing ferries and cargo ships out in the San Francisco Bay.
7. The waters of the Golden Gate
Most people experience the waters of the Golden Gate by driving over the Golden Gate Bridge, but going by boat lends an entirely different experience. This spot can be quite treacherous with currents, tides and wind, and is an exciting place to sail or motor. A boat can take you under the bridge for a new perspective, then out beyond to go face-to-face with cargo ships and the rolling swell of the ocean. From here, you can see the stunning Marin headlands and the long strip of sand that makes up San Francisco's Ocean beach. A truly amazing spot to see by boat.
8. The Farallon Islands
Most San Franciscans are used to the sight of the Farallon Islands in the distance, but few have gotten up close and personal. In fact, the general public isn't allowed to go on the islands, but you sure can take a boat out there for a closer look. The islands are 26 miles offshore from San Francisco and have the largest colony of nesting seabirds in the contiguous United States. If you're heading out there, you're also likely to see seals, whales and sometimes a great white shark in the cold Pacific waters. The only people who are allowed to go on the island are usually researchers, and there is a field research station on Southeast Farallon Island. It's a cold and long trip, so bundle up!
9. The Oakland estuary
If you want to get a really different view of Oakland, try sailing or motoring up and down the estuary there. This salty straight separates Oakland from Alameda, and is popular among rowing teams and sailboats. The estuary goes past restaurants, houses, marinas and the Port of Oakland, where you can see monster machines loading cargo onto ships on your way out to the bay. If there's a spot to put your boat for a few minutes, Alameda has some great breweries and distilleries to check out.
10. The Petaluma and Napa rivers
A boat allows you to see a very different part of the North Bay. From the northern part of Richardson Bay you can take a sailboat or motorboat down both of these rivers, which wind through rolling golden hills. Put your boat at a marina and wander the cute towns you'll pass along the way. Most people don't think of a boat when it comes to visiting wine country, but you can sail right up to the town of Napa and get out for a tasting. An interesting perspective to say the least!