Touring * Fitness * Beginner * Scene * Artistic *

From U.S. 101 heading into San Francisco on the Golden Gate Bridge, take the Marina Boulevard exit, driving east toward Fort Mason. From south of San Francisco, take U.S. 101 north to Fell Street. After driving for two blocks on Fell, turn right (north) onto Fillmore Street and stay on it up and down all the hills until you reach Marina Boulevard. Parking lots are available off Marina Boulevard at Fort Mason, Marina Green, Crissy Field, and near the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Map: For a free map, contact the Golden Gate National Recreation Area at the address below.

Perfectly smooth red concrete and spectacular scenery make this loop near the San Francisco Bay shoreline a memorable tour. The pavement encircles the grassy Marina Green, where kites threaten to impale unsuspecting lawn loungers. It can get crowded quickly, especially on weekends, but the view of the bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge make it worthwhile.

Take a detour up to the yacht club parking lot for a less crowded place to practice slaloms and heel-toe rolls. More adventuresome skaters will get bored after half an hour's play here and want to skate west through the rough parking lot of Crissy Field to Fort Point at the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge. (There's a trail closer to shore, but it's paved with clay.)

Another fine detour (frequented by the Midnight Rollers) is just across the street from the far end of the green. The sidewalks around the Palace of Fine Arts offer a short but fun skate, and you can practice artistic skills and tricks under the grand dome. Fort Mason, located just east of the Marina Green, is a skater-friendly area to explore, too. The little park on the west side of Fort Mason has some fine, moderately sloped sidewalks to play on, plus rest rooms and water (see page 124). Trendy Chestnut Street, a few blocks south of the marina, is the place to take a break on sunny weekends, when locals hang out on the sidewalk sipping espresso drinks from the slew of coffee shops on the street.

• The Embarcadero/ Fisherman's Wharf