Marin Headlands

This is one of my favorite spots in the Marin Headlands. This cliff is part of the Golden Gate Nature Recreation Area that looks out on the Pacific Ocean. Tennessee Beach is in the foreground and The Golden Gate Bridge and city of San Francisco are just south and can be seen in the distance. You can get to this spot by parking in the lot and walking about two miles along the trail through Tennessee Valley. Directions are below. The area is just 20 minutes north of San Francisco.



How to get there:


To Tennessee Valley from San Francisco

Go north on highway 101
Exit Mill Valley / Stinson Beach / Hwy. 1
Follow Shoreline Hwy. until you see the Tennessee Valley Road sign
The turn off will be on the left

To Tennessee Valley from the East Bay

Take 580 west to the Richmond / San Rafael bridge
Cross the bridge (toll this direction)
Take the second exit after the bridge, go through Larkspur and get on 101 south
Follow 101 south, Take the Mill Valley / Stinson Beach / Hwy. 1 exit
Follow Shoreline Hwy. until you see the Tennessee Valley Road sign, the turn off will be on the left

To Tennessee Valley from the North

Go south on highway 101
Take the Mill Valley / Stinson Beach / Hwy. 1 exit
Follow Shoreline Hwy. until you see the Tennessee Valley Road sign
the turn off will be on the left

Golden Gate

Here's a classic shot of driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, headed toward the gorgeous Marin Headlands. The views of San Francisco from the pullouts on the Marin side of the bridge are beautiful, but the traffic can be crazy. If you don't want to contend with long lines of cars, get there and enjoy the view of the city by the bay before 10AM.

Fortunately, there are plenty of transportation alternatives for visiting the Golden Gate Bridge. According to the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, "We strongly recommend using the other means of visiting the Bridge as described on this page. Parking is extremely limited at both the southeast and northeast visitor areas of the Bridge, and ongoing construction projects in the area may temporarily close roads leading to the Bridge." More information can be found on the district's website.

Best Pizzas in San Francisco

My favorite pizza in the San Francisco Bay Area is made by the winner of over 100 "best pizza" awards, Zachary's Chicago Pizza Inc. in Berkeley. They also have a location in Oakland, but I usually head to the Berkeley location near the top of Solano Avenue and order a deep-dish pizza full of pepperoni, mushrooms, and marinated artichoke hearts swimming in their chunky homemade tomato sauce. If you don't like to wait, call ahead. They also offer pizzas half-baked so you can pick them up early, take them home, and finish cooking them in your own oven. The pies are enormous and the leftovers are delicious for breakfast, too, hot or cold. Oh man, now I've gone and made myself hungry.

Moving on, CBS San Francisco recently did a survey of pizza joints in the city, so here is a summary and links. I haven't tried all of these myself, but plan to. Good pizza is always worth stopping for.

According to food blogger Joanne Boston, who compiled the list and descriptions below, "Pies in San Francisco are creative. Most places rely on local farms and purveyors for their toppings resulting in tasty and unique combinations. Let’s take a look at some of the City’s prime spots for premium pizza pies."

Flour + Water

2401 Harrison St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 826-7000
Flour + Water
Food so good there wasn’t room for even Steve Jobs to have a seat. Perfectly blistered crust from their Italian 900 degree Valoriani oven is a perfect platform for their choice toppings such as mozzerrella de bufala, eggplant, and even heirloom tomatoes. Who said pizza can’t be classy? Good enough for a million-dollar man, most definitely.

Gialina

2842 Diamond St.
San Francisco, CA 94131
(415) 239-8500
Gialina
The “Atomica” Neapolitan-style pizza covered with tomato sauce, mushrooms, mozzarella, red onions and chilies will keep you coming back for more. To ease the heat from the spice on the pizza, order the chocolate hazelnut dessert pizza topped with cool mascarpone cheese. Since no reservations are accepted, come early – it is still well worth the wait.

Little Star

400 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 551-7827
Little Star Pizza
Big appetite? Little Star’s Chicago-style deep dish pizzas are a cure for your hunger. Go for the “Brass Monkey” which is a secret menu item – spinach, ricotta and feta cheeses, mushrooms, onions, garlic, and sausage layered on a buttery crust. Best believe you‘ll be reaching for more than one slice. I must add a slice of news, here. Little Star has a newly opened location on lower Solano Avenue in Albany. That's near Berkeley in the east bay. Rumor has it that they give Zachary's a run for their money, so you know I'll have to check it out soon! --Cicely

Pauline’s Pizza

260 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 552-2050
Pauline’s Pizza Pie
A friendly neighborhood joint that welcomes people of all walks of life from kids to hipsters to health-conscious folks. If you want a true “California” pizza, this is the place to go. Dive into their signature pesto pizza with verdant basil, garlic, and pine nuts.

Pizzeria Delfina

2406 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 440-11893611
18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 437-6800
Pizzaria Delfina
The “Salsiccia” with homemade fennel sausage is what got many San Franciscan’s loving thin-crust pizza. A more casual joint compared to its sister Delfina Restaurant next door, Pizzeria Delfina is the perfect spot to people watch, drink a glass of wine, and mange on their delicious pies, of course. Both locations, one in the Mission and one in Pacific Heights, are neighborhood gems.

Tommaso’s

1042 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 398-9696
Tommaso’s
This is the epitome of old school North Beach flavor since it is the home of San Francisco’s oldest wood-fired pizza oven. The oven gives each pizza pie a crispy crust and smoky tone. Try all of their pizzas, they are all delicious! Okay, if we had to choose, go for the Italian pepperoni – classic with that addicting spice.