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FeedNautical by Nature
Get ready to navigate San Francisco when the big sails finally unfurl for the America's Cup.
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Golden Gate Bridge
Spectate
Where to see the America's Cup races
Even though races will be broadcast on NBC and on giant screens along the race route (a wide loop that starts at the Golden Gate Bridge and bends back in the vicinity of Fort Mason, about 3½ miles to the east), the adventurous may choose to embark upon an unconventional pedal-powered tour of the city’s various harbor vantage points. Rent a Public bicycle—a candy-hued, European-style two-wheeler designed by Design Within Reach founder, Rob Forbes—from Hayes Valley’s Streets of San Francisco, and ask the staff to map out a gently hilly (this is San Francisco, after all), Victorian-lined, redwood-speckled route that weaves through Inspiration Point in the Presidio, where a bird’s-eye vista of the shoreline includes the regal Palace of Fine Arts in the foreground; Crissy Field, a vast oceanfront green that was, in a past life, a WWI airport; and the Golden Gate Bridge, whose eastern sidewalk will be front-row-center for race spectators. Alternatively, load the bikes onto a ferry destined for Alcatraz or Angel Island, where your unique perspectives of the catamaran dash will include a stunning fringe benefit: San Francisco’s dramatic skyline, emblazoned against a fog-laced sky in the distance. 385 Linden Street, sosfbiketours.com
Taste
Where to enjoy SF's best cuisine
While diehard spectators staking an all-day claim along the shoreline should pack gourmet provisions from the Ferry Building Marketplace, a block from the Hotel Vitale (we recommend artisanal hard cheeses from Cowgirl Creamery and “tasty salty pig parts” from celebrity chef Chris Cosentino’s local salumeria, Boccolone), lesser sailing enthusiasts seeking respite from the crowds can savor Michael Mina’s eponymous fine-dining haven, just a five-minute walk from the Embarcadero. Recently Michelin-starred, the resto offers multiple-choice three- and four-course lunches. Don’t miss the signature ahi tuna tartare, lightly slicked with habanero-infused sesame oil, or the black cod “fish and chips,” a Japanese-inspired version of the hearty pub grub that’s delicate enough to handle with chopsticks, but no less scrumptious. (252 California Street, michaelmina.net)
