Unpredictable, unusual and uncommon is a predictable and common characteristic of the San Francisco Bay Area.
A case in point is that in most towns, villages or cities, if you grew up there and lived there for over 20 years, you most likely would know virtually every inch of it by sight and heart.
It’s different with the San Francisco Bay Area.
You can live there for decades and still miss seeing or visiting some incredible hidden pearls.
Yes, with San Francisco, it is so well traveled by tourists that you can become very familiar with the cable cars, Fisherman’s Wharf, Civic Center, the beach by the Pacific Ocean, Chinatown and other landmarks.
It is when you traverse to the nearby suburbs that you will discover natural beauty framed by civilization that will mesmerize you.
Lake Merced is one of those magical gems.
fciwomenswrestling.com grapplingstars.com femcompetitor.com, Isabell-Schulz-Wikimedia-photo-credit
The San Francisco Recreation and Parks organization provides us with a nice description, “Lake Merced, a large freshwater lake in San Francisco’s southwestern corner, is the heart of a 614-acre park that is popular with boaters, hikers, bicyclists, and birdwatchers. A 4.5-mile paved trail circles the lake’s perimeter; facilities include many picnic areas and a boathouse, fishing pier, and boat launch. The park is bounded by three golf courses, including City-owned Harding Park.
Lake Merced is major water, recreational, and natural resource for the City and County of San Francisco and the surrounding area. It is also an important stop for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway. More than half of the park is managed by the Recreation and Parks Department’s Natural Areas Program, which works to restore and protect habitat for birds and other wildlife, as well as to maintain and improve trails.”
We really see ourselves in that description. We have walked, run, had relaxing scenic moments and enjoyed so much of Lake Merced.
An added benefit is that the lake has supplied water to the City since the late 1860s.
The lake is fed by an underground spring, and at one time it did have an outlet to the ocean as shown on an 1869 United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Map. The salt level was always fluctuating, and therefore some species of fish which inhabit the lake are salt and freshwater adapted.
Today, the lake is continuing to blossom thanks to the work of CalTrout, the Lake Merced Task Force, the Friends of Lake Merced, and others. Water levels are up. CalTrout has installed a new fishing pier and the Department of Fish and Game has plans to plant 50,000 fish this year.
In terms of the local community, Lake Merced is near residential areas, Lowell High School, San Francisco State University, Lakeshore Alternative Elementary School, Stonestown Galleria, Fort Funston and the Pacific Ocean. The San Francisco Police Department shooting range, as well as a skeet shooting club and the city's National Guard armory are also in the area. The lake is home of the Pacific Rowing Club and St. Ignatius College Prep Rowing Team, both competitive rowing programs for San Francisco high school students.
Today you can see that Lake Merced is an essential dynamic to what the San Francisco South Peninsula has to offer.
Now for a little bit of history.
As shared at outsidelands.org, “Lake Merced was originally inhabited by the Ohlone Indians, who fished the lake and plied the nearby Pacific for fish, seal and the occasional beached whale. The Spanish arrived in 1774, scouted the area as a possible mission site and named it The Lake of Our Lady of Mercy which later became the corrupted Spanish/English "Merced."
Because of its remoteness from the rest of the city, Lake Merced was a popular dueling ground in the 1850's and the site of one of the best known duels in the Old West. The duel, between U.S. Senator David Broderick and Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court David Terry (both Democrats), capped a bitter, personal feud between the two powerful politicians and ended in the Senator's death.”
Interesting. So there is a shooting range here today and there was a major shooting, among many, over 100 years ago.
Soon after that unfortunate event, dueling became illegal in most states, including California. The location of the duel was named a landmark in 1932 and commemorated with a plaque, which can still be found there.
We think you can see why those in the know have known about this well-kept San Francisco treat.
One of them is the team at Trip Advisor where there are some nice real life reviews:
“Enjoyed watching the LPGA tournament at Lake Merced. So much more informal than the PGA tour. You can really get up close to watch your favorite players. Stayed in Breakaway Beach right on the water and had a fabulous dinner viewing the sunset.”
Here is another.
“I come here for a nice walk/jog when I'm stressed or just need to get away. Plenty of parking. Pretty safe as well. Certain places you need to dodge the geese and pigeons.”
One more.
“We enjoyed a nice walk by Lake Merced in San Francisco. The views were very nice. There is areas for picnics as well. There is also a golf course nearby.”
As you might guess, there is some interesting history nearby as well. If you visit and decide to spent the night, maybe more, not far away is the Ocean Park Motel.
It opened in 1937, the same year that the Golden Gate Bridge came open to the public.
The proprietors at this historic lodging spot smile, “Sunset Magazine, September 2010, "20 Best Coastal Weekends": San Francisco's hotels cluster downtown. But there's something to be said for a stay on the city's saltier, breezier, and less-known Pacific Ocean edge. Out here, a room at the Ocean Park Motel gets you in with the wetsuit-wearing, wave-riding crowd at Ocean Beach, famously foggy in summer but warm and sunny come September. The 1930s streamline modern motel has a pretty courtyard and (in many rooms) cute kitchens — all at a reasonable price, especially for the city. And it takes dogs, which is handy because Ocean Beach is dog heaven.”
People heaven too.
The property offers guests attractive rooms (some with kitchens), an outdoor hot tub, courtyard, and a small playground.
At San Francisco Grappling Stars, we are always happy to electronically take you around San Francisco. There truly is so much to see and do that it can be overwhelming and always fun.
If you’ve never heard of Lake Merced, now you have.
When you are looking for a scenic gem that is quiet, serene with easy access to San Francisco, come relax at Lake Merced.
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Opening photo Japanese_Gardens_trail_Hayward-2-Hayward-amber-leibrock-hayward-2020-Mercurywoodrose-Own-work-Wikimedia.jpg
https://sfrecpark.org/destination/lake-merced-park/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Merced
http://www.oceanparkmotel.com/
http://www.outsidelands.org/lake-merced.php
