03.18.10
From the issue Urban Lakes
Stow, Stow, Stow Your Boat
To truly be San Franciscan, go where so many others have gone before: Golden Gate Park's Stow Lake. A staple for tourists and locals, paddling or pedaling your way around this pea-green man-made lake is a perfect way to catch its kitschy drift. The $19-per-hour rental fee is clearly modern fare, even if the Stow Lake Boathouse sells pink popcorn and the boats are purely old-school. Bring a picnic, take your time, and count the number of camouflaged turtles while making a big loop around the 400-foot-tall center island, Strawberry Hill. Rowboats are best for those who like moving faster and have a dog in tow (or who prefer to read love sonnets to their betrothed). Or opt for a spin on the classic—if slightly antiquated—pedal boats. Cruise by the Chinese Pavilion and Huntington Falls, and scan treetops for great blue herons and their chicks. Ahhh San Francisco days. Stow away the memories.
The boathouse at Stow Lake is open year-round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winter rates for the pedal boats are $19 per hour and $14 per hour for rowboats. Rowboats are dog-friendly!
