Culture Club

Combine one of San Francisco's best hiking trails with one of its best museums for a dose of the coast, some culture, and shelter from the rain if needed! Start from the visitor center, Lands End Lookout. The mostly flat Coastal Trail is popular for obvious reasons: stunning vistas of the Golden Gate, Marin Headlands, and the churning Pacific—which is especially turbulent on stormy days. The path parallels the dramatic cliffs buffering a surly sea strewn with shipwrecks, making it difficult to believe this is actually an urban hike! After 0.6 mile, veer up to the Legion of Honor where you can visit special exhibitions and permanent collections. If you'd rather get cultured with a glass of wine and a bite to eat, the Legion of Honor Café can be accessed without paying the general admission fee. But if you're looking to take just a quick spin through the museum (including as a respite from rain), time your hike so that you arrive at the Legion of Honor after 4:30 p.m. when general admission is free (the museum is only open until 5:15 p.m.).

BONUS: Walking east on the Coastal Trail, you can also take the offshoot trail to Mile Rock Beach, descending the stairs to reach the famous labyrinth (pictured).

Walk 0.6 mile on the Coastal Trail from Lands End parking lot. When you see the "Bike Route" sign pointing right and uphill, follow that trail. It winds up through Lincoln Park golf course and ends up right at the Legion of Honor. Return the way you came. General admission to the museum is $10 unless you arrive after 4:30 p.m., when it is waived (museum is only open until 5:15 p.m.). The hiking trail is dog-friendly. No dogs at the museum.