Swimming anywhere in the Bay Area will not really be a fun experience. First of all, the ocean is so cold that you'd get hyperthermia after more than 30 minutes of being in it (without a wetsuit at least). Secondly, the conditions are typically very rough with lots of rip tides (unless you swim bayside, which is I believe a lot more polluted so I wouldn't recommend it). Lastly, these waters are notoriously filled with great white sharks so although my brother surfs the mavericks a little further south, he admits he says a little prayer each time he jumps in.
If you're really adamant about swimming here (perhaps you're highly experienced) I recommend Baker Beach which is for the most part very calm and lovely, or going up to Stinson Beach in Marin (gorgeous little beach town; New England vibe) or Tomales Bay.
Let's face it though - you want nicer beaches and that kind of vibe then you need to go to SoCal. Santa Cruz is decent but IMO totally wanna-be SoCal, so I'd just go to LA or San Diego.
As far as Target is concerned, I think the best one is the one near SFO, in San Bruno. There are two in Daly City (literally right next to each other) but I find them to be a bit scroungey.
like the above posters said, swimming here is pretty cold. you get used to it after awhile tho, i surfed this ocean for years without even a wetsuit sometimes.
china beach in sf is awesome. it is out near land's end in the seal rock section of the sf presidio. watch that riptide. you can also swim on the bay side (it is not that much more polluted despite what the top poster says, that guy just moved here last year). there isn't any wave action, but the water is still pretty cold. i would recommend swimming at aquatic park near fisherman's wharf. it is also where the alcatraz swimmers practice, and there is a little protected no-boat marina area for swimmers. alternately the sandy beach near the oyster point yacht club in south san francisco is also quite nice. go to la if you want warmer water, theirs is definitely nicer down there.
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If you're really adamant about swimming here (perhaps you're highly experienced) I recommend Baker Beach which is for the most part very calm and lovely, or going up to Stinson Beach in Marin (gorgeous little beach town; New England vibe) or Tomales Bay.
Let's face it though - you want nicer beaches and that kind of vibe then you need to go to SoCal. Santa Cruz is decent but IMO totally wanna-be SoCal, so I'd just go to LA or San Diego.
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china beach in sf is awesome. it is out near land's end in the seal rock section of the sf presidio. watch that riptide. you can also swim on the bay side (it is not that much more polluted despite what the top poster says, that guy just moved here last year). there isn't any wave action, but the water is still pretty cold. i would recommend swimming at aquatic park near fisherman's wharf. it is also where the alcatraz swimmers practice, and there is a little protected no-boat marina area for swimmers. alternately the sandy beach near the oyster point yacht club in south san francisco is also quite nice. go to la if you want warmer water, theirs is definitely nicer down there.
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