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14 Twinkling Places to Stargaze in the Bay Area

Gaze up at the stars from one of these Bay Area vantage points.

Billy Goat Hill

Billy Goat Hill is Insta-famous for its elevated swing set and expansive views of San Francisco. Four hundred feet above sea level, this urban green spot also offers an excellent vantage point to a starry night—be it from the steps, a picnic table, or mid-swing. Parking can be tricky, especially along Ladley Street. Opt to hug the curb on Beacon Street. // 2442 Castro St. (Glen Park), sfrecpark.org

Editors’ tips:

For an extra hit of cardio, Billy Goat Hill offers a great place to stair climb.
The swing is only meant to hold one person at a time—so don’t test your luck.

Hawk Hill

One of the most serene slices of the city, Hawk Hill is popular among yogis and meditation junkies. Nearly 1,000-feet above the Pacific, it is also among the highest points in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and is accessible via a trying bike ride or calf-straining hike. Also, for the bird watchers among us, Hawk Hill, as the name would suggest, is the highest lookout point for the largest known flight of diurnal raptors anywhere along the Pacific-clasped states. Bust out the binoculars here—day or night. // 948 Fort Barry, (Sausalito), parkconservancy.org

Editors’ tips:

Bring a yoga mat to mentally unwind and stretch out the body before straining your neck to look up at the sky.
Raptors are most active during the early hours of the morning; bird watchers will want to perch here early.

Mt. Hamilton / Lick Observatory

One of the highest publicly accessible summits in all of the South Bay, Mt. Hamilton is popular amongst wannabe and well-seasoned astronomers alike. Perched 4,500-plus feet above sea level and about an hour from San Jose, the darkness afforded by the area’s non-existent light pollution makes it one of the best vantage points to stargaze south of Bernal Heights. The UC owned-and-operated Lick Observatory is located off Highway 130, just shy of Mt. Hamilton’s peak visitor center and gift shop remain temporarily closed due to Covid, . // Mt. Hamilton Rd. (San Jose), alltrails.com

Editors’ tips:

Refilling stations are few and far between here, so fill your canteen to the brim at home.
Mt. Hamilton is dog friendly, just be sure to keep Spot on a leash.

Skyline Ridge Open Space

Few know that such a secluded, dark space can be found just 15 minutes from Silicon Valley. But sitting on over 2,000 acres of pristine scenery, Skyline Ridge Open Space ebbs and flows with rolling hillsides, most of which are accessible via well maintained trailheads. Whether it’s appreciating a star-studded sky from a trail bench or seeing the moonlight refract off of either Horseshoe Lake or Alpine Pond, there’s little this place can’t offer celestial enthusiasts. // Page Mill Rd. and Skyline Blvd. (San Jose), openspace.org

Editors’ tips:

Trails are easy to moderate in difficulty; no need to bust out the hiking poles.
Packing a picnic? Alpine Pond has two tables on its shore.
Parking along Page Mill Road is plentiful.

Corona Heights Park

Sandwiched between the Castro and Haight-Ashbury, Corona Heights Park is a somewhat enigmatic green space, even to locals. Swaths of checkerbloom, California poppies, and more wildflowers sit between towering evergreens, and when the sun retreats beneath the horizon, the park offers sweeping vistas of a lit-up SF and, weather permitting, a starry Bay Area sky. The base of the hill always sits 300 feet above sea level, but hiking the dirt trail up to the peak will put you at 520 feet above the tide. // Roosevelt Way and Museum Way, (Buena Vista), sfrecpark.org

Editors’ tips:

Wear your favorite hiking shoes, the rocky outcrops can be strenuous.
Embrace your phone’s flashlight—the trails are somewhat tricky to navigate at night.

Muir Woods Beach Overlook

There may be no better place to gaze up at the heavens than from the sands of Muir Beach. Those who wish to, say, smolder s’mores while stargazing can do so at the designated fire pits. Looking to gawk at the stars from a higher standpoint? Make a beeline to the rocky, cliffside Muir Woods Overlook. Cell phone service is notoriously spotty throughout the park, so screenshot things like trail maps and parking prior to heading out. // Muir Beach Overlook, (Muir Beach), nps.gov.com

Editor’s tips:

Dogs are allowed on leashes, but be mindful that Muir Beach is a popular seal pupping ground.
Whale watching at Muir Beach is among the best anywhere in the state.

Mt. Tamalpais

Ahh, Mt. Tam—how we love your rich hiking trails and windswept vistas. But rarely do we stick around to partake in the stargazing opportunities afforded by the summit and surrounding highlands. Friends of Mt. Tam have suspended their regular astronomy classes due to Covid but they feature astronomy programs on their YouTube channel, providing a window to the skies for those exploring the vast universe on the other side of Karl the Fog. // 801 Panoramic Highway (Mill Highway), parks.ca.gov

Editors’ tips:

The campgrounds around Mt. Tam are among the few places you can have a bonfire in the Bay Area without repercussions.
Drones cannot be flown overhead here—leave it at home.
Tables, drinking fountains, and restrooms can be found by East Peak off Verna Dunshee Trail.

Point Reyes National Seashore

Few natural spaces can compare to the awe-inspiring beauty and sublime stillness supplied by Point Reyes’ oceanside viewpoints. Limantour beach is one of the better, less popular beaches within the confines of Point Reyes National Seashore, perfect for laying out a blanket and taking in Cassiopeia. // Bear Valley Road and Shoreline Hwy (Point Reyes Station), nps.gov

Editors’ tips:

Check out AccuWeather to see if the night’s appropriate for stargazing.
Pick up fire and camping permits at the Bear Valley Visitor Center.
Bring your coat—temps along the shore are often several degrees cooler than what you see on Weather.com.

Strawberry Hill, Golden Gate Park

Smack in the middle of Stow Lake, Strawberry Hill is an isolated island where greenery and scenery merge into jaw-dropping views. Space is tight at the overlook so don’t bother lugging up your telescope: A good pair of binoculars will do the trick. Wear your hiking boots! // 50 Stow Lake Dr. (Golden Gate Park), goldengatepark.org

Editors’ tips:

Pack some snacks and bottles of water for the trek up.
Check local forecasts to ensure they’ll be minimal cloud coverage.
Check for park closures before heading out.

(Photo courtesy of SFAA)

Land’s End and Point Lobos

In the northwestern corner of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area sits two geological gems, each perfect for stargazing: the higher elevations at Point Lobos and the ocean vistas at Land’s End. San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers occasionally host an amateur’s star watching night at both locations, but its BYO binoculars and telescope. // 80 Point Lobos Ave. (Sea Cliff), nps.org

Editors tips:

Check local forecasts to assure clear skies for the evening.
Bring flashlights for trail navigation; wear hiking shoes.

The Presidio

With soft mulch and ample parking spaces, the low-light areas of the Presidio offer quality, easily accessible stargazing opportunities within the confines of the city. Plus, SFAA often hosts lectures inside the grounds, sharing insights on what exactly you’re straining your neck toward. // Veterans Blvd and Hwy-101 (Presidio), presidio.gov

Editors’ tips:

Crissy Field and Southern Wilds are known for being two of the calmer, quieter parts of the grounds.
No need for hiking shoes here.

(Photo courtesy of Berkeley Side)

Grizzly Peak

Sip a chocolate shake, munch on a burger, and ponder your special place in the big ol’ thing we call the universe. An East Bay favorite, Grizzly Peaks is thought of as the Twin Peaks of the East Bay, offering up Instagram-worthy landscapes. Just fill up your tank and go—and maybe stop at your favorite drive-thru on the way. // Old Fish Ranch Rd. (Berkeley), yelp.com

Editors’ tips:

Parking can be tight here, so try to get there before 9pm.
Bring a pair of binoculars, if you wish.

Sibley Volcanic National Reserve

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more enchanting, light-pollution-free area in the Bay Area than Sibley Volcanic National Reserve. Now, this one’s a hike, so be sure to lace up your boots, fill your water bottles, and enjoy the acres upon acres of open space. Stop by the quarry pit labyrinth on your way back to the car. // 6701 Skyline Blvd. (Berkeley), ebparks.org

Editors’ tips:

The clearings are adequate for the use of both binoculars and telescopes.
Bring your four-legged best friend on a leash.

Redwood Regional Park + Chabot Space and Science Center

Every Friday and Saturday evening, weather and light permitting, the Chabot Space and Science Center’s observatory is open to the public, free of charge. Just park, follow the signs to the back of the center, and be amazed by the cosmos. If you’re yearning for more, head back toward the entrance and grab a general admission pass to explore the entire center. // 10000 Skyline Blvd. (Oakland), chabotspace.org

Editors’ tips:

Nighttime viewing starts at 7:30pm and ends at 10:30pm.
Notice that access to the observatory is free, not access to the entire center. Make sure to enter in the back gate for access to the observatory.

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Presidio Heights' lavish 'Petit Trianon' (and 2019 Decorator Showcase) asks $17.3 million cut rate

An 18,000-square-foot mansion modeled after the Chateau Versailles’ Le Petit Trianon, which was built in the 1760s for Louis XV’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour, and later home to the frivolous French Queen Marie Antoinette? There’s a story here.

Built in 1904 for wool merchants Marcus and Cora Koshland, the so-called Koshland House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, got its start in life with an opulent costume ball christening inspired by Antoinette herself. Situated on Washington Street in a tony part of Presidio Heights, the mini palace has a sandstone facade, fanciful columns, and artist-made stained glass windows.

Fast-forward to 2007 and the home was picked up by CNET founder Halsey Minor who, after blowing his jillions and filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy, was forced to wash his hands of it, listing it first at $25 million, then $21 million, and leaving it in utter disrepair. The grand old dame reportedly had water damage and holes in the ceiling, not to mention being totally out of date.

In 2014, Taylor Swift was rumored to have bought the place, but the Fearless singer seems to have run scared because it’s been on and off the market ever since, and at an ever-decreasing asking price.

Finally in 2019, the home was transformed for the modern era to host the 42nd Annual SF Decorator Showcase. Its 33 lavish spaces were touched by 40 interior and landscape designers—Jonathan Rachman and Studio Heimat notably among them—who reimagined it with a myriad of ultra-luxurious materials, hand-painted wallpapers, and one-of-a-kind fixtures. Truly, it’s as extra as ever.

The month after the show house, the home hit the market for $30 million. One month later, it dropped to $19.8 million. Now over two years later, they’ve slashed another two-and-a-half mil off the asking.

If you’ve got the dough, you’d get a quite a steal on this Neo-Classical behemoth—and it’s not like it needs a remodel. The home has nine bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms, and two kitchens.

You’ll enter the main level via a round foyer, swathed in marble on the floors and walls, with Grecian-style columns, French doors peek at indoor gardens, and a dramatic domed ceiling. Once inside, a three-story central atrium with a stained-glass windows and skylight is residence’s crowning moment.

Each room here is lavishly designed and heavily detailed, from the great room with its beamed ceilings and picture windows to the baronial dining and family rooms with barrel-vaulted ceilings. Several fireplaces are intricately adorned with classical carvings or Moroccan tiles.

The gourmet kitchen feels both modern and ladylike with Lilac Quartzite countertops and pops of rich fuchsia on the commercial Hesta appliances. There is also a large catering kitchen and butler’s pantry with two of everything—refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, and sinks—on the lower level.

A palatial marble staircase connects the entry level with the second floor, which has a massive landing that overlooks the atrium and multiple bedroom suites with amenities such as marble bathrooms, fireplaces, and private sitting rooms with wet bars. More bedrooms, including a guest suite with its own kitchenette and Japanese-inspired spa bath, can be found on the third level.

There are countless pretty spaces here, but second only to the atrium is the lower level’s original Hall of Mirrors–inspired ballroom, which has been updated as a modern nighttime lounge with a Calacatta Viola marble bar complete with inset lighting and under-counter wine storage and refrigeration.

Parking for six cars, endless French-style landscaping, and an elevator complete this home.

Bedrooms: 9

Bathrooms: 7.5

Size: 18,788 sq. ft.

Asking price: $17,300,000

// 3800 Washington St. (Presidio Heights); for more information, visit 3800washingtonstreet.com.

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Rumah Presidio Heights yang luas terasa seperti taman bermain orang dewasa, meminta $ 16,5 juta

Di tepi salah satu taman bermain paling dicintai di San Francisco, Presidio, rumah enam kamar tidur seluas 7.000 kaki persegi ini dirancang untuk keluarga yang suka berpesta.

Awalnya dibangun pada tahun 1912, rumah ini telah direnovasi menjadi stud dan terasa lebih seperti hotel butik daripada rumah.

Sebuah pintu melengkung membuka ke pintu masuk yang luas dengan langit-langit tinggi, tangga dengan langkan geometris, dan lantai kayu herringbone yang mengalir ke ruang tamu. Di sini, langit-langit peti, banyak jendela, dan perapian membuat tempat yang megah untuk bersantai bersama keluarga dan teman-teman.

Dapur bertindak sebagai ruangan besar tersendiri dengan ruang sarapan, ruang lounge, dan tempat duduk bar di pulau besar. Tepat di belakangnya adalah halaman bertingkat yang menghadap ke selatan untuk bersantap di luar ruangan sambil bermain bocce. Pada acara-acara khusus, ruang makan yang moody dengan lampu gantung seperti origami dan bar basah menjadi suasana pesta perayaan.

Di lantai atas, suite utama memiliki perapiannya sendiri, dua bilik lemari, kamar mandi yang tenang dengan wastafel ganda dan bak rendam cantik di ceruk bundar di atas lantai marmer. Pemandangan Presidio adalah ceri di atas. Rumah itu memiliki lima kamar tidur tambahan termasuk tiga suite penuh.

Keluarga yang tinggal di sini harus beristirahat karena ada kesenangan yang bisa didapat—rumah ini juga memiliki ruang media dan kebugaran, gudang anggur, dan beberapa teras jalan-jalan. Ada juga dua ruang cuci dan garasi untuk dua mobil. Lift menyediakan akses ke semua tingkat rumah.

Kamar tidur: 6

Kamar mandi: 7

Ukuran: 6.985 kaki persegi

Harga yang diminta: $16,500,000

// 3747 Jackson St. (Benteng); untuk informasi lebih lanjut, kunjungi kompas.com.

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Video House Tour: Di Presidio Heights, sebuah kondominium penthouse bergaya Edwardian meminta $ 2,7 juta

Dalam jarak berjalan kaki ke Presidio dan restoran ikonik termasuk Sorrel dan Spruce, lokasi rumah Edwardian tahun 1904 ini cukup menarik.

Di dalam bangunan tiga unit di belakang kolom Corinthian, kondominium penthouse memiliki interior yang menarik dan aksen kontemporer.

Area umum yang luas dengan langit-langit berkubah yang dramatis memiliki ruang tamu yang cukup besar untuk dua ruang duduk khusus, termasuk satu dengan perapian berukir yang rumit. Dua set jendela ceruk dan skylight menerangi ruangan dengan cahaya alami. Dek kaca dengan pemandangan pusat kota dan air mengintip-a-boo tampaknya mengapung di antara ruang tamu dan ruang makan.

Dengan langit-langit balok balok, ruang makan formal berada di samping dapur yang baru saja direnovasi di mana lemari biru tua dan ubin kereta bawah tanah abu-abu menjaga perasaan hangat dan menarik. Ada meja marmer, kedai kopi, dan peralatan baja tahan karat termasuk rangkaian dan kap mesin Miele.

Rumah ini hanya memiliki dua kamar tidur tetapi masing-masing memiliki suasana hotel. Master suite romantis dengan ruang duduk pribadi dengan perapian marmer, lemari pakaian ganda dengan rak built-in, dan kamar mandi dengan wastafel ganda dan wallpaper bunga yang unik. Kamar tidur kedua juga memiliki kamar mandi dalam dengan bathtub berendam.

Lokasi: 3827 Clay St. (Presidio Heights)

Ukuran: 2.005 Sq. Ft

Kamar tidur: 2

Kamar mandi: 2

Harga yang diminta: $ 2.750.000

// Untuk informasi lebih lanjut, kunjungi sothebysrealty.com.

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Presidio membuka jalur pendakian baru dan ruang hijau dengan Quartermaster Reach Marsh yang telah dipugar

Sejak pertama kali dibuka pada tahun 1776 sebagai pos Angkatan Darat Spanyol yang menghadap Teluk San Francisco, Presidio telah melakukan transformasi perlahan dan mantap kembali ke keadaan semula sebagai ruang hijau alami yang epik di Kota, dan telah menjadi bagian dari Layanan Taman Nasional sejak saat itu. 1994.

Saat ini, taman nasional perkotaan seluas 1.491 hektar kami melanjutkan evolusinya yang sedang berlangsung dengan pembukaan jalur baru, memotong proyek restorasi lahan basah senilai $ 23 juta di kawasan itu yang terletak di latar depan Jembatan Golden Gate. Dan, dengan berjalan-jalan di luar ruangan yang berjarak secara sosial di antara beberapa aktivitas yang diizinkan ke Bay Areans di bawah perintah tinggal di rumah yang baru, kami tidak dapat memikirkan waktu yang lebih baik untuk keluar dan menjelajahi medan baru.

Pada hari Jumat, Quartermaster Reach Marsh dapat diakses oleh penduduk setempat dengan lahan rawa pasang surut seluas tujuh hektar di sepanjang garis pantai utara Presidio dekat Crissy Field. Setelah tidak dapat dijangkau dan tidak terawat, “TPA era Angkatan Darat” telah dipulihkan menjadi lanskap lahan basah, bersilangan dengan anak sungai dan koridor tempat flora dan fauna dapat bertemu dengan pecinta alam Bay Area.

“Pekerjaan di Quartermaster Reach Marsh membawa aliran sungai sepanjang 850 kaki setelah terkubur dalam pipa di atas tanah melalui penggalian,” kata Lisa Petri dari organisasi nirlaba. Presidio Trust. “Gorong-gorong Presidio Trust Box kemudian dipasang di bawah Mason Street di Crissy Marsh untuk memungkinkan air tawar dari sungai mengalir ke rawa air asin dan Teluk San Francisco, menciptakan habitat payau yang unik yang penting bagi berbagai spesies tumbuhan dan hewan. “‘

Perencanaan untuk proyek ini telah dibuat selama 10 tahun, dimulai dengan perkuatan seismik Doyle Drive, yang menjadi Presidio Parkway. Pemulihan rawa juga merupakan tonggak penting dalam revitalisasi 20 tahun lebih Tennessee Hollow Watershed, yang terbesar dari jenisnya di Presidio yang juga mengalir melalui tanah rawa baru.

“Ketika Parkway selesai dibangun pada tahun 2015, masih ada proses panjang untuk mentransfer proyek ke Presidio, membersihkan barang-barang di bawahnya, dan menciptakan kondisi yang matang agar rawa alami berkembang,” tambah Petri, mencatat bahwa tim proyek saat ini menanam sekitar 23.000 rawa asin dan tanaman bukit pasir dari lebih dari 40 spesies tanaman yang berbeda, semuanya ditanam di Presidio Nursery di dekatnya, untuk menciptakan habitat yang menarik bagi burung pantai yang bermigrasi dan hewan air termasuk yang semakin langka Tiram Olympia, satu-satunya tiram asli Pantai Barat Amerika Utara.

“Jejak baru

Sejauh menyangkut pendakian, San Fransiskan dapat menantikan rute baru yang disebut Tennessee Hollow Watershed Walk, jaringan jalan setapak yang mencakup jembatan penyeberangan dan bagian jalan setapak seperempat mil ke Jalur Berongga Tennessee, “menghubungkan bagian dalam DAS Presidio ke Crissy Field dan Bay untuk pertama kalinya,” kata Petri.

Jejak itu, juga, akan menciptakan lebih banyak tempat burung untuk mengamati fauna unggas asli seperti killdeer, bangau, dan coot, yang telah menempati tempat tinggal di rawa.

Saat tanaman berada dalam fase pancang, situs masih terasa agak gundul tetapi Anda tentu saja dapat mengharapkan pemandangan Jembatan Golden Gate, Alcatraz dan Crissy Marsh yang sangat indah.

// Untuk informasi lebih lanjut tentang Quartermaster Reach Marsh, kunjungi presidio.gov.

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