Three and a half miles of clean, windswept sand with an adjacent 51-acre park, Stinson Beach is an hour's drive from San Francisco. This is one of the cleanest public beaches around, and has rest rooms, showers, and picnic areas with grills, as well as a snack bar in the summer months. Lifeguards are only on duty from May to September, and the waves can get large, so be aware of any safety hazards, including the fact that sharks are fond of the shallow water near the shore. Birdwatchers will want to look out for great blue herons and great egrets.