Much easier than trying to man your own sailboat on the bay--which should be left to the professionals--Stow Lake Boathouse in Golden Gate Park offers rowboats and pedal boats for rent from $14 per hour. It's a leisurely and romantic experience, and you'll get to interact with some lively wild residents like turtles, ducks, and seagulls. Waterfalls and gently curving bridges complete the panorama. The lake is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weather permitting.

stowlakeboathouse.com