Whenever I catch sight of the Bay Area’s unbelievable natural beauty, I can’t help but transform from a Chicago city girl to a REI centerfold, dreaming of days spent kayaking, (attempting) surfing, hiking, and foraging.

So why don’t we lean into San Francisco’s beautiful natural landscapes (my bush included), and learn how to surf together! Even if we aren’t surfing glaciers like Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond at the end of our lesson (though fingers crossed for glacier surfing by our third date), let’s chase the fleeting grace and tension that comes with learning to surf. Better yet, since it’s fall, it’s the perfect time before winter creates wild waves.

Have I convinced you to ride the waves with me at the beginner friendly Bolinas Beach? We can book private lessons here and once we’ve marked that in our calendar, I’ll need you to help me with this zipper on this skin tight wetsuit…. 

After the ocean has thoroughly humbled us, it’s time to recuperate by soaking our sore muscles in a hot tub at Sausalito’s The Inn Above Tide and feeding each other cheesy anchovy pizza and celebrating our win by uncorking a bottle of dry white wine from Sandrino Pizza and Vino….

And once the pizza is finished and the fireplace is lit… Anchovy breath will be the last thing on our mind.