Not to be mistaken with its namesake in San Diego, Mission Bay, San Francisco is a planned community that over the last 20 years has been growing and attracting interest from investors and home buyers. Once an industrial district that housed the city’s shipping and manufacturing industry, this neighborhood in the city’s east side now boasts a lively urban landscape of high-rises, business, and innovation.
While Mission Bay residents work hard, they also have plenty of opportunities to relax within the neighborhood. With spacious parks, relaxing esplanades, and uniquely San Franciscan shops and restaurants, the community is a place that offers the work-life balance many seek.
Here we explore just a few of the best things to do in Mission Bay, San Francisco.
Spend a day at the park
Mission Bay is home to 24 acres of green space managed by San Francisco Recreation and Parks. Residents can picnic, walk by the bay, or sign up for any of these parks’ programs.
Mission Creek
The biggest park in the neighborhood, Mission Creek is divided into north and south sections. The park’s north side contains esplanades with views of the bay. One of the more interesting activities you can do here is rowing by taking off from the boat launch in the boathouse. Besides rowing, visitors may also play tennis or beach volleyball, or they can take their dogs to play and get rid of all that energy at The Berry Street Dog Park.
Mission Creek South holds an amphitheater and the Mission Creek Pavilion, where you can hold intimate events by the water. There is plenty of green space to relax and, like Mission Creek North, esplanades allow visitors to walk by the bay.
Mission Bay Commons
Mission Bay Commons offers 2 acres of space for picnics and lounging on the grass near the Bayfront Boat Launch. Bring your family pet along as it is a dog-friendly park.
Mariposa Park
Located along Mariposa and Owens Streets, Mariposa Park has a playground and picnic area with views of the bay. It is also near Mariposa Bayfront Park, a popular spot for bird watching.
Mission Bay Kids Park
As its name suggests, Mission Bay Kids Park has a playground where children can run, slide, and climb. The park is available as a venue for children’s birthday parties.
Explore the great outdoors
San Francisco Bay Trail
At 500 miles long, this trail encompasses over 130 parks, 47 cities, and several shorelines and rugged terrain. Depending on their preferences, visitors can head to the trail to go on leisurely strolls or intense hikes.
You can take to the water for fishing or boating, look to the sky to go birding, or enjoy the view on a city or all-terrain bike ride.
Stagecoach Greens
For more leisurely outdoor exercise, try a round of mini golf at Stagecoach Greens’ Boom & Bust Course. The 18-hole course explores the ups and downs of California’s history from the days of the Wild West, two historic earthquakes, all the way to the heady days of the tech boom. Who knew a history lesson could come from putting a golf ball?
Proceeds from Stagecoach Greens go to Family House, a non-governmental organization that provides temporary housing to families of children with serious illnesses. Baird Mission, a team of volunteers who provide support and guidance for foster children, also benefits from this outdoor mini golf course.
City Kayak
By signing up with City Kayak, Mission Bay residents and visitors can attend kayaking and paddling classes at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.
Kayaking can also be a great way to meet new people and become part of a fun group. There are regular trips, which include beginner paddles to Mission Creek and more challenging rows to Downtown San Francisco. Time your reservation right and you can go kayaking under a full moon or even when fireworks will light up the sky and the water.
Mariposa Hunter Point Yacht Club
Sailing enthusiasts can apply for a membership at the Mariposa Hunters Point Yacht Club (MHPYC) and take advantage of amenities which include a dock and clubhouse with a full bar and kitchen. MHPYC also hosts socials on holidays and game days, including Super Bowl Sunday, the Kentucky Derby, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
Parents can enroll their children in the club’s sailing lessons, where students not only learn the technicalities of sailing but also develop their ability to work with others.
Watch the city’s elite athletes
Our list of things to do in Mission Bay, San Francisco would not be complete without watching baseball or basketball games in the neighborhood’s newest sports arenas. Major League Baseball’s (MLB) San Francisco Giants and the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Golden State Warriors call Mission Bay home. Though both teams originated outside the Bay Area, they have won many championships as San Franciscans.
Today, you can watch the Giants’ and Warriors’ home games at Oracle Park and the Chase Center, respectively.
Oracle Park
Built in 2000, Oracle Park is the only privately funded MLB arena apart from Dodgers Stadium. It has gone under several names, Pacific Bell Park, SBC Park, and AT&T Park. But whatever people call it, they always know Oracle Park is a place built by and for baseball fans.
Visitors will know Oracle Park from its 9-foot statue of famed baseball player Willie Mays and the giant Coca-Cola bottle and baseball mitt behind the stands. During baseball games, they are also treated to a view of Bay Bridge. Young fans can live out their dreams when they run bases at Little Giants Park.
Between innings, fans can enjoy a multitude of food choices spread throughout the park, from the usual hotdogs and fries to lumpia, burritos, or even vegan and gluten-free options. There is even a chance to sample San Francisco’s famous Ghirardelli Chocolate slathered on a hot fudge sundae.
Chase Center
The basketball arena’s official website brands Chase Center as a “sports and entertainment district” privately funded by the Golden State Warriors. Compromising an 18,000-seat stadium, an expansive retail and dining area, and green space spread across 11 acres, Chase Center is more than just a basketball court.
Home court of the Warriors and the University of San Francisco Dons, Chase Center also hosts sold-out concerts, which fans can easily access by walking, cycling, driving, or taking the ferry or train. The Central Subway Station leads straight to the Center via the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) or by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Those with event tickets can also take the Muni for free on event day.
Another highlight of Chase Center is Thrive City, a retail hub spanning 100,000 sq ft. With free weekly health and wellness classes, homegrown food brands, and an upcoming park by the bay, Thrive City’s mission is “to strengthen the community by providing a space where all are invited to relax, connect and find inspiration through open-access events and best-in-class retail and dining experiences.”
Support local businesses and art
Enjoying athletics and the outdoors are not the only things to do in Mission Bay, San Francisco. There are plenty of dining and shopping experiences you can find around the neighborhood.
SPARK
Located within the Mission Bay neighborhood, SPARK is a food truck park and event space that supports 150 local food brands. Residents and guests alike can reserve seats at the park, to ensure a table when they meet friends over a beer or sangria.
Additionally, SPARK hosts “Feel Good Fridays,” a monthly live music event with different themes per iteration. On some occasions, the event is all about family; while at other times, the event supports pet adoption drives and other social causes.
Another draw of this monthly event is the happy hour hosted by SPARK’s partner food trucks. Guests not only enjoy discounted sangria but can also sample different mains and desserts, such as a mini chicken tostada from Señor Sisig or chocolate-dipped frozen bananas from the Noisy Fig.
Mission Rock Resort
Another institution at Mission Bay is the 70-year-old Mission Rock Resort. A casual waterfront restaurant known for its fresh seafood and oyster happy hour, locals consider it one of the best places to dine by the Bay.
Because there is a high demand for seating at this restaurant, it is recommended that guests reserve a table in advance. This will ensure they have the best seats in the house: al fresco on the deck.
Mission Rock Resort is open from brunch to dinner. Guests should try the establishment’s seafood dishes, such as the grilled fish tacos or the mussels and fries. Wine and cocktails are also available.
For those who want a more relaxed dining experience, Rock Café is available on the first floor on a pay-as-you-order basis. Here guests can simply walk in and enjoy the Dungeness crab and Bay shrimp roll with an additional order of fries, or they can visit the café at oyster happy hour.
The Ferry Building
Only a few minutes away from Mission Bay lies the Embarcadero District and its main landmark, the Ferry Building. Once the first stop for anyone disembarking the ferries to San Francisco, the Ferry Building is now the convergence point of the city’s Muni, Bart, and Ferry Lines.
Today, this area is known for its artisan food and unique shopping experience. It hosts a weekly farmers market and visiting should be on every list of things to do in Mission Bay, San Francisco.
Here are some examples of the local businesses you’ll find at the Ferry Building.
- Fog City Flea Trading Post – This 5,000 sq ft department store started as a pop-up flea market before finding a permanent space in the Ferry Building. Today, it is host to several clothing, jewelry, and houseware brands produced by San Francisco’s local artisans. Artists also share their creations here.
- Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant – The Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant is a place to both purchase and appreciate wine. Members of the brand’s Wine Club can also enjoy a curated selection of the best wines emerging from the industry. The establishment hosts a monthly “Wednesday Flight Night,” an intimate gathering for guests to sample rare wines and meet the vintners.
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market – Happening every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market offers high-quality farm products that attract the most discerning celebrity chefs. Saturdays are the busiest as the market stretches along the Embarcadero and hosts several dining options and free cooking demonstrations. Street food fans should visit the market on Thursdays.
The Mission District
Also within reach of the neighborhood is the art-filled Mission District, a section of boutiques and small businesses located only 2 miles away from Mission Bay. Since the 1970s, murals have adorned schools, businesses, churches, and other buildings in the area.
You can simply go on a walk around the district to appreciate the street art; but to know the story behind these creations, it is recommended to book a tour with Precita Eyes, the mural arts group that has been organizing most of these creations since 1977.
If you find yourself in Mission District, make it a point to visit the following:
- Mission Dolores – San Francisco’s oldest building, Mission Dolores has witnessed San Francisco’s growth from the days of the Gold Rush until today. Nearby sits the Mission’s garden and cemetery, where many historic Californians and Ohlone and Miwok were laid to rest. Some of the city’s oldest trees lend visitors their shade in this celebrated site.
- Dolores Park – Mission Dolores Park is a 16-acre stretch of green space that offers spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline. Apart from its picnic spots and tennis courts, the park is a regular venue for festivals and concerts.
- Balmy Alley – The constantly changing murals in Balmy Alley are organized by Precita Eyes and have been around since the 1970s. These depict stories about Central American history and cover a broad range of social issues.
- Clarion Alley – Murals produced by the Clarion Alley Mural Project (CAMP) came about in the early ‘90s and come in various artistic styles. Like Balmy Alley, Clarion Alley murals discuss current events and social issues but on a broader scale.
There are so many things to see and do in Mission Bay, San Francisco that we can only cover a select few. With the place continually innovating and evolving, it would take a lifetime to fully appreciate and taste all that the neighborhood and surrounding areas have to offer.
Moving to Mission Bay
With all the opportunities in and on its way to the neighborhood investing in one of the area’s modern high-rises is not only a shrewd investment but a great opportunity to relocate to a thriving and fun neighborhood. .
If you would like to know more about buying a condo in Mission Bay, contact Robyn Kaufman at SFHIGHRISES REAL ESTATE. A real estate professional with 30 years of experience and over $550 million in closed sales under her belt, Robyn has the experience, knowledge, and contacts to guide you through the ins and outs of San Francisco’s competitive luxury condominium market.
Leave a message here, or schedule a meeting by calling 415.497.1798. We’d love to hear from you.
