"Lake Merced is a critical piece of SF’s natural infrastructure, beloved of both golfers and local birds and noted for its extremely dramatic foggy mornings. If you wait for the fog to burn off and the grassy shores to warm up, it’s about as isolated as you can feel while still within the city limits. The city has other lakes, but none anywhere close to these proportions — in fact, Lake Merced is actually a system of two lakes. A number of obscure landmarks dot the area, like sculptor Beniamino Bufano’s penguin statue near the southern tip, or the markers where a state senator and Supreme Court justice fought a duel in the 19th century — actually just over the line in Daly City. What to pack: Tacos from Underdogs Too On your way to the lake, swing west to the end of Taraval, where Underdogs Too is ready to send you off with a bag packed with surf-style tacos. Beef, pork, chicken, fish, and veggie are all acceptable answers, but the main thing to know is to order then “Nick’s way,” which will get you an additional crispy crispy corn tortilla inside the soft one, cheese, and guacamole." - Eve Batey, Adam Brinklow, Becky Duffett
