David D.
Yelp
Located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and the Point Reyes National Seashore, Stinson beach has a reputation for being the "most southern California" beach in the SF bay area. However, this small beach and surrounding vistas are more breathtaking than most of the beaches I've been to in SoCal.
For example, getting to Stinson beach, either via hiking the infamous Dipsea trail's 7.51 miles, or, driving along the twisty-turny roads of the coast, is eye-wideningly-beautiful . On clear days, it's hard not to look at the expansive Pacific ocean views while driving--but be careful-- it's a long descent down there! Most days, the famous bay area fog covers the coast and beach until afternoon; then, the air is clear and sun can get bright if you're lucky.
Stinson beach itself is a must-visit if you're up here in SF. The sand is white and the water is clear and cold. Nevertheless, the relatively shallow and sandy beach makes it great for swimming, surfing, body-boarding, picnicking, sand-castle building, and sand dollar collecting. In pre-covid times (and maybe still nowadays), visitors could borrow volleyball nets and balls from the main lifeguard tower in exchange for a driver's license (yes, real lifeguards are generally on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day). Stinson Beach also has an extensive picnic area complete with tables and barbecues. To top things off, there is designated area for dogs to play and swim too. Parking is surprisingly ample, but, of course, on the hottest days, be sure you get there before lunch.