the romance of stow lake.

as i prepare myself for the possibility of leaving san francisco, i can’t help but feel a bittersweet sense of nostalgia. san francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and one with so many hidden gems. i thought i’d start sharing a few of my favorite spots before i depart — i’ll always be back, but i’ll miss the spontaneity of spying daily eye candy on almost every corner. one of san francisco’s somewhat secret spots is the stow lake boat house, in gorgeous golden gate park.

i can’t think of a more romantic place to share on the cusp of valentine’s day — can you picture a romantic afternoon paddle around stow lake on valentine’s day with your sweetie? not that i’m recommending it (cuz, ahem, it’s probably illegal!), but i think bringing along a small split of champagne and some cupcakes or picnic lunch would seal the deal. stow lake has been providing boat rentals since 1893 and is one of the most beautiful places in the city. you can cruise around the serene, calm lake surrounded by lush, overgrown gardens, the waterfall on strawberry hill and the chinese pagoda in a paddle boat or row boat for hours and at quite a reasonable price (only $20/hour).

stow lake’s boathouse cafe is quite good too! the food’s delicious and its got a charming little indoor seating space — or eat outside in the sunshine watching your fellow boaters pass by. whenever i visit stow lake, or any part of golden gate park i can’t help but be astounded that the whole park was once just windswept sand dunes. for more than eleven decades, stow lake has provided san Franciscans and its many visitors with a place to escape from busy, crowded neighborhoods and spend time enjoying the great outdoors within the confines of the big city. amazing and romantic.

• all photos by sfgirlbybay.