Hello @Annie1 Welcome to REI Conversations and congrats on getting your new kayak. Super exciting! There are so many places to explore in the SF Bay, and I encourage you to “know before you go” to ensure that the paddling launch and area you choose is currently open. Also, it’s always a best practice to paddle with others (with safe social distancing 😀 ) and to know the tide, wind, and currents for the area you are headed. Conditions can change rapidly in the Bay. Lastly, dress for the water temp versus the air temp (water is COLD!). First, shout out to @OldGuyot those are some great suggestions! Here are some resources I utilize to help me figure out where to go and what is open. SF Bay Water Trail: a network of designated launching and landing spots, or “trailheads” for small craft. This site has SO many great ideas for paddling all over the Bay Area! Also, there are photos of many of the launch spots. bayareaoutdoors.org : A great site to check for many Bay Area parks and recreation area status and for info on how to recreate responsibly. www.bask.org : Bay Area Sea Kayakers. Another great resource for paddling conditions, locations, and community. If you click on “Trip Planner” you can see a map of the SF Bay with many put-in / launch spots marked. Paddling options I personally like that are close to San Franciscso (I live in the East Bay): Sausalito: Turney Street Boat Ramp—when this is open, you can launch here and turn “left” or “north” and explore the boat house marinas, paddle past seals, and explore Richardson’s Bay. Be mindful of tides, winds, and currents in this area which can change quickly. Also be sure to NOT paddle in the middle of the boat channel, which can get very busy over the weekends. Berkeley: Berkeley Marina—There is a small craft boat launch at the UC Aquatic Center at Berkeley Marina area. From here you can paddle around the marina area, explore the old Berkeley pier, and also head over to Emeryville if the winds are not too strong (recommend paddling early or late to avoid winds here). Oakland Estuary: Estuary Park/ Jack London Aquatic Center: When this are reopens, it’s a pretty easy launch site that gives you water access to Jack London Square, Coast Guard Island, MLK Shoreline, and Alameda. From this launch site, you could paddle all the way around Alameda Island (but I suggest trying smaller sections before doing the whole tour!). Also be aware that the immediate area outside this launch site is a shipping canal, make sure to stay close to the shoreline for safety here. San Francisco: Mission Creek. A good spot for an inflatable because it is often sheltered from the wind and has less currents than other portions of the SF Bay. I hope this helps! Have so much fun out there, and post a photo here and let us know where you went! Haley
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