Bernal Heights has several great parks that are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sunshine regardless of if you have dogs or kids in-tow.

If you are on the south side of Bernal, Holly Park is the park that will be closest to you. It has a great playground for youngsters, as well as plenty of space for your pooch to roam while you catch up on the neighborhood gossip. It is relatively sheltered from the elements, so it is never particularly windy at this park. It is also surrounded by homes, so the odds of seeing wildlife like a coyote are pretty low.

Located close to the geographic center of Bernal is Bernal Heights Park, which in total is roughly 35 acres of park and open space. It’s at the top of the hill, so on a windy day it can be rather blustery. However, what it gives up in shelter from the elements it definitely makes up for in views. There are wonderful views of Twin Peaks to the west, downtown San Francisco to the north, and the San Francisco bay to the east. It is incredibly popular with dog owners and professional dog walkers, so if canines aren’t your thing then this might not be the park for you. And since it is at the top of the hill, be prepared for some good exercise to get there and to enjoy all that it has to offer. Your quads might kill you the first time, but eventually they’ll thank you!

If you find yourself on the north slope of Bernal, you owe it to yourself to check out Precita park. Relatively flat, it has great spaces to play soccer (or your favorite ball sport), as well as a great playground for kids. And just like every other park in Bernal, you can expect to see plenty of pooches. Since it is at the bottom of the hill, you don’t have much in the way of views. But you also don’t have to walk up a hill to enjoy it!