Mountain Lake Playground

Few playgrounds in the city can actually compete with this one. You’ve got a real lake steps away — ducks, a small beach, the whole thing — plus trails that connect into the Presidio if you feel like making a day of it. The play structure has enough going on to keep kids from toddlers up through early teens busy, with slides and climbing that aren’t just token gestures. Shade trees do real work here on sunny days, and the restrooms are genuinely kept up, which matters more than people admit. Bring a picnic, let the little ones hit the water feature, and plan to stay longer than you thought.