See San Francisco With a Self-Guided Bike Tour

With two locations on Fisherman's Wharf, Bay City Bike is a great starting point for a bike tour of the city. See San Francisco's scenic beauty by traveling the Bay Trail, which while still a work-in-progress, offers many sights to explore. From the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands, find your path.

• What: Bay City Bike
• Where: 2661 Taylor Street / 1325 Columbus Ave.
• Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. / 415.346.BIKE
• Advance reservations: recommended; 10% discount and a quicker start to your tour.

Bay City Bike offers eight different bicycles to choose from, plus trailers and baby seats for young riders. There's also a "halfwheeler" option for kids to ride tandem. Rates range from $18 a day for kids bikes to $45 for adult bikes. For $25, there's the Cypress DX and Sedona DX, and for $45, there are road-racing bikes and comfort tandem bikes. If you're uncertain as to which bike to rent, the experts at the shop have recommendations to help you decide. According to their FAQ, the most popular bike for casual, round-the-bay-trail touring is the Comfort Hybrid, while the second most popular is the Comfort Mountain.

All bikes come with everything you'll need for a day spent exploring: a rear rack, front camera bags, locks, a water holder and bell, helmets, a repair kit, and maps. Ask about weekly and group rates.

At the Web site, you can also preview rides. Bike tours range in difficulty from easy to advanced, and the length of time spent riding is up to you. For instance, the City Coast to Golden Gate Park tour is approximately 21 miles and takes anywhere from three to five hours. The level of difficulty is moderate to advanced. For a more leisurely, novice ride, you may want to consider the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito tour, which is only eight miles and takes two to three hours with a return by ferry.

Though the best way to see the city is still walking, a bike tour can take you further in a shorter span of time, plus it's fun for solo riders, groups, and families. From springtime to early autumn, a bike tour of San Francisco could be the perfect way to fill your digital camera with scenic shots to save. Choose your path!