Treasure Island is like the wallflower at the Bay Area prom. Nobody wants to dance with plain old TI. But if you give it a chance, this island will show you things you've never seen before. Stake out one of the four barbecue pits located just past the U.S. Naval Station gates at Third St. and Palms Ave. With an expanse of grass and an open waterfront, you'll get an iconic double-bridge view and a panorama of downtown San Francisco. After your cookout, stroll part of the paved multi-use Perimeter Road (starting at the corner of Ninth St. and Palms Ave.) and watch ships pass Alcatraz, bound for distant lands. Linger a little longer to catch the sun setting directly over the Golden Gate Bridge. This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Take the Treasure Island exit off the Bay Bridge and follow the road through the U.S. Naval Station gate to the intersection of Third St. and Palms Ave. or Ninth St. and Palms Ave. Parking is available at both intersections. If the parking at Third and Palms is reserved for a wedding, you can find parking behind building 227 (at Third St. and Avenue B).