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If you live in the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area peninsula and are in search of a summer-time activity, consider water sport in Foster City. There's a man-made lagoon that stretches 16.5 miles (212 acres) surrounded by million dollar waterfront houses and public parks (some with sandy beaches). Because the lagoon is fully contained, the only water current comes from wind. The lagoon is approximately 6 feet deep, but children and adults who can't swim should still wear a lift vest. The lagoon water has a bluish green tint because Foster City adds a non-toxic dye that reduces algae and weeds. That being said, unless otherwise posted, the lagoon water is completely safe to swim in. Read more about Foster City Water Sports at FosterCity.org.
Renting Equipment
If you don't have any equipment, you can rent equipment from California Windsurfing such as (prices per website on Aug 2019):
- windsurf ($20 per 1 hour)
- stand up paddle board ($10 per 30 min per person)
- single occupant kayak ($10 per 30 min per person)
- double occupant kayak ($20 per 30 min per person)
- pedal boat ($10 per 30 min per boat)
California Windsurfing also offer private lessons on all their equipment. Note that the website says they are a cash only business. Their business is located right off the lagoon with plenty of free parking in Foster City.
Bring Your Own Equipment
If you have your own equipment or plan on doing water sports more often, you can always bring your own water sports equipment. They have boat launches for boats, just make sure it meets the lagoon policies.
If you don't have your own equipment, but plan on going often, it may be worth it to purchase your own equipment. Here's is an example of what I used...
Explorer K2 2-Person Inflatable Kayak: When not inflated, fits easily into the trunk of any sedan. Inflates with a manual pump in about 10 minutes. Inflatable kayaks aren't as fast as hard kayaks, but can be equally relaxing.