This wonderful women-only bathhouse has been my personal bastion for sanity for the 25 years that I've lived in the Bay Area. It's a simple, adorable little spot, a haven of peace and serenity in the midst of the cool, hip urban energy of the Valencia Street corridor.

For an entrance fee (sliding scale $12-$20 based on what you can afford to pay) you can spend the day, including in and out privileges. There is a lovely large Japanese-style hot tub (big enough for 8 women) usually kept at 106 to 108 degrees. Also, there is ample resting areas inside.

The outside courtyard is my favorite. Wet and dry saunas and a cold plunge are out back as well as a wonderful upper deck for nude sunbathing.

Massages are available and most the bodyworkers are quite talented. My idea of a perfect day when I need to chill is to arrive when they first open at noon and it's the quietest, hang out for a couple hours, go up the street to eat lunch at Herbivore (two doors down) and then return for more hours of bliss. By the end, you're thinking "what problems?".

This is also an amazing spot during the rainy season. Just going from the hot tub to the rain outside into the steaming saunas and cold plunge (and back again) is heaven. I've spent countless storms meditating in the cozy toasty sauna as the rain plinked on the wooden roof.

If you go, be sure to say hello to Yvonne, the manager. She's really wonderful (as is the owner Summer has kept the place going as an urban retreat for women for almost 30 years).

This is one of the secret, sacred retreat spots of San Francisco.

PS. I listed this under "family fun" because I couldn't see any other category for it, although children are actually not allowed. So this is not exactly accurate (unless you think of yourself as part of the extended family of women!)