One of the most beautiful and consistently sunny and wind-free beaches in the bay area, as I recently discovered.
San Francisco beaches are usually chilly and windy - the water is choppy and not safe for the average swimmer. This beach was pleasant and gentle - there's a jog/bike path along the entire length. From this beach are the MOST gorgeous views toward San Francisco and the Bay Bridge.
I got there early every morning of my vacation for a walk and it was a fantastic way to start the day.
On the weekends there were crowds, but not such that it wasn't still quite lovely. There were lots of kite flyers, families, kayakers.
Maybe not worth a drive from San Francisco if it's a nice day already there, but definitely worth it if you're in Oakland or San Francisco is cloudy and you need some sun in your life.
There is a large park to the north of the beach with parking and a nature reserve somewhere along the east or south (couldn't place it exactly). You can also park on any of the residential streets near the beach.