Sure, I think it'd be fun to be 6 years old again, a life free of all worry lines. But just as I start to settle on the notion, I can hear my parents nag me about my snotty nose and much-needed nap. It's that lack of unadulterated freedom that would keep me from hopping into a time machine to go back to my younger days. That and the neighbor who threw eggs at me.
If I really want to act like a kid again, I can BART over to San Francisco, where hidden gems like the Seward Street Slides make for the perfect post-work play date.
As a kid sitting atop a very tall slide, I prepped for an adrenaline-induced ride that was always a poignant moment of sweet independence. I was finally taller than my mom and dad.
And I guess I'm not the only one who still occasionally tries to reclaim those rare childhood moments of independence and abandon. Perhaps that's why adults from San Francisco and beyond get such a kick out of cruising down the city's various concrete slides using cardboard as a mat. Peruse Yelp and you'll see some of the most recent reviews of the Seward Street Slides come from out-of-towners, people who, upon coming to San Francisco, seek out activities that let them once again experience that childhood rush — and all the boo-boos that go with it.
"Yes, I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a grown adult that loves slides. The park sign says you need to be accompanied by children." — Marissa P., Portland, Ore.
"As a thirtysomething guy, I really shouldn't be afraid to go on a slide. Let's just say that when you sit at the top, they're a little daunting. This is no joke. You do want to sit on cardboard, which was plentiful on the day I went. If you soup it up and use glossy cardboard, and then lay down a little sand, you can really get going. I wouldn't recommend wearing your nicest clothes." — Adam S., San Francisco.
"As soon as his eyes laid upon these giant slides, my big kid of a fiancé ran full speed up the hill to be the first one down! We had a ton of fun playing here for a little while." — Stephanie S., Reno, Nev.
"My elbow got scraped, and I landed hard on my butt. I fell flat on my face and got sand in my mouth." — Keiko S., Singapore.
Slides of San Francisco (and Beyond)
Seward Mini Park Slides,70 Corwin St.
Golden Gate Park Children's Playground, near park entrance at Haight and Stanyan streets, S.F.
Mountain Lake Park, 98 Funston Ave., S.F.
Codornices Park, 1201 Euclid Ave., Berkeley
Bernal Heights Mini-Park Slide, Esmerelda Street and Winfield Street, S.F.
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