5 unplugged Bay Area things to do when the power goes out

Does the threat of pre-emptive PG&E power outages have you all bummed out?

Yes, just the thought of trying to survive with no WiFi, no microwave and no Netflix will send many of us into high-voltage convulsions. But maybe an attitude adjustment is needed. Instead of worrying, we can embrace this as a golden opportunity to live an unplugged life — at least temporarily.

With that in mind, here are five things to do in the Bay Area when the blackouts occur (And please read this quickly before your laptop dies):

1. Go to your favorite ice cream shop and help reduce the inventory. How sweet it is! With the power out, we envision ice cream melting into big gloopy puddles everywhere. Someone needs to step up and do something, and it might as well be us (“Six hot fudges, please!”). And even if these 12 extreme ice cream shops are inaccessible, maybe you can chase down a neighborhood ice cream truck.

2. Hit the beach. No electricity, no power-point presentation. Sounds like it’s time for you to play hooky from work, plant your toes in the sand, clear your mind and take in some of the Bay Area’s stunning shoreline scenery. Of course, many others might have the same idea, so it might be better to visit one of the region’s 14 lesser-known beaches.

3. Take a hike. Everyone seems to be counting their steps these days. Why not make them quality high-cardio steps with a hike or stroll? Cool ocean breezes keep things chill on a stroll along Santa Cruz’s West Cliff — and little cafes await. Or head for the SF Bay Trail at Fort Mason, where nature and civilization happily coexist. Just slip on some sturdy shoes and a pedometer that you hopefully charged up before the power went out.

4. Fulfill your hoop dreams. It doesn’t look like San Francisco is on PG&E’s list of cities that affected by outages. That’s the signal for you to drop by the city, have a nice meal and get some early holiday shopping in. While you’re there, check out the Chase Center, the beautiful new home of the Warriors, and visit Hooptopia. It’s a playful, interactive attraction that gives guests the change to experience the life of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and the rest of the Golden State bunch.

5. Read and/or meditate in a park: You know that book on your nightstand that you haven’t gotten to in months? Well now is the time. Grab it and head to your favorite park (if it’s not too windy). If you need to bring along the kids, make sure they have a book, or board games, to keep them busy. And when it gets dark, just head home and continue reading by flashlight.

Bonus tip: Get your emergency kit together. If you were caught totally off guard by this power-outage ordeal, consider it a warning. There might be other emergencies down the line — maybe an earthquake, a fire, or more power woes. Get your “go-bag” ready with all the necessary supplies, including a flashlight, water, money and more. And make sure all your power packs are charged up.