How to Properly Tour the Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge has the distinction of being the top location tourists visit in San Francisco, which means that plenty of people have questions about this leading landmark. One of the first questions many tourists ask is how the bridge came to be so famous in the first place.
Water Under the Golden Gate Bridge is the Only Break in Rough Terrain for Miles
The Golden Gate Strait, which is the name for the water that flows under the popular bridge, represents the only geographical break among California’s rough terrain for hundreds of miles.
Once the Gold Rush came to San Francisco in 1848, population growth in the area exploded. However, it would be nearly 100 years before serious talks began about building a bridge across the strait to provide better commuter access for people living and working in the North Bay communities.
The city began discussions about building a bridge across the Golden Gate Strait in 1930, and contractors completed the job just four years later. The coastline and natural lands surrounding the bridge are all part of the National Parks System.
They are also part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. The location is home to the former military base named Presidio, a name also used for a nearby park.
Plan to Take Public Transportation When Visiting the Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation project reports that parking near the bridge is extremely limited. For this reason, the organization encourages visitors to take a bus, streetcar, taxi, or use a rideshare app to get to the Bridge and the area surrounding it.
No parking near the Golden Gate Bridge is available at all between 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The restricted parking during these hours also applies to the following areas:
- All Merchant Road lots at the South End
- Vista Point at the North End
- Welcome Center
With so many public transportation options available, people are likely to have a much better time if they do not have to think about parking at all.
Stop at the Welcome Center First
The Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Visitors can find souvenirs and learn more about the bridge in a comfortable indoor environment.
They also have a chance to view the test tower bridge made in 1933 from stainless. The model is 12 feet in height.
Activities Near the Golden Gate Bridge
The iconic bridge is reason enough to visit the area, but the Presidio area offers so much more to do that people could spend several days there and not see everything.
One example is the Fort Point Historic Site, an original to the Civil War era. The location of the brick fort is directly underneath the bridge, and people are welcome to walk around its exterior anytime. The fort is open on the inside from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Presidio Park boasts 24 miles of hiking trails and offers plenty of variety to appeal to people with all levels of hiking skill. The Disney Family Museum is also onsite, as is the office of Lucas Arts.
The well-known film studio produced all the Star Wars movies, so it only makes sense that visitors can take their picture with a life-sized Yoda statue in the lobby of the Lucas Arts building.
Take a Self-Guided or Professional Tour
Anyone who is up for a long walk can start at the Golden Gate Bridge and see many interesting sites along the way. The self-guided tour starts on the south side of the bridge and includes each of these destinations:
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Baker Beach via the Sand Ladder
- Battery Boutelle
- Immigration Point Overlook
- Mountain Lake Park and Playground
- World War II West Coast Memorial to the Missing
The route spans 2.8 miles at ends at Chili House, an authentic Chinese restaurant located within Chinatown. After walking for an at least an hour, chances are good that everyone in the group will be ready to sit down for a hearty lunch or dinner at one of Chinatown’s favorites.
Viewing the Bridge by helicopter is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity offered by the Vista Grande Helicopter Tour Company. Visitors might also consider a guided bike tour or a nighttime cruise to see the spectacular view of the sun setting over the Golden Gate Bridge and Strait.
People who want to visit Presidio Park more than one day can consider buying the two-day pass that allows them to get on and off a tourist bus.
The Golden Gate Bridge has the distinction of being the top location tourists visit in San Francisco, which means that plenty of people have questions about this leading landmark.
One of the first questions many tourists ask is how the bridge came to be so famous in the first place.
Water Under the Golden Gate Bridge is the Only Break in Rough Terrain for Miles
The Golden Gate Strait, which is the name for the water that flows under the popular bridge, represents the only geographical break among California’s rough terrain for hundreds of miles.
Once the Gold Rush came to San Francisco in 1848, population growth in the area exploded. However, it would be nearly 100 years before serious talks began about building a bridge across the strait to provide better commuter access for people living and working in the North Bay communities.
The city began discussions about building a bridge across the Golden Gate Strait in 1930, and contractors completed the job just four years later. The coastline and natural lands surrounding the bridge are all part of the National Parks System.
They are also part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. The location is home to the former military base named Presidio, a name also used for a nearby park.
Plan to Take Public Transportation When Visiting the Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation project reports that parking near the bridge is extremely limited. For this reason, the organization encourages visitors to take a bus, streetcar, taxi, or use a rideshare app to get to the Golden Gate Bridge and the area surrounding it.
No parking near the Golden Gate Bridge is available at all between 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The restricted parking during these hours also applies to the following areas:
- All Merchant Road lots at the South End
- Vista Point at the North End
- Welcome Center
With so many public transportation options available, people are likely to have a much better time if they do not have to think about parking at all.
Stop at the Welcome Center First
The Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Visitors can find souvenirs and learn more about the bridge in a comfortable indoor environment. They also have a chance to view the test tower bridge made in 1933 from stainless. The model is 12 feet in height.
Activities Near the Golden Gate Bridge
The iconic bridge is reason enough to visit the area, but the Presidio area offers so much more to do that people could spend several days there and not see everything. One example is the Fort Point Historic Site, an original to the Civil War era.
The location of the brick fort is directly underneath the bridge, and people are welcome to walk around its exterior anytime. The fort is open on the inside from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Presidio Park boasts 24 miles of hiking trails and offers plenty of variety to appeal to people with all levels of hiking skill. The Disney Family Museum is also onsite, as is the office of Lucas Arts.
The well-known film studio produced all the Star Wars movies, so it only makes sense that visitors can take their picture with a life-sized Yoda statue in the lobby of the Lucas Arts building.
Take a Self-Guided or Professional Tour
Anyone who is up for a long walk can start at the Golden Gate Bridge and see many interesting sites along the way. The self-guided tour starts on the south side of the bridge and includes each of these destinations:
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Baker Beach via the Sand Ladder
- Battery Boutelle
- Immigration Point Overlook
- Mountain Lake Park and Playground
- World War II West Coast Memorial to the Missing
The route spans 2.8 miles at ends at Chili House, an authentic Chinese restaurant located within Chinatown. After walking for an at least an hour, chances are good that everyone in the group will be ready to sit down for a hearty lunch or dinner at one of Chinatown’s favorites.
Viewing the Golden Gate Bridge by helicopter is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity offered by the Vista Grande Helicopter Tour Company. Visitors might also consider a guided bike tour or a nighttime cruise to see the spectacular view of the sun setting over the Golden Gate Bridge and Strait.
People who want to visit Presidio Park more than one day can consider buying the two-day pass that allows them to get on and off a tourist bus.
