"Golden Gate Bridge" Golden Gate Bridge Tip by richiecdisc

Though the Golden Gate Bridge remains San Francisco's signature sight, it symbolizes not only the city but also an era when California was viewed as the culmination of Western Civilization. It's an impressive sight spanning some two miles between the exclusive Presidio neighborhood of the city proper with scenic Marin County to the north. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world at its completion in 1937 so you can imagine the clamor to see it. Any bridge set between these two impressive chunks of land would have garnered attention but painting it red seems to have sealed its fate, and periodically enshrouding it in fog has raised it to near mythic proportions. We were on the city bus over to the Toll Plaza viewpoint and there were two young German girls excitedly waiting to see the bridge evidently for the first time. When it came into view, they high-fived with huge smiles as if one more of the world's wonders had been conquered. Such is the power of this mass of steel painted red. I believe it is the fog that makes it so special as you're never quite sure if you'll see it all. From the Wharf, you often see either none or just pieces of it jutting through the mist. It is easily accessible by MUNI bus 18 that stops at the Toll Plaza viewpoint, but the most dramatic way of getting there is to walk along the Bay coastal trail and let the bridge come progressively closer. Once at the Fort Point Lookout, there is a trail that runs up through a rocky outcropping to the Toll Plaza viewpoint with various views along the way, including a nice area with picnic tables away from the masses at the top. The classic view if from up there and there are some nice gardens to frame the bridge too.

Address: Northwestern Tip of San Francisco Peninsula
Directions: The bridge is Highway 101's link from San Francisco to the counties North.
Phone: (415) 921-5858
Website: http://www.goldengatebridge.org