Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

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This engineering masterpiece was built in 1937. This bridge was called the Golden Gate Bridge. Living up to its name this magnum opus is stretching over 4,200 feet. This is one of the best of its kind. Health buffs and adventurous people are game to the challenge of walking across this bridge. It is not stressful because of the cool breeze kissing your cheeks and the fantastic view awaits you. Looking below the bridge you may also see surfers riding the waves. You cannot miss this picturesque scene in San Francisco.

(MAN MADE BUT NOT ORIGINALLY TO ATTRACT TOURIST)

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Coit Tower was built atop Telegraph Hill in 1933 at the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit to beautify the City of San Francisco. The art deco tower, 210 feet (64 meters) of unpainted reinforced concrete, was designed by architects Arthur Brown, Jr. and Henry Howard with murals by 26 different artists and numerous assistants.

We were very lazy, and while we wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge up close and go over it, we didn't fancy the bike ride that you can do to go over it, or walk it, or hire a car etc etc.
So we got onto one of those jump on and off open bus tour's that are in every city, and were pleasantly surprised to learn that the bus had been made in Dublin- funnily enough it was the image of the ones that run in Dublin too, except the steering wheel and doors are on the other side.
The bus brought us all over SF, to places we hadn't even thought of going to, such as to see the Painted Ladies (photo to come) and eventually we got to the Golden Gate Bridge.
The bus pulled in beforehand to a parking lot, in case anyone wanted to get off and walk across the bridge, and warned of the time of the next bus.
Going across the bridge was very windy, I was glad I had my hair back! It was cold also, and I was also glad I'd put on my rainjacket previously as it acted as a bit of a barrier to the wind.
The bridge is long, and i was glad we took the easy way out and got the bus across!
the bus pulls into the car park on the other side and turns to come back, you could potentially get off here and walk down to Sausalito and get the boat back- I think it was only one mile to Sausalito.
Photos to come

I love San Francisco - I am an Aussie who has travelled extensively in USA but San Francisco is a place of beauty and tranquility. I feel safe and relaxed here.
This is my third trip. I have walked the Bridge before with my husband this September I will be walking the Bridge with my cousin..

So really this will be the third time as I walked back last time. This time we will catch a bus and off to the next stop for a ferry ride back.

As an Aussie this Bridge walk is total awesome. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world. You really feel part of San Francisco when you do this walk. Just walk and look all of the time.

I need a knee replacement and I will walk this bridge again and enjoy it as if it was the first time.

Please when you go to San Fran walk the Bridge - you will never regret this experience.

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San Francisco's most famous landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge stretches 1.7 miles over the mouth of the bay and its towers reach almost 750 feet above the water surface. It was the world's largest suspension bridge in 1937 when it was completed, and it is now the US's second longest suspension bridge behind the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. 100,000 vehicles cross the bridge everyday following California Highway 1 and US Highway 101. Golden Gate Bridge is considered San Francisco's third most popular tourist destination after Fishermans Wharf and Chinatown.

A 490 million dollar seismic retrofit began in 1997 and is still ongoing. This will help protect the bridge in the event of another major earthquake in the region.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a toll road with a $5 fee collected in the southbound direction only. Pedestrians may use the bridge for free during daylight hours, and bicyclists can ride on the bridge anytime.

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To see the Golden Gate Bridge is one thing, but to walk the Golden Gate Bridge is quite another. In fact its safe to say that walking across the bridge is the only way to truly say you have experienced the Golden Gate. Walking the bridge will give you a greater appreciation for its architecture and beauty as well as for its sheer size. Its takes about a hour to walk from one end of the bridge to the other and back. The views of downtown San Francisco and Alcatraz are fantastic and nothing quite beats staring down at a barge as in goes under the bridge, the temptation to spit is enormous, but don't do it, there are cameras everywhere! Word of warning, the weather around the bridge is always windy and cold even in the middle of summer, so it would be wise to bring a sweatshirt or windbreaker even if its a eighty degree day, because the wind whips violently on the bridge and 80 degrees will quickly feel like 60 degree's!

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As amazing as the bridge looks in pictures, its even better in person, which of course won't come as a surprise. What does come as a surprise is how beautiful the view is from the Visitor Center. The bridge stretches out in the distance at a angle showing off all its highlights and regardless of the weather its always a sight to see. Whether highlighted against a brilliant blue sky or embroiled in a milky fog there is never a bad time to visit. There is a park in front of the visitor center with benches that face the bridge, there is also a bike trail that runs along the waterfront. So no matter how your choose to get there, be it by foot, bike, car, or bus visiting the Golden Gate Bridge will serve as the highlight of your visit to San Francisco!

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most fantastic landmarks in the world. You can see it from several places and angles, but my personal favorite is to rent a car or a bike and go north across the bridge, take of at the lookout just after the bridge, and after a short stop there, drive north to the next exit (just a fe meters further) and cross directly under Highway 1 and then drive up the hills on the on the north-west side of the bridge. From there you get a great view of the bridge with the bay and San Francisco in the background, like in the picture. A last tip is to go on a day with clear blue skies and just before sunset, the light will then give the bridge a fantastic red glow. Enjoy!

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A gift center and a café welcome visitors at the south end of the golden gate bridge, near the toll booth plaza wherrein you can buy souvenirs of san francisco and the goldel gate plus see various statues and a cross section of the steel cable of the golden gate bridge. It can be a starting point to walk through the bridge or to walk around the presidio, fort mason, fort point, Baker beach, golden gate national recreational area.

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This is the view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Point. The fort is five stories, made primarily of brick, and admission is free. The views from the top floor are gorgeous, windy, and a little precarious. The spiral staircases leading up to the top are definitely from another era.Civil War reenactment is seen inside. On wavy days, surfers try to catch rides about 100 yards away from the Fort in the cold bay water. Fort Point is part of the Golden Gate national recreation area. Nearby sites include: the Presidio, the Marin Headlands (across the Golden Gate), Crissy Field beach (about 1/2 mile down the pier from Fort Point).