I visited the Golden Gate Bridge once in high school when we had English exchange students staying with us because I grew up in the Bay Area. Their final day in San Francisco was one of those days that begins bright and sunny and finishes dark and gray.
It looked like the day went to night in about thirty minutes as we made our way from the city center to the west side. However, we persisted. One of the greatest places to see the bridge is at Fort Point, where I took them to. When we arrived, the bridge was essentially invisible and all we could see was a cloud of billowing fog.
Don’t allow that tale get you down. An essential San Francisco experience is seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, whether up close or just barely visible through a cloud. I’ll explain why this bridge is unique, how it got here, and how you may appreciate it while visiting San Francisco in this guide.
Concerning The Golden Gate Bridge
In essence, it is a suspension bridge that spans 1.6 kilometers from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. In 1937, this bridge was officially opened. When that moment came, it was the longest bridge. This bridge is certainly eye-catching, and you may drive, paddle, or even walk across it. It provides experiences that are distinctive.
How the Golden Gate Bridge came to be in San Francisco
The Golden Gate Bridge, which spans the Pacific Ocean for about two miles, links Marin County to the north with San Francisco.
It was created by a man named Joseph Strauss, who is unrelated to the famous Levi Strauss of denim, and was formally opened to the public in 1937.
Nowadays, it’s difficult to imagine San Francisco being cut off from its neighbors to the north and east, but that was the situation throughout much of the first decade of the 20th century. Before the very late 1930s, neither the Bay Bridge nor the Golden Gate Bridge were built. Since the Gold Rush, there have been plans to link the two, but they didn’t materialize until much later.
The bridge’s initial design encountered some opposition for a few reasons:
First of all, they wanted to preserve the bay’s natural beauty, and the thought of a bridge conjured images of a filthy industrial beast destroying the environment.
Another factor was the ongoing anxiety caused by the earthquake of 1906. People at the time simply didn’t think a bridge could survive shaking of that intensity.
A suspension bridge that might swing more than two feet in severe winds (or worse) was the notion of a man by the name of Leon S. Moisseiff. And the signature orange and art-deco design of the skyscrapers you see today were created by architect Irving F. Morrow, a native of nearby Oakland.
Building work started in 1933. As you may imagine, the work was extremely demanding. The bridge workers referred to themselves as “The Halfway to Hell Club.” Nevertheless, despite the extremely dangerous working circumstances the crew endured, there was just one fatality throughout the crew’s first four years on the bridge. 19 lives were saved by the safety net they had below. Unfortunately, a scaffold crashed through the net in February 1937, two months before the bridge’s opening, killing 10 employees.
Opening of the Golden Gate Bridge
On April 19, 1937, the bridge was formally opened to the public. Franklin Roosevelt formally declared it open to traffic the next day.
A feat of engineering and a symbol of America, the Golden Gate Bridge. In 1994, it was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Civil Engineering. If you’re curious, that puts it on par with the Panama Canal and the Channel Tunnel.
The Golden Gate Bridge is Enjoyable Today
Seeing this bridge while in San Francisco is a must-do item for anyone visiting the city. There are many places throughout the city where you may observe it. Here are a few examples:
From Lincoln Park’s Legion of Honor, close to Land’s End
After ascending the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, which are covered in art
From the Ferry Building, take the ferry
From the top of Telegraph Hill’s Coit Tower
By ascending Twin Peaks on foot (on a clear day)
There’s nothing quite like passing by the bridge on a Golden Gate bay cruise, despite the fact that you can also drive or bike across it. The bay cruise is one of the reasons we offer it as an optional approach to wrap up your walking tour of Fisherman’s Wharf since it gives you a better perspective on the landmark and an opportunity to truly appreciate it. As you travel across the bridge, you’ll discover more about it while taking in the stunning scenery that has mesmerized visitors for the past eight decades.
The Golden Gate Bridge may appear to be one of those tourist destinations that is only there for a picture, but there is more to it than that. In person, it is actually just as majestic as it appears in images.
The Golden Gate Bridge’s Ideal Visitation Period
Although it is a stunning location to visit all throughout the year, the best months to do so are either September or October. The weather is warm and pleasant, and the fog has cleared off, making this the ideal time to explore the area. The greatest time to visit this bridge in the summer is also in the late afternoon when the sky is clear and the weather is perfect. Avoid going there early in the day as the area is completely shrouded in fog, making it difficult to see the area’s primary attractions.
Accommodations Near the Golden Gate Bridge
1.Hotel Grant Plaza
2.Inn & Suites at Cow Hollow
3.The Golden Gate Inn
Top 5 Tourist Attractions Near the Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is close to a lot of well-known tourist destinations. Below, we’ve provided a few. Look at this:
1.The Wave Organ:
This renowned artwork was placed in the marina in 1986 and is a sight to behold. This statue’s unique quality is that it never plays music that aren’t enchanting and lovely. The constant ebb and flow of the tides produces these songs. Although you’ve probably heard music before, this is a rather unique experience.
2.Fort Mason Center for the Arts:
All of San Francisco’s main festivals have their epicenter here. The vibrant art and culture of the San Francisco region are evident everywhere you look. Additionally, there are several local eateries that serve delicious regional specialties. Don’t forget to come here for a once-in-a-lifetime event.
3.The Disney Family Museum:
The Golden Gate Bridge is also close by this location. This museum offers a wide range of entertaining and interesting activities in addition to interactive exhibits that discuss the renowned animators and their exceptional careers. This is a fantastic location for both adults and children.
4.Spencer Battery:
If, after visiting the Golden Gate, you still feel like you need more, don’t worry. From the Battery Spencer, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge and all of San Francisco in considerably more detail. You can go here to see the gorgeous view of the ocean and the bay.
5.Welcome Center near the Golden Gate Bridge:
Do not overlook visiting this location whenever you are at the Golden Gate Bridge. You can visit this place either before going to the bridge or after leaving it and coming back. This is essentially a tourist information center that broadens your understanding of the area. The fact that you are now leaving with a wealth of knowledge as well as the recollections of the panoramic views of the bridge gives your trip to the Golden Gate even more charm.
Getting To The Golden Gate Bridge
As one of the tourist attractions that should be on every traveler’s itinerary, numerous facilities have been established to allow for a comfortable journey there:
By Car
Once in San Francisco, traveling there by vehicle is one of the most convenient and comfortable options. As a visitor, it’s acceptable if you don’t have one. So your options are to take a cab or rent a car. You won’t even need to bother about parking or anything else because the cab driver will drop you off right where you need to be!
By Bus
From Union Square, you can take bus number 38, and at Park Presidio, you can change to bus number 28. At your stop, the second bus will drop you off. As an alternative, you can board bus number 0 and get off at the Palace of Fine Arts at Kearny and Market Street. You can then stroll down along Crissy Field till you arrive at the bridge.
GO ON A TRIP!
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