San Francisco Tourist Attractions - Golden Gate Bridge And Park

Golden Gate BridgeGolden Gate Park
Construction on San Francisco's most famousSpend a sunny day lounging on the grass along JFK
landmark began in 1933 and cost 35 million dollars byDrive, have a good read in the Shakespeare Garden,
the time it opened. The bridge neither collapsed in anstroll around Stow Lake, or check out the M.H. De
earthquake nor proved to be a white elephant. What itYoung Museum's spectacular new home and you will
did was change the Bay area's economic life,understand the allure.
encouraging the development of regions north of SanThe Park is made up of hundreds of gardens and
Francisco, and providing a symbol of hope whenattractions linked by wooded paths and roads. And
widespread unemployment afflicted the nation. Thoughhas infinite hidden treasures, beyond its immediate
it is often windy and cold, walking even a shortappeal, so make your first stop the McLaren Lodge
distance onto the span is one of the best ways toand Park Headquarters (415/831-2700) for a detailed
experience the immense scale of the structure.overview of information. The best gardens among a
To cross on foot, as millions do every year, you canfew, are the Rose Garden, Rhododendron Dell, the
either park in the lot at the base of the bridge on theStrybing Arboretum, the Conservatory of Flowers, and
city side or venture out from Marin's Vista Point, at theat the western edge in spring, the thousands of tulips
bridge's northern end, which affords one of the mostand daffodils around the Dutch Windmill.
famous urban vistas in the world. ($5 toll cash whenThe park also contains recreational facilities such as
driving south. Bridge-bound Golden Gate Transit busestennis courts; playing fields for soccer, polo and
(415/923-2000) depart hourly during the day for Marinbaseball; a golf course; fly-casting pools; and riding
County.)stables.