San Francisco

Presidio Tunnel Tops is a stunning and welcoming national park space, completely free and accessible to all!

While visiting the biodiverse shorelines of the Presidio, you can’t get much closer to the Golden Gate Bridge than at Marshall’s Beach. This rugged stretch of sand and rocks is a favorite destination for photographers. Even clothing-optional sunbathers are known to frequent on warm days.

Infamous for its maximum security prison, Alcatraz is also known for remnants of an 1850s military fort, the West Coast's first lighthouse, the birthplace of a Native American movement, an important bird-nesting locale, and the historic Alcatraz Gardens.

Gaze in wonder towards the Bridge and Marin Headlands from outside the Golden Gate at mile-long Baker Beach. It's nestled at the foot of rugged cliffs on the Presidio's western shore. An easy stroll from the parking lot, you'll find a picnic area with tables, grills, and restrooms.

Locals consider China Beach a civic secret, tucked between Lands End and Baker Beach in the Sea Cliff neighborhood west of the Golden Gate.

Perched over the Pacific above rocks populated by lounging seals, this San Francisco landmark has had many lives since it first opened in 1863. It burned down and was even damaged by a dynamite laden schooner. Promenade nearby to the glorious ruins of Sutro Baths, then head out to the world-famous panoramas of Lands End.

See what a community can do when they are inspired to transform a site that was once an abandoned airfield. Today its restored tidal marsh is a vibrant environmental showcase, bordered by a popular promenade, expansive meadows, and a renowned education center.

Hold on to your hat. Fort Funston features 200 foot high sandy bluffs on San Francisco's southwest coast where the winds blow reliably wildly. No surprise it is one of the premier hang-gliding spots in the country. Dog owners will be happy to know they can take leashes off here.

Everywhere you turn in this 1,200-acre greenbelt on the City's northern waterfront, you'll find endless options for relaxation and stimulation. This former military installation, with its jaw- dropping view of the Golden Gate, is headquarters for the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

You are likely to award this National Historic Site as having the most astonishing view of the Golden Gate Bridge. A Civil War-era brick fort, it lies directly below the southern end of the span. Check for tours, especially candlelight evening ones, and annual Civil War reenactments. Interestingly, no military action ever occurred here.