Views

Ocean Beach visitors warm up beside a bonfire in the iconic fire pits as a golden sunset illuminates the sky.
Ocean Beach bonfires: How to snag a fire pit

Where else can you roast s'mores while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean? So bundle up and head out to these beaches for a memorable time out.

People picnic at Battery Wallace in Marin with Golden Gate Bridge views
Picnic picks: Best spots to picnic in the GGNRA

Here are our picks for top picnic spots, including great out-of-the way destinations for those crowded holiday weekends.

A group hikes up a path at Rancho Corral de Tierra.
Rancho Corral de Tierra: Planning for a welcoming park site

NPS Landscape Architect Kirsten Holder and her planning team are working with the community on a vision for the future of Rancho Corral de Tierra in San Mateo County.

Kids stretch and play, running around the Presidio Tunnel Tops lawn.
It's almost here: Get excited for Presidio Tunnel Tops

This new 14-acre national park experience includes trails, meadows, play spaces, and overlooks to soak in the 360-degree views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay. Special cultural events and food offerings are being planned, and Presidio Tunnel Tops will be a welcoming destination for people to gather and learn about the natural world.

Sunset at Mori Point
How to take your time in the parks

The right time to get to the parks is whenever you can make it! Here are a few ideas on how to spend time in the parks whether you've got 5, 15, 30, or 60 minutes. 

Golden Gate Bridge between two Cypress tree trunks.
How to Get the Shot: Golden Gate Bridge Between Two Trees

There are endless views in the Bay Area to frame the Golden Gate Bridge in a photograph. On Instagram, vantage points between cypress trees on the western edge of the Presidio are catching hearts and racking up “double taps.”  

Visitors enjoy Alcatraz Island.
The new Alcatraz experience: Now is the time to escape to Alcatraz Island!

In this article, we’ll get you set up with some tips to explore Alcatraz like a seasoned park ranger. Visit for those views, for the lush gardens, and the history that ties into present-day social justice movements. Here are some of our insider tips.

Batteries to Bluffs Trail, Golden Gate Bridge
Seven Places to Gaze at the Golden Gate Bridge

The iconic span that bridges the Golden Gate Strait can be enjoyed from many points throughout San Francisco and Marin County.

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