San Francisco - A stroll by the Bay
There is much to do in San Francisco, but to really appreciate the city we recommend a stroll along the bay as a must.
Our stroll starts at Crissy Field, a wonderful park by San Francisco Bay. Crissy Field offers a great vantage point to see the Golden Gate Bridge and is a perfect spot to take photos of the bridge. The walk from Crissy Field to the bridge climbs about 80 meters but is a fairly easy climb, interrupted by stops to take in the magnificent views of the bay and Alcatraz Island.
The Golden Gate Welcome Center is the starting point for your walk across the bridge. The walk from one end of the bridge to View Point is about 3 kilometers. If you do not want to cross the entire bridge, the midway point of the bridge offers a great viewing point. The bridge can be busy with pedestrian traffic on weekends as many of the locals walk the bridge.
Following the bridge our walk takes us along the ocean side of the point and up to the Golden Gate Overlook. From here we enter into the area of San Francisco known as the Presidio, which includes a walk through Fort Winfield Scott and Main Post. The Presidio is a 1,500-acre park on a former military post, the site is a major outdoor recreation hub with forested areas, kilometers of trails and scenic overlooks. The park is home to the Civil War–era Fort Point, Sandy Baker Beach and a array of wonderful historic buildings. The San Francisco National Cemetery and Memorial to the Buffalo Soldiers also reside inside the Presidio.
Our stroll then takes us to the beautiful and majestic Palace of Fine Arts. This is a must for every San Francisco visit. It's a reminder of San Francisco's past, a symbol of the city's creative spirit, and hosting a wonderfully dramatic backdrop for photos. The Palace is the only remaining structure from 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, a historic World's Fair-style event that put San Francisco back on the map as a major global city after the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and fire.
Our stroll takes us back to the bay and through the Great Meadow and Fort Mason. During WWII more than 1,640,000 military personnel deployed from Fort Mason, then the headquarters for the San Francisco Port of Embarkation. They probably never imagined that some 70 years later Fort Mason would be the hub of a lively arts and culture center featuring performances, events and exhibitions.
Finally our stroll ends up at the famous Fishermen's Wharf, make sure you try the Crab. We recommend that you finish off your stroll with lunch or dinner at Lou's Fish Shake where the food is amazing and the blue's music a perfect way to round off your day.
The Journey
Make your way to Crissy Field as the starting point for the stroll. Walk west through the park towards the Golden Gate bridge, cross Mason St and onto Crissy Field Avenue, follow the avenue about 30 meters and join the Battery East Trail that follows the Avenue and then runs beside Lincoln Boulevard.After about a kilometer you will arrive at the Golden Gate Welcome Centre.
From the Golden Gate Welcome Centre you can make your way across the Golden Gate Bridge. The Walk from the Welcome Centre to Vista Point is 3 kilometers one way, however you can access spectacular views from halfway across the bridge.
Once you have completed the bridge walk, follow the Californian Coastal Trail to the Golden Gate Overlook for about 500 meters.
Leaving the Golden Gate Overlook head east on Story Avenue for about 700 meters. Storey Ave turns slightly left and becomes Ruckman Ave and then onto Lincoln Boulevard and past the San Francisco National Cemetery. Go straight onto Sheridan Avenue and follow Sheridan Avenue until you reach Keys Avenue, just beyond the car park. Turn left onto Keys avenue and follow it until you reach Lincoln Boulevard.
Turn right and follow Lincoln Boulevard for about 200 meters and then left onto Tourney Avenue and then follow the path through the park join Gorgas Avenue. Cross Richardson Avenue and join Lyon St for about 70 meters and you will reach the Palace of Fine Arts.
Leave the Palace of Fine Arts by a Baker St Exit and walk north towards Marina Boulevard. Cross Marina Boulevard and join the San Francisco Bay Trail and follow the trail to Fort Mason.
After you have strolled around Fort Mason follow the path between the bay and the Maritime Museum to Jefferson St. Follow Jefferson Street to Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf.