Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco, California

The Golden Gate is an art deco suspension bridge that stretches across San Francisco Bay is one of the most enduring symbols of the city by the Bay. The Golden Gate Bridge was not built for its beauty, its construction arose from the need to get from San Francisco to Marin, and the ferry traffic in San Francisco Bay was just too heavy.

Joseph Strauss was an engineer that first conceived of a bridge to get people across the Bay. Despite the 60 mile an hour winds that gust through the bay and the strong ocean currents that flow through the canyon below the waters. Construction on the Golden Gate Bridge began in 1933, and was completed four years later in 1937. From being the longest suspension bridge to pioneering safety standards, the Golden Gate was an innovation for its time, and is now a top California attraction.

Like the other attractions in San Francisco like the Cable Car, Fisherman's Wharf and Coit Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge is an enduring symbol of the city's history. The east side of the Bridge is for pedestrians, while the west side is for bicyclists only. There is also plenty of car traffic going across the Golden Gate, so no matter which method of transportation you use, you can enjoy the stunning views of San Francisco, the Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and the Marin Headlands.

The views from the Marin Headlands are some of the best views of the Golden Gate and the city beyond. You can see this impressive California attraction, the Bay, and the city skyline beyond. The twisting, curving roads of the Marin Headlands are the gateway to the Point Reyes National Seashore, the Redwood National Forest with the Avenue of the Giants, and the Northern California coast beyond.

You can don't have to drive hundreds of miles to experience the majestic splendor of a Redwood Tree, Muir Woods is a California State park and a National Monument, known for its unparalleled beauty, that is right in the Marin Headlands. This is an excellent example of the fact that you don't have to go far from San Francisco to see a top California attraction, and the beauty of Northern California up close. The quiet majesty of this old growth Redwood forest inspires a sense of calm in anyone that comes to visit.

You can go north on the Golden Gate Bridge by taking 101 North. This takes you through the Presidio, a large green space that used to be an old army base and now hosts George Lucas's new design and company facility.

Like other attractions in San Francisco like the Cable Car, you can come up close to the Bridge, and it will make an unforgettable impression on you, whether you walk, bike, or drive across. There is no cost to go across the Golden Gate Bridge if you're leaving the city, but if you coming South, you will have to pay at $5 toll to cross the bridge, and the price is well worth it to look to the west as you realize that there is nothing beyond one of the top attractions in San Francisco beside thousands of miles of endless Pacific Ocean.