The building under the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate Bridge is Fort Point, built by the US Army at the height of the Gold Rush between 1853 and 1861 as part of a defense system to protect the harbor from foreign attack. When it was no longer needed as a defense position, it served as barracks and military Read more...
All vehicles crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in the direction of San Francisco are required to pay a toll charge. Toll payments cannot be made on the bridge, so rental car drivers have the option of paying the toll through their rental company, but this is likely to be more expensive and subject to convenience fees. Alternatively, one-time toll payments Read more...
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge weighs approximately 887,000 tons (or 804,670 metric tons), including anchorages and approaches. In the 1980s, the original concrete road deck was replaced with a lighter, stronger, orthotropic steel deck, reducing the bridge’s total mass by some 12,300 tons (or 11,160 metric tons). Excluding the anchorages and approaches, the bridge structure weighs approximately 419,800 tons (or Read more...
The depth of water under the Golden Gate Bridge is approximately 377 feet (or 115 meters) at its deepest point. The US Geological Survey, with other research partners, have mapped central San Francisco Bay and its entrance under the Golden Gate Bridge using multibeam echosounders. In 2006, they published a topographical image with indicative depths of the sea floor around Read more...
The Golden Gate Bridge’s suspension span, including the main span and side spans, is 1.2 miles (or 1,966 meters) long. The length of the main span between the towers is 4,200 feet (or 1,280 meters). Read more...
At its center, the height of the Golden Gate Bridge from the water to the underside of the bridge deck averages 220 feet (or 67 meters) at high tide, increasing to 225 feet (or 68.5 meters) at low tide. The bridge towers stand 746 feet (or 227 meters) above the water and 500 feet (152 meters) above the road deck. Read more...
The vermilion orange color of the Golden Gate Bridge has its origins in the red lead primer coating the steel used to construct the bridge. The hue seemed to complement the bridge design and surroundings, so a similar shade called International Orange was chosen as its permanent paint color. Read more...
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge never gets repainted from end to end. Instead there is continual program of spot painting and corrosion repair undertaken by a dedicated maintenance team. Read more...
Pedestrians can cross the Golden Gate Bridge on the East Sidewalk, which faces San Francisco, from 5 am daily until 9 pm during Daylight Savings Time and 6:30 pm during Pacific Standard Time. Dogs are not allowed on the bridge, except for service dogs. Read more...
The Golden Gate Bridge gets its name from the Golden Gate strait, the body of water it spans between San Francisco and Marin County, California. The name has nothing to do with the bridge’s distinctive orange red color. Read more...
There is no access to Point Bonita Lighthouse when closed as the final leg of the trail to the bridge and lighthouse passes though a rock tunnel which is gated and locked outside of opening hours. Point Bonita Lighthouse is normally open only on Sunday and Monday from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. The short, steep trail from the car Read more...
The Rosie the Riveter Visitor Center is situated in the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond, California. Located in the old Oil House of the adjacent former Ford Assembly Plant, there are displays and interactive exhibits exploring the contribution of American civilians on the home front, women in particular, during the Second World War. The Read more...
The Tennessee Valley Trail from the parking lot to the Tennessee Beach cove is approximately 1.7 miles (or 2.8 kilometers) and the easy hike to the beach takes around 30 minutes. This popular trail on the Marin Headlands gets very busy, particularly at weekends, so arriving early is always advisable. Dogs are not permitted on the trail. The parking lot Read more...
Actor and stand-up comedian Robin Williams lived in an oceanfront home on Saint Thomas Way in Tiburon’s Paradise Cay with his third wife Susan for five years until his death on August 11th, 2014. He also had a vineyard estate in the Napa Valley. Read more...
Over 20 shark species have been observed in California’s Monterey Bay, including white, basking, thresher, blue, mako, and salmon sharks. Great white shark sightings in nearshore waters are not uncommon during summer and early fall when they return to feed on young elephant seals. Shark attacks on humans are rare in Monterey Bay, and the last fatal attack occurred near Read more...
The Pelican Inn near Muir Beach, California was built in 1978 by English expat Charles Felix in the style of a traditional 16th century British country inn. Architectural features salvaged from old establishments in the UK and US were used to help create its period appearance. Read more...
Tolls on the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge (also called the John F McCarthy Memorial Bridge) are collected in the westbound direction towards San Rafael at the toll plaza on the east side of the bridge. Read more...
Muir Woods has chargeable parking which must be booked in advance online or by phone for a specific 30 minute arrival window. You can park until closing and it is advisable to print or download your reservation beforehand as there is no wi-fi or cell phone coverage nearby. Read more...
San Quentin State Prison is located in the town of San Quentin in Marin County, some 13 miles (or 21 kilometers) north of San Francisco. It is the oldest prison in California and holds only male inmates. The state’s only execution chamber, located at San Quentin, was closed in 2019 following Governor Gavin Newsom’s moratorium on the death penalty in Read more...
Mount Tam is 784 meters (or 2571 feet) above sea level at its peak, with three major summits, named the West, Middle and East Peaks. The West Peak is unofficially considered the highest point, while the East Peak offers the best views of San Francisco. The West Peak was some 28 feet higher before it was flattened for construction of Read more...
