Monday, March 11, 2024

What To Do At Golden Gate Bridge

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B Impressive Golden Gate Bridge Facts:

What Do You Know About the Golden Gate Bridge?

1. Origin of name and the purpose for the building of the bridge: The San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge got its name from its location of Golden Gate Strait. Before the bridge was not there, a car ferry or a long travel distance were the only options to travel between San Francisco and Marin County. So, this bridge’s plan came into existence to make the distance short and convenient.

2. Structure: It is the longest suspension bridge in the world with a span of 4,200 feet while its towers, at 746 feet above the water. The height of the towers is nearly equal to the height of a 65-story building, and these tall towers are hollow from inside. The 250 pairs of vertical suspender ropes bear the weight of the bridge with the help of two main cables. These main cables fixed with concrete at each end in the two main towers and each cable is 3 feet thick with 27,572 strands and 80,000 miles of wire. This bridge is strong enough to face winds up to 100 miles per hour as the city is very windy along the water.

3. Color of the bridge: Though the U.S. Navy wanted this bridge to be blue and yellow stripes to enhance its visibility. When the burnt red hue as the primer used on it, it observed that this color is both highly visible and blend with the surroundings perfectly. The actual color of the bridge is ‘Orange Vermilion,’ but it is known worldwide as International Orange.

Tips For Walking Over The San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge

Can you walk over the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge? Yes, there is a walking path on the eastern side of the bridge dedicated to both walkers and bikers. No motor vehicles are allowed.

You can access the walking path from either the north or south side of the bridge. You can walk the entire way across or just walk part way. Most people choose to walk just to the first tower and then turn around. However, you can go as far as you want.

The bridge gets really crowded during the high season, on weekends, and holidays. There are a couple of ways to avoid some of the crowded sidewalks during this time. You can either head over first thing in the morning or you can enter from the north end.

The walkways are open starting at 5am every day of the year. They close at 6:30pm when it’s PST and at 9pm during Daylight Savings Time . At closing time, there are gates that automatically go down on both sides of the walking path so you can no longer enter.

Don’t forget to bring your camera too during your walk. You can get some amazing shots of the bay, Alcatraz and its large towers.

What should you wear when you visit the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge? You will want to layer your clothes in case it gets warmer or cooler during your walk. It is amazing how beautiful it can be below and then how cold and windy it will feel on the bridge. Make sure you are prepared for either temperature.

Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

How Far Is It From The Sfo Airport

Do you have a long layover at SFO and want to check out the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge? It will take you about an hour and 15 minutes by public transport or about 45 minutes by car.

If you want to take public transit, simply hop on BART at the airport. Take it to the Daly City stop and then catch the #28 bus. Reverse the route to return to the airport. I only recommend doing this if you have plenty of time .

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The Golden Gate Has Nothing To Do With The Gold Rush

John C Fremont named the strait ‘Chrysopylae’, or ‘Golden Gate’, after Istanbul/Constantinople’s Golden Horn, in 1846, just two years before gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill, California. By the way, Vladivostok also has a curving bay named after the Golden Horn. One wonders why Istanbul seems to hold the copyright on curving bays.

How To Walk The Golden Gate Bridge: The Shorter Route

What to Do in San Francisco

Total Length: ~3.5 miles round trip

Time Required: About 1.5-2 hours, depending on pace.

The shortest and most classic route to walk the Golden Gate Bridge leaves from the Golden Gate Visitor Center, takes you to the Marin end of the Golden Gate Bridge, and then has you return the same way you came.

As you approach the bridge, if youre facing Marin / towards the north, youll want to take the right hand of the bridge , which faces towards San Franciscos city skyline and Alcatraz Island.

Dont take the left hand side of the bridge , which faces towards the Pacific. You want to be on the Bay side, the east side.

Along the walk, youll see all sorts of beautiful sights: the skyline , Angel Island, Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, and more.

As you walk across the Golden Gate, be sure to watch for cyclists! At certain times of day, they share the bridge with pedestrians, and so youll want to keep your eyes and ears out. I suggest not walking with headphones for this reason.

Once you reach the other end of the bridge, be sure to check out Vista Point. It also shows up at Golden Gate Bridge View Vista Point on Google Maps.

This is not to be confused with Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point on the south side of the bridge!

I know, its confusing, but if you type Vista Point into Google Maps itll bring you to the right place) before you turn back!

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Fun Facts About The Golden Gate Bridge

  • Nearly 55,000 cars cross the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge every day. That equals almost 20 million cars a year!
  • The two large towers stand nearly 746 feet above the water, similar to the height of a 65-story building.
  • The towers are tall, but they are both hollow.
  • The two main cables that string the bridge from one side to the other are around 3 feet thick.
  • In total, the cables contain around 80,000 miles of steel wire.
  • San Francisco is a very windy city, especially along the water, so they had to build it to hold up to these conditions. The San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is strong enough to withstand wind up to 100 miles an hour.
  • What color is the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge? The color is called International Orange. How did it get its color? When the steel to build the bridge arrived, it was painted a similar color to keep it from rusting during transit. When one of the engineers saw how perfectly this color blended in with its surroundings, he did some research to find the perfect hue for the bridge. This is how it ended up being painted International Orange.
  • Is it repainted each year? Many people are told that they paint it from end to end every year. This is not true. It’s has only been fully repainted a few times since its completion. To maintain it, they do touch ups all the time and have a full-time maintenance crew.
  • How did it get its name? The San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge sits in the Golden Gate Strait, which is where it got its name.
  • What Color Is The Golden Gate Bridge Painted

    Trick question! Although many people assume that our famous bridge will be gold-colored, they are surprised to see it painted some other strange shade.

    Though often shrouded in a thick layer of fog, visitors can still see the bright color of International Orange paint peeping through the western skyline, beckoning visitors to its towering presence.

    That color was specifically chosen to stand out against the often foggy days of San Francisco.

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    Where To See The Golden Gate Bridge

    As far as best views go, cinema buffs believe Hitchcock had it right: seen from below at Fort Point, the 1937 bridge induces a thrilling case of Vertigo. Fog aficionados prefer the north-end lookout at Marins Vista Point, to watch gusts billow through bridge cables like dry ice at a Kiss concert. Other popular places for bridge photographers include Baker Beach, Crissy Field, and Lands End.

    You may notice while crossing or simply admiring the span from a nearby vantage point that the Golden Gate Bridge now “sings” noises that result from very recent retrofits designed to help the bridge withstand intense winds off the ocean. Locals have been less than thrilled about the humming, which has been compared to everything from sound effects common to director David Lynch’s eerie ouvre to “a giant wheezing kazoo.”

    To see both sides of the Golden Gate debate, hike or bike the 1.7-mile span. Muni bus 28 runs to the parking lot, and pedestrians and cyclists can cross the bridge on protected sidewalks. For drivers, bridge tolls are billed electronically to your vehicle’s license plate. Tolls are collected only when you are driving southbound into San Francisco. Toll fees are $7.70 for those with a FasTrak account, $8.40 for one time payments by license plate, or $8.70 for a toll invoice.

    The Best Way To Do A Golden Gate Bridge Walk

    Why Does The Golden Gate Bridge Sound Like Its Singing? | TODAY

    How long does it take to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge?How much does it cost to go across the Golden Gate Bridge?When is the best time to go across the Golden Gate Bridge?What is the best view from the Golden Gate Bridge?Best place to Park for the Golden Gate Bridge?

    So youve decided to do a walk on the fabulous Golden Gate Bridge . Best views, where to park, what to wear. Before you head out there here is a quick set of things you should know.

    Where is the Golden Gate Bridge? It is on the northern edge of San Francisco, west of Fisherman Wharf and the Marina District, right where the old Presidio Army Base is.

    Time/Length From 20 minutes to one and a half hours the bridge is 1.2 miles all the way across you can shorten it to any length you are comfortable with

    Where to park for the Golden Gate BridgeParking is both convenient and sometimes difficult. I like driving across the bridge and parking in the view spot immediately on the other side. It has the plus of giving you two things with one parking place. But on busy days there can be a long wait in your car until a spot opens up. If that is too long you can go past the vista point and exit at the next exit.

    Follow the signs to Fort baker and park there and walk back up to the bridge . Some of my friends like parking in the lot at the visitors center on the south side of the Golden Gate Bridge. It does allow you the option of not having to drive your car across the bridge.

    The views

    Jay Knight

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    Four Other San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge Tours

    In addition to the popular biking tours, you will also find a variety of other types of San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge tours. Here are four of my favorites.

    1. Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour: The Hop On/Hop Off Bus includes around 20 stops throughout the city. You can get off and back on at any stop along the way. You can also spend as much time as you want at each stop.

    This open top bus will take you over the bridge to Vista Point on the north side. You can either hop out or just admire the bridge from the bus. It runs daily and is a great way to see the bridge as well as many of our top attractions. Find out more and check for tickets on the Big Bus Tours site.

    2. Fire Engine Tour: On this expedition, you will enjoy some time on a big red shiny Mack Fire Engine. This open-air tour starts at The Cannery in Fisherman’s Wharf.

    You will ride through the Presidio, drive over the bridge, and then make your way into Sausalito. On the way back, you will stop at the Fort Baker lookout point.

    Here you will get some amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco skyline, and Alcatraz. After this stop, you will drive back over the bridge.

    This tour includes access to authentic firefighter gear so you can stay warm on those chilly San Francisco days. It’s about a 90-minute tour and is offered a couple of times a day. Find out more and check for ticket availability on Viator.

    Driving To The Bridge

    Unlike driving and trying to park at many of San Francisco’s favorite attractions, driving to the Golden Gate Bridge is no reason for a nervous breakdown! The surprise is that it’s also easy and cheap to park there.

    If you are heading for the bridge on the Presidio Parkway , take the last SF exit before the bridge. You’ll need to be in the far right lane, and a sign warns you it is the last SF exit. From there, you can access the parking areas on either side of the bridge.

    You can also approach the bridge from either the east or west sides on Lincoln Boulevard. You can drive under the bridge near the Welcome Center parking lot, and Lincoln Blvd. also goes under the Presidio Parkway.

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    What Are Some More Interesting Facts About The Golden Gate Bridges History

    Being one of Northern Californias most prolific beacons, naturally, the Golden Gate Bridge has a long and storied history.

    Featured in over thirty Hollywood films, the bridge has also seen its fair share of real-life drama.

    At least three babies have been born while crossing, one ostrich has escaped from a vehicle on it, one Guinness World Record has been set , dozens of protesters have used it as a platform, and countless other events have happened on the bridge.

    Sadly, the bridge has also seen a number of jumpers since it opened to foot traffic in 1937, prompting Bay Area officials to fundraise for a safety net that will soon be installed.

    Renovations and maintenance continuously occur on the bridge, so you can be sure that the bridge will always be in tiptop order.

    Which movies have I seen the Golden Gate Bridge in?

    To name a few:

    We offer two options. A guided walking tour as well as a .

    FREE TOURS BY FOOT

    The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous places in the world!

    Join us on our Golden Gate Bridge tour to discover the place that many people said was impossible to build.

    We will take you through the whole history of the bridge starting from the idea that began it all to the final rivet that was put into place.

    On this tour, well show you some great places and tell you fun stories such as:

    Tour information

    Reservations: REQUIRED. . Groups of 6 or more must before booking.

    Duration: The tour lasts about 1.5 hours. The total walking is under a mile .

    Take Walks

    Ride A Bike To The Bridge

    Why The Golden Gate Bridge Is An Engineering Marvel ...

    There are a number of excellent bike paths in the area near the bridge on the SF side this is a popular biking spot for both locals and visitors.

    Bike rentals: There are no bike rental offices near the bridge, but you can rent bikes at several places near Fisherman’s Wharf and on Lombard Street en route to the bridge. From there, it’s a relatively easy, and very scenic, ride to the bridge. Fun for kids, too, and mostly flat.

    See my tips on where to rent the bikes, plus information on biking across the bridge and taking the ferry back. There are some good deals available for both renting bikes and taking bike tours over the bridge.

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    Where Do I Park For The Golden Gate Bridge

    The Welcome Center has two parking lots very close to the south end of the bridge. But altogether, there are 8 parking lots within walking distance of the south end and another 3 on the north end. Some of these are free and others are paid.

    This resource will tell you everything you need to know about Golden Gate Bridge parking. It has a map and will tell you which lots are free.

    Contact Information All Travelers

    All air passengers to the United States will also be required to provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States. This strengthens a travel process already in place to rapidly identify and contact people in the U.S. who may have been exposed to a communicable disease, such as COVID-19. Access to travelers contact information will allow U.S. federal, state, and local health departments, and agencies to share appropriate health and public health information necessary to help keep the public safe.

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    Golden Gate Transit Buses

    You will also find that almost all of the Golden Gate Transit buses stop at the bridge. They have both commuter buses and hourly buses that will take you from the Financial District, the Civic Center, and places in between to the bridge.

    From Union Square: Your best option from Union Square is to head over to one of the stops along Mission or grab the bus at the Salesforce Transit Center. The 30, 70 and 101 are your best options.

    From Civic Center: If you are in the Civic Center area, head to the stop across from City Hall at McAllister & Polk Streets. There are others, but this one is the best one if you have to wait for a little while. Pick up the 30, 70, or 101.

    From Fisherman’s Wharf: If you are heading over on the weekday afternoons, you can pick up one of the commuter buses that will take you to the bridge. They pick up along North Point Street. Look for the 27, 54, or the 72. If you are heading over any other time, you will need to head over to the bus stop at Van Ness and Union where the 30, 70, and 101 pick up. You can either walk there or take the Muni 49 bus, which will drop you off across the street from this stop. Ask the driver to point out where the Golden Gate Transit bus picks up so you don’t miss it!

    As you approach the bridge, make sure to pull the cord or press one of the buttons to alert the driver that you want to stop at the bridge. They don’t automatically stop at every stop on the route.

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