| New York has the Empire State Building, and | | | | Surrounding the San Francisco Bay, the GGNRA is |
| Washington DC has the Washington and Lincoln | | | | one of the most visited units in the National Park |
| Memorials. Almost every major American city can | | | | System. Over 13 million people come to this area |
| boast at least one major masterpiece of | | | | each year to view the great red bridge, among |
| architecture. In San Francisco, that emblem is the | | | | other activities. |
| Golden Gate Bridge, recognized as one of the | | | | The Park is deceptively large, as it is not one |
| most graceful steel spans in the world. A tourist's | | | | contiguous land area, but rather a collection of |
| visit to the San Francisco Bay Area isn't complete | | | | parks that runs from northern San Mateo County |
| without a panoramic vista of this gorgeous | | | | down to southern Marin County. It runs along 59 |
| structure. This isn't a feat of engineering; instead, | | | | miles of coast. The GGNRA shouldn't be confused, |
| it is a work of art. | | | | however, with Golden Gate Park, which is run by |
| To truly appreciate the Golden Gate Bridge, one | | | | the city of San Francisco as a separate entity. |
| must first have a solid grasp of the history that | | | | There is no shortage of things to do in the Golden |
| lies behind it. Conceived in the boom years of the | | | | Gate National Recreation Area. On a warm |
| Roaring 1920's but constructed during the depths | | | | summer day, it's not unusual to see people biking, |
| of the Great Depression, the Bridge represents | | | | rollerblading, and jogging on some of the countless |
| American perseverance and determination. The | | | | well-maintained paths. In addition, photography is |
| great project was completed in 1937, and the | | | | only one art form that is used to capture the |
| Golden Gate Bridge stood as the longest steel | | | | majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge. Other artists |
| suspension bridge in the world until 1964, when | | | | employ paints, pencils, and sculpting clay to |
| the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was completed | | | | interpret the span. |
| connecting the New York City boroughs of | | | | A trip to the GGNRA isn't complete without a visit |
| Staten Island and Brooklyn. | | | | to its most infamous attraction. The island of |
| The Golden Gate Bridge garners wide praise for | | | | Alcatraz has been the feature of countless |
| its aesthetics. The American Society of Civil | | | | movies. Although it hasn't housed prisoners since |
| Engineers declared it to be one of the modern | | | | 1963, its since reopened as a museum. Its |
| Wonders of the World. According to Frommer's | | | | positively haunting to walk the halls of this chilling |
| Travel Guides, it's "possibly the most beautiful, | | | | structure, once home to Al Capone and "Birdman |
| certainly the most photographed, bridge in the | | | | of Alcatraz" Robert Stroud. |
| world." | | | | Spend a day or two exploring Golden Gate |
| Though the Bridge can be viewed from points | | | | National Recreation Area; you're sure to |
| across San Francisco, the best vistas are to be | | | | appreciate the Bridge, along with all of the rest of |
| had from Golden Gate National Recreation Area. | | | | the GGNRA has to offer. |