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