Golden Gate Bridge @ San Francisco California USA

There is a famous song about San Francisco and the lyric goes something like this.  Have you heard of this song? If not, check out the short video clip below, a song of San Francisco.

If you’re going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you’re going to San Francisco
You’re gonna meet some gentle people there
For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair
All across the nation
Such a strange vibration
People in motion
There’s a whole generation
With a new explanation
People in motion
People in motion

It 60’s oldies and may be people that time especially hippies love wearing flower in their hair.  I didn’t see anyone wearing flower in their hair anymore.

San Francisco is known for its cool summers, fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture.  These are some of the interesting building architecture we passed by while driving to Golden Gate Bridge.

One of the defining characteristic of the housing here are the Bay windows, which is a window space projecting outward. (refer to below picture & refer to video)

The old flats here are unusual too, with fire escape leader zig-zagging across windows, skyward, look pretty awesome.  Just like some of the movie scene which I use to  watch in the American movie.

There are so many good places to take picture of Golden Gate Bridge.  You can can choose one or two places to explore the view from the list below:

From Baker Beach, Battery Godfrey, Fort Point, Torpedo Wharf, Crissy Field, Fort Miley, Coit Tower, Battery Spencer, Vista Point, Fort Baker and Moore Road, Hawk Hill, Kirby Cove, Slackers Hill.

It was only 8 am plus but there are already a couple enjoying the sea view at the beach.

If you choose Vista Point, you’ll find a large parking lot and popular visitor center and ample room to find a nice angle.  Come here as early as possible, else you won’t be able to find a parking lots.  This place fill with tourists.

Why named the bridge Golden Gate Bridge when the color is not even gold but red, actually is orange color? The Golden Gate Bridge isn’t named for its own coloring but rather for the mouth of the San Francisco Bay, which was named so even before the California gold rush.

The term Golden Gate refers to the Golden Gate Strait which is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. It is generally accepted that the strait was named “Chrysopylae” or Golden Gate by Army Captain John C. Fremont, circa 1846.  It is said it reminded him of a harbor in Istanbul named Chrysoceras or Golden Horn.

There are few things you can do in Golden Gate Bridge.  Walking across the bridge by foot and burn some calories. You can always make a U turn back if you think you can’t go forward anymore. You can also rent a bike at the Fisherman’s Wharf and cross the bridge, that way the chances of making a U turn back is lower. If you cycle to the end of the bridge, go to Sausalito or Tiburon town, get a ferry for a scenic ride and more picture opportunity from the ocean and back to San Francisco.

The color of the bridge is International Orange not red, and was chosen in part because of its visibility in the fog.  The color of the bridge looks really beautiful with the surrounding of deep blue ocean, light blue sky & dusty brown color mountain.

Muni Train in San Francisco

The Muni Metro is a light rail system serving San Francisco, running together on the road with the cars.

Final thoughts :

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of San Francisco’s most iconic landmark that one can never missed.  There are many places you can view the Golden Gate Bridge and get good photographs.  However, go early in the morning is the key to avoid crowded tourists and photo bombs.  Having a hike across the bridge should be great fun to do in Golden Gate Bridge.

Nearby attraction :

• Lombard Street
• San Franscisco China Town
• Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco