The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic symbol, but it is also at the heart of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Visitors can take in the sites of the impressive bridge spanning the Bay Area; however the park is also a lot more than just the bridge. Several sites make up the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and contains an assortment of sites with hiking trails, places to fish, camping, beaches, and other attractions, such as the Bonita Lighthouse. The national recreation area contains Muir Woods, Fort Baker, Alcatrez, Presido of San Francisco, Fort Mason, Lands End, beaches, and several park areas for hiking.

We recently had the pleasure of visiting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and explored several areas of the park. We spent a day exploring different areas of the park, and feel as if we could have spent several more. Our favorite part of the day was perhaps grabbing some delicious Korean BBQ and sitting in view of the bridge. We also enjoyed exploring the promenade, looking at the redwoods, and seeing an assortment of historic buildings along the San Francisco hills. The park is great for those visiting the area, but also those who live in the Bay Area to get out and explore San Francisco history and nature.