Things to do / Travel Guide
Scenic Views at the Marin Headlands
One place that is known for spectacular views of San Francisco is the Marin Headlands. The Marin Headlands is the area right across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Many tourists cross the bridge for a picnic and a snapshot from this vantage point. The following famous sites of San Francisco can be seen with relative ease (provided the weather is clear): the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Coit Tower, Telegraph Hill, the Farallon Islands, the Point Bonita Lighthouse, as well as Oakland and Berkeley.
Scenic Views from Buena Vista Park
Buena Vista Park, between Haight Street and Baker and Central Streets, is another place that provides a great spot to look over San Francisco. From Buena Vista Park, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the surrounding area. If you wish to see the Bay Bridge or across the waters to Alcatraz Island, head out to Ina Coolbrith Park on Taylor Street between Green Street and Vallejo Street. Lincoln Park, located in the northwestern edge of town at the corner of 34th Street and Clement Street, offers fantastic views of San Francisco from atop 200-foot cliffs.
Scenic Views from the Presidio of San Francisco
Also, there is the Presidio of San Francisco, which is also a part of the Golden Gate National Park. The Presidio was built in 1776 as a Spanish fort, but was later seized by the U.S. Military in 1848. Generals William Sherman and John Pershing both made their homes here as well. Up until the closure of the fort in 1995, the Presidio had the distinction of being the longest continuously-operated military base in the U.S. The Presidio is now under the auspices of the National Park System and its 14 miles of biking trails, 11 miles of hiking trails, and 600 historic buildings will be completely converted into a park by 2012.
Scenic Views from the Coit Tower
Another impressive structure that also dominates the skyline of San Francisco stands at 210 feet high at the top of Telegraph Hill, the Coit Tower. The Coit Tower stands as a testament to Art deco design and to the merits of building with reinforced concrete. Visitors to the Coit Tower can ride in the elevator up to the top for less than $5 and take in a fantastic panoramic view of the city.
Scenic Views from the Cliff House
Along San Francisco's western edge and across from the Sutro Heights Park is the Cliff House. Cliff House overlooks the city of San Francisco and the Bay, as well as the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate National Park and is currently undergoing a modern makeover. The spectacular views afforded from Cliff House have lent themselves well to the popularity of the Cliff House Restaurant.
Scenic Views from California Highway 1 (a.k.a. Pacific Coast Highway)
The most popular scenic drive, traversing the entire length of the region is California Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). It is one of the most popular drives in the world and part of almost everyone's California itinerary. California Highway 1 winds its way along the central California coast as it parallels steep ocean cliffs and goes past beaches and inland mountains. The route starts south of Los Angeles and snakes its way along the coast through Pismo Beach, and further north through Morro Bay, Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and ends up in Marin County. It's possible to drive the roughly 300 miles of the PCH from Pismo Beach to Sausalito in about eight hours (if you're lucky), but that would be missing the point. You should be prepared for slow-going on this road, its part of the fun and allows everyone in your car to really absorb the highway's amazing beauty. Don't be surprised if you stop more than you usually do because of all the stunning vistas along the way.
Scenic Views from Mt. Tamplais
Mount “Tam” is just across the bay from San Francisco in Marin County. Although the elevation is only about 2,600 feet, the views from here are stunning and give map-like views of the bay. Take the Pacific Coast Highway to get here and then explore by foot to really appreciate the scenery. From the parking lot it's about ¼ of a mile to the fire lookout at the summit.
Scenic Views from Mt. Diablo
At almost 4,000 feet, Mt. Diablo offers some of the best views in the region. From the summit it's possible to see Half Dome in Yosemite National Park and Lassen Peak to the north, as well as the Farallon Islands to the west.
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