San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is a famous symbol of San Francisco and the West Coast, and the U.S. road coming into San Francisco is another one of those must see experiences. Self-promoter Joseph Strauss wrangled his way for full credit for the building of the Golden Gate Bridge though he never had any experience in the construction of any bridge before nor any engineering background.

Crossing over the bridge currently costs $5 but will most likely continue to increase (it was supposed to be free once it recouped its costs) helps support not only the ongoing maintenance of the bridge, but also the highway, bus and ferry service. The bridge represents imagination, vision, and a sense of freedom from the mundane, and still captures people's heart in its design and look to this day.

On the north side, the Vista Point parking lot is free and open daily 7am to 7pm, with a 4-hour limit. The southeast parking lot is metered daily till 9pm. Drive to Fort Point, near the foot of Golden Gate Bridge, for a breathtaking view, or drive across the bridge to the other side and up the hill to see a view of the bridge and the city. You may walk across the bridge if you desire, but bring a warm jacket along, as it can get cold. And be aware that the bridge may sway up to 27 feet with the strong winds. There's an excellent DVD video from PBS on the Golden Gate Bridge which I was able to view a copy of it from my local library.

Golden Gate Transit, Muni 28, 29; PresidiGo Shuttle 17 weekend hourly service between 11am-6:39pm, depending on direction to the Golden Gate Toll Plaza parking lot. If you start off here there's a walk and a trail to find your way down to Ft. Point. If on foot, make sure to start your way back before sunset or have a bright, strong flashlight to light the trail.

This is the view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Point. The fort is five stories, made primarily of brick, and admission is free. The views from the top floor are gorgeous, windy, and a little precarious. The spiral staircases leading up to the top are definitely from another era. The day we visited there was a Civil War reenactment. On wavy days, surfers try to catch rides about 100 yards away from the Fort in the cold bay water. Fort Point is part of the Golden Gate national recreation area. Nearby sites include: the Presidio, the Marin Headlands (across the Golden Gate), Crissy Field beach (about 1/2 mile down the pier from Fort Point).

Seeing the golden gate bridge is like seeing an amazing wonder. It seems to span forever and rise to the heavens. It's one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. You can walk across it but it can be cold as the wind comes in from the ocean, but the views are well worth it. There are guards all around since increased security became a very big priority. But it's still an enjoyable experience and you won't regret the views. Sometimes walking across is faster than driving. But there are parks on the non-San Francisco side, it can be a nice place to kick back and relax. Its an amazing experience, and if you find it on the right day, it can be a life long memory. Just be sure not to go on a day where there is lots of fog, although by mid day most of the fog has burnt off.

This a landmark for tourists, but also a really busy entrance to the city. At the beginning they built the bridge just because there was a gap in the bay, but now the northern side of the area has become very populated and you get incredible traffic jams during rush hours.You can walk the bridge, it is a nice tour, but be careful and bring your thick jacket as the wind can blow very strong and drop the temperature drastically.You can get to the base of the bridge by bus, take MUNI 28 or 29 lines and they drop you at the very entrance of the bridge.You get great views of the bay, at the other end of the bridge you get a view point with facilities, souvenir shop and those indispensable pay-binoculars.

Having grown up in Marin County, driving on the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco was a part of my daily routine. Even still, every single time I go back to San Francisco, I am awed and taken aback when I cross the Golden Gate Bridge. The views are amazing as I enter the tunnel on the Marin side to appear before a scene with sails swimming in the Bay waters, high bridge towers, and lush greenery that frames everything together.