Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
186
but to walk. Know your family's limitations before you start out. Strollers are a good idea
for any one small enough to fit. U pon y our return, take time to walk underneath the
bridge to see the 5-acr e garden (open to pedestrians 6am-6pm daily). The no. 28-19th
Avenue or the no . 29-Sunset bus deposits y ou across from the vie wing area, right b y a
parking lot. If you're driving, take 19th Avenue or Lombard Street and pay attention to
the sign that indicates when to exit for the parking lot. Otherwise, enjoy your drive across
the bridge: there's a $6 toll upon y our return to the city.
BY BIKE
If your kids are old enough, this may be a better way to go than on foot. Just
note the restrictions on which sidewalks are open to bikes—on the w eekends from 5am
to 6pm;and weekdays from 3:30 to 9pm, use the west sidewalk. At all other times, you'll
be sharing the east side walk with pedestrians, who always hav e the right-of-way. Walk
your bike around the towers. For information on bike rentals, see chapter 8.
BY BUS
The
no. 76-Marin Headlands
Muni bus picks up from Market and Fremont
streets or along Lombard Street and rumbles all the way to the beach at Fort Cronkite in
Marin. This r oute only operates on S undays and major holidays (
&
415/673-6864;
www.sfmuni.com).
BY FIRE ENGINE
See the “B est G uided Tours for the F amily” section belo w for a
unique way to cross the bridge.
6
6
TAKING A HIKE
Fort Funston
At this G olden Gate National Recreation Area park, trails lead
down to the beach wher e, in good w eather, you may see hang gliders. This is also an
extremely popular spot for dogs—just about ev eryone in to wn with an ocean-lo ving
pooch comes here for a run. The majority of the trails are suitable for kids, especially the
Battery Davis and Sunset trails. The old gun emplacements you may see are left over from
the era when this was a military site. There are portable toilets around, but no snack bar.
The closest restaurants are by the zoo, and they aren't all that inviting.
Skyline Blvd. (off Great Hwy.).
&
415/561-4323
(phone for Presidio Visitor's Center, which provides info
regarding Fort Funston). www.parksconservancy.org. Muni: No. 18-46th Ave. bus (which st ops near the
Battery Davis trail), or L-Taraval streetcar to the end of the line and walk
1
/
2
-mile south on Ocean Beach.
Fort Point
Kids get a thrill poking around this fort (ca. 1861) that lies underneath
the Golden Gate Bridge at the tip of the peninsula. I t was armed with cannons over the
course of the Civil War, and early era weapons are on display at the fort. Park rangers give
interpretive talks. A 3
1
/
2
-mile walk to F ort Point, beginning at the H yde S treet P ier,
passes through the Marina Green and Crissy Field (you can decrease the mileage by start-
ing at Crissy Field).
Long Ave. and Marine Dr.
&
415/556-1693
or 415/561-4395. w ww.nps.gov/fopo. Fri-Sun 10am-5pm.
Muni: No. 28-19th Ave. or no. 29-Sunset bus t o the Golden G ate Bridge; climb do wn from the viewing
area to a short trail leading to the fort.
Land's End
The poetic name of this piece of national par k becomes easier to
comprehend when you stand at the Eagle's Point trail head and look back at the Golden
Gate Bridge. It imposingly guards the entrance to the bay and the cities behind it, with
nothing but open ocean and the barr en hills of the M arin Headlands in front. There is
indeed something end-of-the-earth-like about it. The spectacular views accompany you
throughout the entir e 1.5-mile walk along the nor thwestern edge of the S an Francisco
