John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints
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Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
In my opinion the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of the USA and Canada.
Location
The extremely impressive Golden Gate Bridge links the two peninsulas which nearly enclose San Francisco Bay. The stretch of water which connects San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean, over which the bridge stands, is called the Golden Gate.
Description
The Golden Gate Bridge, probably one of the most famous bridges in the world, is a classic suspension bridge.
The bridge has a red-coloured tower at each end. Above the roadway level each tower has four horizontal struts connecting the parts of the tower which lie on each side of the roadway. Below the roadway each tower has horizontal and diagonal struts which form two "X"'s.
The suspended structure has a length of 6,450 feet and the central span is 4,200 feet long. The towers are 746 feet high. The bridge's deck is 90 feet wide and 220 feet above the water level. Each main cable is over three feet in diameter, weighs 7125 tons and is made up of over 27,000 wires.
The bridge was opened in May 1937 and was designed by Joseph Strauss and Charles Ellis.
In the summer of 1998 there was a toll of $3 for normal cars southbound and no toll northbound. There didn't seem to be any reduction for "car pools" (cars with several passengers).
According to a report in USA Today 6-Jan-03, in Sep-02 the toll was been increased to $5. However, the toll is still only imposed for southbound vehicles.
The road which runs west from the exit of US101 just north of the Golden Gate Bridge leads to some excellent viewpoints of the bridge. However, this exit is very easy to miss if you don't know the area, and once you leave US101 the road layout is rather complicated. Heading south on US101 you need to take the exit immediately before the bridge, which comes up just after passing through a tunnel, with the northern bridge tower in plain view. Northbound on US101 it's either the first or second exit after the bridge. Look for signs to Marin Headlands or the Golden Gate Recreation Area. There is a viewpoint very close to the US101 exit, from which you can also drive on a narrow backroad under the bridge's northern approach. You can also continue west for some more fine views. From this exit you can get back onto US101 in both directions, or drive under US101 to Sausalito.
According to a web site which I visited in Nov-02, there are also parking lots to the east of the bridge near both ends, reached as follows:
- To reach the southeast parking lot (on the east side of the bridge at its southern end) when travelling southbound from Marin County to the City of San Francisco: cross the bridge, take the rightmost toll lane, pay the toll and make an immediate right turn leaving US101 just past the toll plaza. Make another immediate right turn onto the roadway which passes under the toll plaza. This road leads to the southeast parking lot. This parking area has views of the bridge, a cafe and gift centre. Parking is subject to parking meters (25 cents per 15 minutes at Nov-02).
- To reach the southeast parking lot when travelling northbound from San Francisco to Marin County: take a right turn to leave US101 at the last San Francisco exit, just before the toll plaza, signposted "Golden Gate National Recreation Area View Area". Proceed to the "Stop" sign and turn left into the southeast parking lot.
- To reach the northeast parking lot (on the east side of the bridge at its northern end) when travelling southbound from Marin County to San Francisco: cross the bridge, take the far right toll lane, pay the toll and make an immediate right turn, leaving US101 just past the toll plaza. Make another immediate right turn onto the roadway which passes under the toll plaza. This road leads into the southeast parking lot. Drive through this parking lot (stopping if so desired), bearing right to access the bridge so as to travel north. Cross the bridge, take the first exit after the bridge, signposted "Vista Point", and turn right into the northeast parking lot. If you need to cross the bridge a third time in order to reach your destination then you will unfortunately need a pay a second toll. Parking is free and the only facilities are views of the bridge and restrooms.
- To reach the northeast parking lot when travelling northbound from San Francisco to Marin County: cross the bridge, take the first exit after the bridge, signposted "Vista Point" and turn right into the parking lot.
Several other impressive bridges, some of suspension design and others not, connect the city of San Francisco on the tip of the southern peninsula to the city of Oakland on the eastern side of the bay and cross the various inlets around the bay.
The San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge page has details of how to distinguish between that bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Some Ideas For Places To Stay
In The Area
California
Bridges
Seven Wonders Of The USA And Canada
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As with all the other pages on this personal web site, all the information on this page is solely the opinion of the author, who has no connection whatsoever with any of the companies and organisations mentioned other than as an actual or potential customer.
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Most recently modified 9-Jan-03