If you aren’t running the marathon or you didn’t get a good look the first time, you must spend some time in San Francisco appreciating the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge. Easily the most iconic landmark in San Francisco, you can walk, bike or drive across the bridge and check out some of the beautiful vistas and trails on the other side. They offer perfect places to capture a photo of the bridge with the city in the background
While you can drive or walk across the bridge, I highly recommend renting bikes and cruising along the bay in San Francisco, pedaling uphill to and then across the Golden Gate and coasting down into the quaint town of Sausalito. You can fuel up with lunch in Sausalito and then catch a ferry back to San Francisco or continue your bike ride into Tiburon. It’s a unique, family-friendly excursion that offers fresh air, beautiful views and lifelong memories.
Racertrips Tips
- There are days when the bridge can be entirely hidden behind the famous San Francisco fog. Be as flexible as you can with your plans to visit the bridge: If you get a clear morning or afternoon, seize the opportunity to get the best views of and from the bridge!
- Biking the bridge? It’s about an 8- to 9-mile bike ride to Sausalito and another 8 to 11 miles to Tiburon, so I highly recommend doing this well in advance of the marathon or a day or two after.
- Biking? There are plenty of places to rent bikes in SF. I recommend Bay City Bike Rentals. I rented from their 501 Bay Street location and thought they were nice people with good equipment. I really appreciate the gearing capabilities on the bike as we began to climb the path to the bridge.
- Thinking of driving? Although there are vista points with parking lots on both the north and south sides of the bridge, they are often jammed with tourist traffic, making it impossible (or near impossible) to find a parking spot. If you have the option to see the bridge without driving, go that route!
Legacy Ambassador
I’m a running enthusiast and frequent fun run participant. I’ve spent the last few years in a volunteer shirt for marathons and triathlons all throughout California, including the San Francisco Marathon and Santa Rosa Ironman.
I love the thrill of running and meeting new friends, and my next goal is to run a marathon in a different country.
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