Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge first opened in 1937 and was the longest suspension bridge in the world until 1959. Rising over 200 feet above the water, the 4,200-foot bridge took more than four years to build. Visitors can ride bikes or walk over the 1.7-mile length of the bridge from San Francisco to the Marin Vista Point. Although many people think the bridge is red, it is painted the color International Orange. Underneath the Golden Gate Bridge is Crissy Field. Once an airfield with buildings that housed airplanes, there is a one-mile trail along the San Francisco Bay that leads you right under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Alcatraz Island

The home of one of the most famous prisons in history, Alcatraz Island is now a National Park. To get to the island, take the 15-minute, 1.5-mile ferryboat ride from San Francisco to Alcatraz. Your tour begins with a quick movie of the history of the prison. Touring the, “The Rock” you will see the canon and moat used to protect the island, the guards’ houses, the recreation yard and the cell house where prisoners lived. You can step inside a cell and pretend to be one of the roughest and toughest criminals of the time. The lighthouse located on the island was built in 1854 and was the first lighthouse on the West Coast. The prison closed in 1963 but remains a popular go-to spot for visitors. Don’t forget to earn a Junior Ranger Badge!

Angel Island

Angel Island is located in the bay between the Tiburon Peninsula in Marin County and downtown San Francisco. It is the largest island in the San Francisco Bay. The ferry ride from Tiburon ends on the docks at Ayala Cove where you can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at the ranger’s station. Rent a bike, hike or take the open-air tram on a 5-mile tour around the island. The island was used mostly for military reasons from 1850-1946; from 1909-1940 the island was used as an immigration stop as people came to the United States from Asia. On the tour, you will see different military posts, officers’ quarters, and a military hospital.

Ride a Cable Car

Cable cars first appeared in San Francisco in 1873 as a safe way to get up and down the steep hills of San Francisco. Gripmen use a lever on the cable car to grab onto the two-inch cable that is continuously moving 27 inches underneath the center of the street. The conductor stays in the back of the car and operates the brakes. There are three cable car routes: Powell-Mason, Powell- Hyde and the California Street line. You can board a cable car at any of the stops on these lines as long as there is room in the car. If you really enjoy your experience, visit the Cable Car Museum to learn more about the history and machinery of cable cars.