There are plenty of places to see the Golden Gate Bridge, so I took the route of starting at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center and walking west to Marshall's Beach before returning the same way. It's a great walk with woods, cliffs, beaches, waves and, at the right time, stunning sunsets and moonrises.

Location of the Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco was originally just a small city on the West coast of the United States, surrounded by the sea on three sides, the geographical location is very special, the city can only be connected by ferry across the bay. The Golden Gate Bridge began construction in 1933 and was completed and operational in 1937, connecting the city of San Francisco with Marin County to the north.

At the same time, construction began on the SAN Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, which connects San Francisco with Oakland to the east and was completed six months after the Golden Gate Bridge. The construction of the two cross-sea Bridges greatly enhanced the north and east traffic links of San Francisco.

The whole body of the bridge is orange, dazzling, coupled with its vigorous and majestic shape, attracting the attention of people around the world, and at one time becoming the city landmark of San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge is 2,737 meters long and crosses the Golden Gate Strait.

With a span of 1280.2 meters, the bridge is the first suspension bridge in the world that spans more than a kilometer. The bridge towers are 227 meters high, like two towering giants, standing on both sides of the strait, guarding this important transportation hub. Huge steel cables hang down from the top of the tower and support the wide road, forming this spectacular suspension bridge.

With its majestic posture and highly recognizable features, the Golden Gate Bridge has become the setting for many movies and literary works. Numerous classic films were shot here, making the bridge an important element in the history of cinema. It is worth mentioning that the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most damaged construction projects in science fiction.

When it comes to islands that represent San Francisco, which island comes to mind first?

Believe that some people already have the answer in mind, yes, the famous Alcatraz Island! Alcatraz, popularly known as "Alcatraz," was home to the first lighthouse in the western United States, but became a federal prison between 1934 and 1963, housing many of America's most famous criminals.

Once a notorious prison island, it is now part of the Bay Area's 80,000-acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area. If you happen to be a movie buff, watch a movie about Alcatraz first to get a feel for the island's atmosphere:

Where is Alcatraz?

Alcatraz Island is located in San Francisco Bay, about 1.25 miles off the north shore of San Francisco. To get there, leave from Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, a cruise ship along San Francisco's northern waterfront promenade, The Embarcadero is located near the intersection of the Embarcadero and Bay Streets, about 1/4 mile from San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.

It takes a minimum of 2.5-3 hours to sail to the island, explore the island, and return to Pier 33, Alcatraz, with a one-way trip to Alcatraz taking 12-15 minutes, including recommended visiting times.

How to take an Alcatraz cruise?

I believe that seeing this, you are curious about how to travel to Alcatraz Island by cruise ship, let us share with you! Alcatraz City Cruises is the official ferry provider to Alcatraz. They leave at 8:40 a.m. every half hour throughout the day. You can tour the island at your own pace.

You can stay on Alcatraz for a full day, and in the evening, you can take a guided tour of Alcatraz, allowing you to enjoy the sunset and the spectacular view of the city.

Night excursions include a privately narrated boat tour around the island, a guided tour from the dock to the main prison building, and Doing Time: A Tour of Alcatraz Prison.

On this trip to Alcatraz, you can see the permanent exhibit, The Big Jail: Mass Incarceration in America, which paints a picture of the U.S. prison system through the voices and stories of formerly incarcerated individuals, scholars, and criminal justice advocates.

Note that cruises often sell out, so plan and book cruises in advance, especially during the summer months and holidays.