| New York has the Empire State Building, and | | | | System. Over 13 million people come to this area each |
| Washington DC has the Washington and Lincoln | | | | year to view the great red bridge, among other |
| Memorials. Almost every major American city can | | | | activities. The Park is deceptively large, as it is not one |
| boast at least one major masterpiece of architecture. | | | | contiguous land area, but rather a collection of parks |
| In San Francisco, that emblem is the Golden Gate | | | | that runs from northern San Mateo County down to |
| Bridge, recognized as one of the most graceful steel | | | | southern Marin County. It runs along 59 miles of coast. |
| spans in the world. A tourist's visit to the San Francisco | | | | The GGNRA shouldn't be confused, however, with |
| Bay Area isn't complete without a panoramic vista of | | | | Golden Gate Park, which is run by the city of San |
| this gorgeous structure. This isn't a feat of engineering; | | | | Francisco as a separate entity. There is no shortage |
| instead, it is a work of art. To truly appreciate the | | | | of things to do in the Golden Gate National Recreation |
| Golden Gate Bridge, one must first have a solid grasp | | | | Area. On a warm summer day, it's not unusual to see |
| of the history that lies behind it. Conceived in the boom | | | | people biking, rollerblading, and jogging on some of the |
| years of the Roaring 1920's but constructed during the | | | | countless well-maintained paths. In addition, |
| depths of the Great Depression, the Bridge represents | | | | photography is only one art form that is used to |
| American perseverance and determination. The great | | | | capture the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge. Other |
| project was completed in 1937, and the Golden Gate | | | | artists employ paints, pencils, and sculpting clay to |
| Bridge stood as the longest steel suspension bridge in | | | | interpret the span. A trip to the GGNRA isn't complete |
| the world until 1964, when the Verrazano-Narrows | | | | without a visit to its most infamous attraction. The |
| Bridge was completed connecting the New York City | | | | island of Alcatraz has been the feature of countless |
| boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn. The Golden | | | | movies. Although it hasn't housed prisoners since 1963, |
| Gate Bridge garners wide praise for its aesthetics. The | | | | its since reopened as a museum. Its positively haunting |
| American Society of Civil Engineers declared it to be | | | | to walk the halls of this chilling structure, once home to |
| one of the modern Wonders of the World. According | | | | Al Capone and "Birdman of Alcatraz" Robert Stroud. |
| to Frommer's Travel Guides, it's "possibly the most | | | | Spend a day or two exploring Golden Gate National |
| beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the | | | | Recreation Area; you're sure to appreciate the Bridge, |
| world." Though the Bridge can be viewed from points | | | | along with all of the rest of the GGNRA has to offer. |
| across San Francisco, the best vistas are to be had | | | | ZaZaGallery. Located in the wine country and I must |
| from Golden Gate National Recreation Area. | | | | say that our art is the buss in our community. Our fine |
| Surrounding the San Francisco Bay, the GGNRA is | | | | art prints are gallery wrapped using the finest canvas |
| one of the most visited units in the National Park | | | | and inks to create a museum grade art piece. |