If this is your first time visiting this city and you have a car, I highly recommend taking this drive. This journey goes from 360-degree views of the Bay Area to close views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
How did we find out about this route?
Yvonne had visited San Francisco 15 years before our visit with her host parents. She did an exchange student program and lived in Louisiana with an all American family. They took her to San Francisco to visit some of their family friends and to show her the city.
So Yvonne already had the inside scoop of where to go and what to see for the first time. She took us on this amazing drive, where I got to experience San Francisco in a different way.
The Route for the Scenic Drive
First stop: Twin Peaks
This part of town is a remote neighborhood in San Francisco. It has a park with a hilltop that allows visitors to experience amazing 360-degree views of the Bay Area. Parking is for free, and you can enjoy a pleasant stroll around the hilltop.
High winds are happening all the time at this viewpoint, so you should wear some warm clothes and be careful if you wear hats.
Second stop: Lands End
Lands End is a park located in the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. It is a shoreline at the mouth of the Golden Gate Bay. It has multiple hiking trails along the cliff and down to the shore.
We tried to stop at the Lands End Lookout, but it was terribly windy and not enjoyable. We kept on driving and stopped at Lands End Trail Eagle Point. The views from there were astonishing. I got to see the Golden Gate Bridge for the very first time!
Third stop: Baker Beach
A short 5-minute drive from Lands End is Baker Beach. A public beach where you also have a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge. There is a parking lot directly at the beach, so you just need to park and walk for a couple of minutes to be on the sandy viewpoint.
Here at this beach we even saw a guy walking his iguana. Yup, you read that right. Here is a picture of Mr. Iguana enjoying the fresh waves from the Bay Area.
Fourth stop: Presidio of San Francisco
Before you hit the San Francisco city area, make sure to drive around this 1,500-acre National Park. As you will be driving, you will be able to make some stops to have other angles of the Bay Area, Pacific Ocean, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
That's it, a small scenic drive to view the Bay Area and the Golden Gate Bridge from different spots.
Have you done this drive and liked it? Or, do you recommend another stop? Let us know in the comments below.
