Views

The view from the Alcatraz Cruises boat to Alcatraz Island.
Parks
Get a sneak peek at new things to find on the island as we celebrate 50 years of Alcatraz being open to the public as a national park site.
Ocean Beach visitors warm up beside a bonfire in the iconic fire pits as a golden sunset illuminates the sky.
Parks
Where else can you roast s'mores while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean? So bundle up and head out to these beaches for a memorable time out.
Picnic at Battery Wallace in Marin
Gateways Article
Here are our picks for top picnic spots, including great out-of-the way destinations for those crowded holiday weekends.
Hiking Rancho Corral de Tierra
Gateways Article
NPS Landscape Architect Kirsten Holder and her planning team are working with the community on a vision for the future of Rancho Corral de Tierra in San Mateo County.
Kids stretch and play, running around the Presidio Tunnel Tops lawn.
Gateways Article
This new 14-acre national park experience includes trails, meadows, play spaces, and overlooks to soak in the 360-degree views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay. Special cultural events and food offerings are being planned, and Presidio Tunnel Tops will be a welcoming destination for people to gather and...
Sunset at Mori Point
Gateways Article
The right time to get to the parks is whenever you can make it! Here are a few ideas on how to spend time in the parks whether you've got 5, 15, 30, or 60 minutes.
Golden Gate Bridge between two Cypress tree trunks.
Stories
There are endless views in the Bay Area to frame the Golden Gate Bridge in a photograph. On Instagram, vantage points between cypress trees on the western edge of the Presidio are catching hearts and racking up “double taps.”
Aerial view of Ocean Beach showing waves lapping against the shore before San Francisco, along with the Golden Gate and Marin Headlands in the background.
Parks
Picture a 3.5-mile stretch of white beach with few tourists and no highrises. It's just you and the waves and the seabirds at Ocean Beach, on the westernmost border of San Francisco, adjacent to Golden Gate Park. Scroll through our photo gallery of beloved beach.
Visitors enjoy Alcatraz Island.
Article
In this article, we’ll get you set up with some tips to explore Alcatraz like a seasoned park ranger. Visit for those views, for the lush gardens, and the history that ties into present-day social justice movements. Here are some of our insider tips.
Batteries to Bluffs Trail, Golden Gate Bridge
Article
The iconic span that bridges the Golden Gate Strait can be enjoyed from many points throughout San Francisco and Marin County.