Favorite Views of the Golden Gate Bridge

Most visitors to San Francisco include a stop at the Golden Gate Bridge.  Usually, they'll take photos from the north (Marin) or south (San Francisco) vista points.  While these areas afford nice views, they are not my favorites.

My favorite view is from Battery Spencer off Conzelman Road, just west of bridge on the Marin County side.  Here you feel like your on top of the bridge.  Travel further up Conzelman to Hawk Hill and you'll get a view like this:

 

My favorite place to view the bridge from the San Francisco side is from El Camino del Mar in Lincoln Park.  Here too you get a view from west of the bridge but you are not as high up as from the Marin side.

If you have a favorite spot to view the Golden Gate Bridge, please comment below.  If you would like to take a private tour that includes these view points, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Wildlife Viewing in Northern California

Check out the latest edition or "Rick's Tips," Blue Heron's free newsletter of fun things to do in the Bay Area, to learn more about viewing wildlife in Northern California.  You can see the newsletter by clicking here.  Subscribe to the newsletter by sending a request to Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

If you would like to take a private tour in Northern California to see some of the wildlife, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel by calling (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mailing Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. 

2010 Looks Like a Good Year for Art Lovers

This year is shaping up as a good year for viewing interesting exhibits at San Francisco's major museums.  On February 12, the Asian Art Museum opens "Shanghai," an exhibit focusing on the art of this great city over the past century.  Running through September 5, this exhibition is part of San Francisco's effort this year to celebrate our sister city, which will host a World Expo this year.  "Shanghai" features paintings, furniture, revolutionary posters, movie clips, and other works of art.

The de Young Museum is hosting three major exhibitions this year.  The Tutankhamun exhibition, which opened last summer and which I wrote about at the time, runs through March 28.  The Musée d'Orsay in Paris will be undergoing major renovations.  As a result, some of its major works will be on tour.  The de Young will be hosting two exhibitions featuring works from the d'Orsay.  The first, "Birth of Impressionism, Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay," runs from May 22 through September 6.  This show will feature over 100 pre and early Impressionistic works from the mid-19th century.  

Then, from September 25 through January 18, the de Young will host "Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Beyond: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay."  This exhibit will display over 120 of the museum's late Impressionist paintings.

Concurrently with "Birth of Impressionism," the Legion of Honor will show "Paris: City of Light," which will feature 150 Impressionistic works from the Fine Arts Museums' collection as well as from some private collections.

Lastly, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is celebrating its 75th anniversary and will show six exhibitions featuring works from its collection.

If you're an art lover, you'll have much to choose from this year.  And don't forget some of our smaller museums and galleries.