When Michael said he wanted to go to San Francisco for his birthday trip I was not keen on the idea. We have been to the Bay area and wine country many times, but it has been a while. The last time I was in Union Square, it was sad to see that the area had become run down. In addition, I was not in a city mood and especially not interested in going to crowded, touristy sites. But, since that’s where Michael wanted to go, I took it as a challenge to find a location we would enjoy, perhaps a quiet area we have not visited. I looked at destinations on the outskirts of the city – the Presidio sparked my attention, and I became excited for our four-day trip to San Francisco.
About the Presidio
The Presidio is a 1,491-acre national park in the northwest corner of San Francisco. Before it became a national park, the Presidio was a US Army post. The area is rich in history and nature with historic buildings, museums, restaurants, nature trails, beaches, and scenic views. See more about the Presidio
Fort Point & Chrissy Field East Beach
The first day, we jumped in a rideshare for a short drive to Fort Point. The fort was constructed from 1853 – 1861 and manned by soldiers during the Civil War. Over the next 40 years, Fort Point was used for barracks, storage, and soldier training. The fort was at risk of demolition to build the Golden Gate Bridge, but the engineer changed the bridge’s design to save the building. Learn about Fort Point
After exploring the fort, we took a walk along Chrissy Field East Beach and gazed at the Golden Gate Bridge. I’ve crossed the bridge many times in a car but never saw it from that angle.
Exploring the Presidio
We spent the next few days exploring Presidio on foot enjoying the historic buildings, open spaces, and scenic views. And of course, we paid a visit to the Yoda fountain in front of Lucasfilm.
Hey – look who’s in the window
Ecology Trail Nature Walk
One day I took a relaxing walk on Ecology Trail adjacent to the hotel. I said hi to a woman with a beautiful, friendly dog. After giving the doggie some love we said goodbye, but the dog did not want to walk away and kept looking back at me. I wondered if the spirits of my dogs (Cain, Piper, and Indy) were saying hello.
Palace of Fine Arts
The Palace of Fine Arts is on the outskirts of the Presidio. It was built to host the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition and is now an event venue.
Where We Stayed: Inn at the Presidio
The Inn at the Presidio is the ideal hotel for a history nerd. It is the former U.S. Army Post Pershing Hall, which was a home for bachelor officers.
Each night, there were complimentary wine and snacks, which was a nice opportunity to sit outside by the fire and chat with other guests. The first night we met Claudia and Mike who were on a staycation. As we talked about potential places to visit, I asked if they had ever been to Alcatraz. Claudia replied – yes, I grew up there. Her father worked at the prison and her mom, Millie, contributed recipes to the Alcatraz Women’s Club Cook Book. Interesting! We didn’t make it to Alcatraz, but we found the book.
Travel Reflections
We really enjoyed this short visit to the Presidio in San Francisco. We took it easy and explored an area we have not seen. I found the Presidio to be a peaceful contrast to the bustling city. This trip was a good lesson to keep an open mind and give new things a try.
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