The Presidio

Came here for lunch on a Sunday.
Chips and salsa appetizers were tasteless.
There was a chunk of tangled hair in our appetizer and the waitress didn’t even apologize about it or give us at least a complimentary drink.
The steak tacos were dry and bland, and so was the chicken.
The carnitas were actually really great, so one star for that.
I don’t think we’ll be back here.

I come here every once in a while to pay respects to Paul G Dolan Sr and his lovely wife Maureen, my grand parents. It was a reunion of sorts as my father was in town from Frankfurt, Germany, my birth city and the last time I saw him was back in 2012 at my sisters wedding.
As we looked out over the views of the Bay, we said prayers and commemorated our reunion with a splash of some Tennessee bourbon on the grave stone and in shot glasses we had received from lunch earlier at Tommy’s Mexican restaurant.
Truly a moving memory.

What a cool little gem. A national park with a military history. A huge place of nature in the built up concrete jungle that is SF. There is so much here. Green and fresh air is the highlight but there are special events, a bowling alley, food trucks — Sunday main post lawn, Disney museum, Fort Scott, Lucas film headquarters (Yoda statue), an opportunity to go ocean crabbing, views of the city, the bay trail, the spire of many cypress tree trunks and so much more.

So many things to see and do here. Hiking, shopping, eating, YMCAing, running, Off-​the-​Grid food truck eating, and more. Amazing views and a breath of fresh air right when you need it.
Driving through here is one of the reasons I finally broke down and started using GPS. It’s easy to get distracted and lose your sense of direction. Best appreciated on foot or when you don’t have to be somewhere soon.

I love the presidio. I love it so much that of the 9 years I’ve lived in San Francisco, I’ve lived within a block of it for 6 of those years. I don’t even know where to start because there is so much to do but, I’ll start with my experience on Saturday. First off, it was SUCH a nice day out that if you weren’t outside then you’re probably a vampire or were extremely hungover. Either way, you missed out if you were on your couch.
There’s a small grass area to the left of the Lombard Gate and usually wide open with space. Honestly, I never see people using this part of the park. There are tons of eucalyptus trees if you want shade, a wall to sit on (and crush Golden Gate Market sandos) and plenty of poop bags for doggie doo doo. It’s a great spot for a picnic if you don’t want to deal with the craziness of «Off the Grid» or other Presidio events.
Pack a lunch, bring a loved one/​friends and pop a squat. Big fan here.

What a beautiful park with an excellent location next to the Bay and with great views of the GG Bridge. This former military base is on primo real estate. Check out their website for all of the things you can do. Hiking, sightseeing, relaxing along with attractions like the Walt Disney Museum.
Come here. You will be glad you did.

The Presidio is great for…
…Golden Gate Bridge admiring
…House of Air trampoline jumping
…Planet Granite indoor rock climbing
…Sailboat and kiteboarding watching
…Sports Basement shopping
…Off the Grid picnicking
…Gorgeous scenery enjoying
…Lucky-​to-​live-​in-​SF reminding and most recently…
…Annie Liebovitz photography appreciating. (WOW.)

The Presidio is truly a gem of the San Francisco bay area. Long in history, and always a really great day to be enjoyed here. We came to tour the Officers Club and museum, as well as take a hike around the grounds to see the art installations from Andy Goldsworthy. Pretty interesting works (there are 4) and it makes for a great hike. Picnic in the Park was also going on, so there were more people than there would be on another day. Beautiful day and always beautiful views.. .

Man, the Presidio is a secret place most locals knows about. You are not a local unless you pass through here. There are endless places to hike, jog, run, or simply ride your bicycle. If you love photography, the sunrise and sunsets here overlooking Golden Gate Bridge is breathtaking. I have recently taken an interest in learning about native wildflowers (during my downtime) which explains my recent visit at the Presidio. Hard to believe growing up in San Francisco, I get to enjoy all this nature in the heart of San Francisco.
Until then, be kind to one another and Cheers! ~ :p

Went to The Presidio to see Women: New Portraits by Annie Leibovitz — FREE exhibit. It’s in a building up the street past Sports Basement in the Presidio. It’s on the Left. I think they close that parking lot and you have to park on the street or Sports Basement. Tickets are sold out, but they do Stand-​by line or if not busy they just let you right in. Ok to take pics on your phone lady told me.
The photos are are close together and too many people looking at it to enjoy it much. Get a brochure so you can read about the photos. 2 big screens to see more pictures. Also a room to look at photo books I didn’t do that.
There is a Presidio FREE Shuttle from Downtown near the Hyatt, but I walked from Montgomery Bart it’s like 4 miles each way.

I was seriously SO impressed with this place! I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but this was pretty terrific. The Officer’s club is where we started, they have informative staff and lots of maps plus a wonderful indoor museum (very well done!).
We didn’t get to hike in the Presidio, but it looks like a lot of places to do so.
You do have to pay for parking here. I think it was $ 8 for the day or you pay in quarters for smaller amounts of time.
Do not be fooled by their maps that make it look like you can walk from the Presidio to the trails by Golden Gate and the water. Everything is blocked off, there is tons of construction and we ended up having to walk a half mile out of the way to get there. In the process we did walk past the really cool dome thing nearby, but parking down by the water/​trails was free and we could have seen the dome thing from there and saved ourselves a good mile after we were already walking 6+ that day out to the bridge… anyhow, look at me complaining about exercise!
Stop here if you have time.

Came for a wedding here yesterday. Great venue, décor and atmosphere. They have the dim lighting as soon as the reception started and it’s overlooking the ocean of golden gate. It felt like you were on top of the world during the reception lol! :) just wished they had shuttle service from the chapel to the reception area as it was raining lol so everyone in their suit and dresses were rallying the rain towards the reception area lol.

we live in Marin but just enjoyed going to the Presidio today. Love the big old trees, the buildings and the feeling!!! saw nice doggies and happy people

The Presidio is a beautiful place to visit, if you want to escape from the bustling city. There are interesting places to explore, foods to eat (seasonal), scenic views, and awesome little trails. It is also one of San Francisco’s BIGGEST parks!
I haven’t explored the Presidio too much, but here are some that I know!
— Lands End (Labyrinth & view of Golden Gate Bridge)
— Lovers Lane
— Palace of Fine Arts
— Off the Grid, Friday nights (I think it’s March — Dec)
— Off the Grid, Picnic at the Presidio (April — Oct)
— Walt Disney Museum
— Crissy Field
— Baker Beach
Definitely a nice place to go for a stroll when you’re bored, or to take a visitor!

Went on a foggy day and had great photo opportunities. The walking was nice and you can feel the sense of history.

The Presidio is my absolute favorite location in San Francisco, no question. It’s stunningly beautiful, utterly historic, and an all-​American original. You would think the military history of the Presidio would clash with its San Francisco environs, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Presidio and San Francisco blend perfectly, and that is because they share a mutual history. Through the Presidio, San Francisco played a leading part in every major conflict of the United States since the mid-​1800s. In turn, the Presidio played a critical part in milestones of San Francisco history, such as the 1906 SF earthquake. You can feel the historic presence of the United States Army in every corner of the Presidio, as it was shaped by the culture of San Francisco.
This used to be one of the most popular assignments for active duty Army personnel, and it is easy to see why. Definitely visit here — bring your car, but come prepared to walk the trails, visit the former base, and inhale the history.

This review is for the Bay Area Ridge Trail.
We parked by the Presidio Golf Course near Arguello Gate and took the trail from there, past the cemetery overlook, and down along the coast all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. The scenery was varied — everything from eucalyptus groves to old military buildings and batteries to the GG and Pacific bluffs and coastline.
It’s a relatively easy hike although there is some uphill walking on the way back if you go all the way to the bridge. Out and back I think it’s around 5 miles so allot 2 – 3 hours.
I’m going to do it again when I have visitors in town, lots of bang for the buck in terms of city and landmark views.

If you come to Frisco, there are many must do places that you need to visit. This is one of those places. Situated in the park, there are so much to do. It’s really best to have a car to get around, although parking it will be challenging. Your camera will have a workout if you visit the Presido. It is striking and just beautiful. An icon in a city that has many icons.

Most people just head straight for the base of the Golden Gate. Don’t be a tourist. If you’ve only got a day in San Francisco, you’re forgiven, but the Presidio is so much more. For you history buffs, this is a former military base. The tall eucalyptus was planted to add cover. For botanists, this is a place where the National Park Service is trying to restore native flora. Runners and city hikers may appreciate the tall hills with rewarding views. And even star wars fans will find a small Yoda statute and Lucas Films HQ. So don’t miss out on the best free attraction in SF. Lord knows there aren’t many.

Came here for a food truck event and it was packed! It was beautiful. Weather was awesome, as usual. I wish we had more time to explore! Whenever I make another trip back to San Francisco, I will def be coming back!

San Francisco holds a very special place in my heart not because I am originally from the Bay Area, but because my regular visits here always bring such strong memories of when I first took my wife (girlfriend at that time) on back to back impromptu dates.
The awe and wonder she displayed when we toured the city, while we were in our teens, was almost magical. She was like Alice in Wonderland, except in a modern and sophisticated City.
Although I have been to many places, and visited many cities; only a few places seem to have such vivid memories attached to them.
The serenity of Lugano, Switzerland having lunch by a restaurant overlooking the nearby Lake. The breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Alps overlooking the same city. A Sunday afternoon on the Swiss-​Italian Border Train Station where I met this lovely brunette with a simply adorable hat. And even the majesty of the Grand Tetons National Park.
None of these seem to compare to those special destinations and adventures that I have had with my best friend. The first time we kissed on a Road Trip was when we stayed in a Hotel in Ouray, Colorado.
And my first date with her where we took a plane trip was one wherein we took a flight from Phoenix to San Francisco, to send her on a tour and shopping spree in Chinatown. That day culminated in dinner at the Hyatt Regency’s Equinox. The views of the city on this revolving restaurant at dusk were just spectacular.
So, when my wife asks for me to help her envision a particular backdrop for a book that she is writing; I figured I would bring her to a place that would give her a first-​hand experience based on her description.
We hopped on a plane, rented a car for a one way trip back to Phoenix. And that’s how we wound up in San Francisco. We started out by Inspiration Point, and eventually ended up by the Presidio. Specifically, I wanted her to see the Presidio Forest.
Spending a few hours here just gave her a myriad of ideas. I just sat back and watched her take pictures and write, simply in awe and admiration of her wonderment and talent.
There are so many sights to see in San Francisco, but I would highly recommend that any trip to the Bay Area include a visit to the Presidio.
The views are simply picturesque.
(Please note that the pictures we took here are for her book’s backdrop and were a result of exploration, but necessarily tourist consumption)

Loved it here! Got on the free shuttle near the embarcadero bart station on a saturday and hiked to the beach and found myself right under the golden gate bridge.
Lots to do and explore with hikes, historical sites, and museums. A shuttle takes you around the whole place which makes it really easy. After I got to walk to the Palace of the Fine Arts and Exploratorium which was also beautiful.

The Presidio is a great place to visit when in San Francisco. It’s rich in both history and nature. The best part about it, it’s flat!!! You can even rent a bike and take an easy ride through it along the water. There are also other points of interest within it. You have the Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field, National Cemetery, Fort Point and, of course, the Golden Gate Bridge. Be sure to dress warm no matter what time of year. It’s along the bay so count on chilly winds and, naturally, fog. If you’re visiting in the morning, be sure to visit The Warming Hut for a killer café moccha and a muffin.

This is just an incredible place to go explore.
To go walk around, take pictures.
It feels so peaceful, especially in the afternoon with the breeze hitting your face.

This is a very pleasant place to walk but could be better by being a little more stroller friendly. There was the odd footpath that just disappeared with no footpath on the other side. The views of the bridge, water and Alcatraz were good too. We visited on a Tuesday so not much was open but was disappointed that the information centre was not open.

A Sunday on the Presidio lawn during Off The Grid is a Sunday well spent.

Beautiful scenery, well planned trails, and a nice break from the fast pace of San Francisco. Any visitor to SF must stop here at some point — otherwise you are not getting the full experience. Be sure to check out Off The Grid too, a food truck gathering every Thursday and Sunday evening.

One of the many treasures of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Many places to hike, take a dog for a walk, mountain bike, or just plain
sight see/​tourist stuff.
…and its getting better thanks to our congressmen and senators we are getting new trails, new plantings etc.
If you are visiting SF… check it out. If you live here… come back!!!

Great place to just walk and enjoy the outdoors but if you want to do anything else its a bit pricey

This is an excellent outdoor space to relax. Plus, every Sunday is Off The Grid. Oh, and the dj is awesome.

I really think I only scratched the surface of the Presidio since I didnt really get to the center. I stayed along the edge but got the jist of it. We walked along the steps, to the Palace, and then inside just a bit. I really want to get my sneakers and go into the woods and just take it all in. I did walk Lover’s Lane which was longer than it felt. I guess thats what lovers do right? It is a long trail toward eternity. Cheese. If I lived in Sf around this neighborhood, I would totally run and explore each time and would never get used to it. Ahhh SF locals are so lucky!

Dear old Precidio, you’ve never looked better.
Your people still love you. Families flock to you, soak up your historical charm, relish the plush, grassy parade field while basking in the sun. I knew you well, way back when you were still a tired but beloved active Army base. Your face lift is a thing of beauty.
Little did we know we had arrived at the beginning of Fleet Week. The City welcomed the Naval fleet with open arms, especially the newly commissioned carrier, the USS America. Nothing but gorgeous weather, deep blue skies, Azure blue water, hundreds of white sail boats sailing by Alcatraz Island, and the grand old Golden Gate popping out of the fog to greet the day, and people everywhere waiting for the amazing Blue Angels to show off. What a sight!
I could feel the excitement and was proud to see such a display of patriotism. Just when I thought my memories couldn’t get better, there you go, making me smile even broader than before. It makes me so happy to think that, in your old age, you are so cherished.