Marin Headlands

After 4 consecutive days of sightseeing in the East Bay, I turned my attention north. I took a bus across my beloved Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County and the rugged Marin Headlands. The Marin Headlands is the southern part of Marin County. Like the Presidio, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, China Beach, Lands End, and Fort Mason, the Marin Headlands is a component of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. I’ve loved the Marin Headlands for decades as the place to get fantastic views of San Francisco (even though I didn’t know it by name). But I’d never explored it till Day 5.

I had a wonderful day in the Marin Headlands, which is just what I needed. I had just gotten back from a week in Berlin. It was one of the best times I’d ever had, socializing with friends old and new at an annual street fair. You might say I left my heart in Berlin. My heart returned to San Francisco thanks to the majesty of the Marin Headlands.

Point Bonita

View of the Golden Gate Bridge and Downtown San Francisco on a beautiful day.

I took the bus all the way out to the end of the line at Point Bonita, the southernmost point of Marin County. The views were to die for.

A sprinkling of color adds some variety (as if the views were somehow boring).

Well call me Depeche Mode because I just can’t get enough!

Marin Headlands Visitor Center

On the way to the Visitor Center, I took in the view of Rodeo Beach and Lagoon.

The Marin Headlands points south, facing San Francisco across the Golden Gate. After enjoying the views, I headed a little north to check out the exhibits at the Marin Headlands Visitor Center.

The Marin Headlands Visitor Center is located in the former Fort Barry Chapel.

Because of the Golden Gate’s strategic important as the entrance to San Francisco Bay, the land on both sides is loaded with former military sites. The Marin Headlands Visitor Center sits in what was Fort Barry’s chapel.

There’s the steeple, but there’s no people!

Nike Missile Site

A ranger relaxes on an illustrative missile.

The Golden Gate was originally militarized when the Spanish established the Presidio in 1776. Fort Point was built during the buildup to the Civil War. Fort Mason was an important point of embarkation for World War II. The Cold War came to the area in 1954 when a Nike missile launch site was installed at Fort Barry. The site was decommissioned in 1974.

A veteran led a tour of the launch site, where missiles waited underground until it was time to go into action. (Fortunately, that time never came.)

We got to watch a missile get lifted from underground. Then we went back upstairs and outside so we could watch the missile point up to the sky.

The missile points west, toward the former Soviet Union across the Pacific Ocean.

And that concludes the military portion of this post. Now back to nature.

Rodeo Beach and Rodeo Lagoon

Rodeo Beach and Rodeo Lagoon made for an unexpectedly scenic spot. Rodeo Beach faces the open Pacific.

Rodeo Beach’s unique geology makes its sand darker than the typical California beach.

Rodeo Lagoon is cut off from the ocean for most of the year.

This view at Rodeo Beach reminds me of Seal Rocks at Lands End.

The Marine Mammal Center

Monument to the elephant seal. I don’t care what you say, elephant seals are bizarre-looking creatures!

The Marine Mammal Center is a non-profit organization that rescues and rehabilitates marine mammals that need a helping hand.

Shhhh…quiet! Marine mammals getting much needed rest.

Foggy Rodeo Lagoon

The afternoon fog rolls in over Rodeo Lagoon.

The Marine Mammal Center was my last sightseeing stop for the day. I had a scenic walk along Rodeo Lagoon to get to the bus stop where I’d catch the bus back to San Francisco.

It looks like the fog had already made its way inland.

It was a pretty wonderful day that got me back in a San Francisco state of mind.

[Factual information is primarily gathered from Wikipedia, so you know it must be true.]