Crissy Field
Crissy Field is a park in San Francisco that you can visit with your rent a car in San Francisco. This was originally an air field and part of the United States’ Presidio Army Base. Today, you will find a park with a number of things for you to do while you overlook the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay.
Site history
When you visit with your car rental San Francisco, you might learn that the area was originally a salt marsh for the Ohlone. It was later a landing site for the Spanish explorers and Russian, English, and Boston traders. After the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915, it became of the foremost military airfields as well as a portion of the Presidio army base. It was named after Major Dana H. Crissy, which died during a transcontinental reliability test while attempting to land at Salt Lake City. The airfield played a major role in trial night flying in 1923. By 1974, the airfield was closed.
The site today
When you visit with your San Francisco car rental, you will learn that Crissy airfield became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and it was restored to its original condition. Most of the buildings here are from the 1920s, including the U.S. Coast Guard Station and pier. There are museums, cafes, gift shops, and bike and pedestrian lanes.
What you can do
When you visit with your San Francisco rental car, you will find there is a beach at the east end of Crissy Field. This is a popular location for windsurfers and kite surfers. In the summer, the winds are great for sailing in the afternoon. There are also unique programs for families, teens, and community groups here. The park also offers free guided tours for a behind-the-scenes look at their facility. Along the shore, you can explore the area from the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge to the marina. There are displays of wildflowers and birds around the Crissy Field Marsh.
Trails Forever
Trails are a critical part of the Golden Gate National Park system, linking visitors to the greenbelt north and south of the Golden Gate. There is an extensive network of trails for you to discover when you visit with your San Francisco rental car. There are over 196 miles of hiking trails in the city. This is a great opportunity for you to get out and get walking, while you get to see great views of the Bay and the area.
Relax with a meal
When you are here with your San Francisco rental car, you can relax for a meal at the Beach Hut or Café Crissy. Café Crissy features organic and locally grown food and beverages, all while you take in the sweeping view of the Bay and marsh. The Beach Hut has refreshments like fruit smoothies and frozen yogurt to beat the heat.
How to get here
You will find the Crissy Field Centre at 1199 East Beach in Presidio. The main entrance to East Beach is along Old Mason Street when you visit with your rent a car in San Francisco. It can be hard to find them on a GPS, so you may want to check out their website for directions. There is plenty of parking here for the day, but it may be limited on weekends and during special events. They are wheelchair accessible and visitors with a handicapped permit may park in the marked spaces near the entrances.
When you visit Crissy Field, you will find that this park has great views of the Bay.
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