Presidio Tunnel Tops — a decade in the making — is finally set to open to the public in San Francisco on July 17. Designed by James Corner Field Operations, the firm behind New York City’s hugely successful High Line, the 14-acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area parkland site includes scenic overlooks with bridge and city views, trails, gathering areas and gardens that include 180 varieties of native plants.
There are so many areas to explore, but here are five must-do activities when you visit.
Cliff Walk
Follow the edge of the bluff, 30 feet above Crissy Field and the bay, on the Cliff Walk, which features three overlooks with stunning views of Alcatraz, Angel Island and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Campfire Circle
Gather at the wind-protected gas firepit, with seating for up to 75 people, for ranger talks and other community events.
Picnic Place
Enjoy a picnic at one of the long community tables shaded by a grove of trees strung with lights or grill at one of the barbecues — some facilities are even reservable.
Outpost
Climb, crawl, swing and balance your way through the 2-acre outdoor playscape — for kids of all ages — with large features made of natural elements like wood, stone and water.
Field Station
Especially for kids, explore the Presidio’s natural and cultural world via a “cabinet of curiosities” full of objects including seeds, rocks and historic maps.
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Lotus Abrams has covered everything from beauty to business to tech in her editorial career, but it might be writing about her native Bay Area that inspires her most. She lives with her husband and two daughters in the San Francisco Peninsula, where they enjoy spending time outdoors at the area’s many open spaces protected and preserved by her favorite local nonprofit, the Peninsula Open Space Trust.
