Landmark

San Francisco Bay measures three to twelve miles (5–19 km) wide east-to-west and somewhere between 48 miles (77 km) and 60 miles (97 km) north-to-south.

It is the largest Pacific estuary in the Americas. From the mid-19th century through the late 20th century, more than a third of the original bay was filled and often built on. The most famous of five island is Alcatraz. The former federal prison on Alcatraz Island no longer functions, but the complex is a National Park and very popular tourist site

History:

From 15,000 – 10,000 years ago, the Ohlone tribe inhabited the area that is now the San Francisco Bay. The first European to enter the bay is believed to have been the Spanish explorer Juan de Ayala, who passed through the Golden Gate on August 5, 1775 in his ship the San Carlos, and moored in a bay of Angel Island now known as Ayala Cove. Ayala continued to explore the Bay area and the expedition's cartographer, José de Cañizares, gathered the information necessary to produce the first map of the San Francisco Bay area. A number of place names survive (anglicized) from that first map, including Point Reyes, Angel Island, Farallon Islands and Alcatraz Island.

Nearby Points of Interest:

The Presidio: is located at the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge and contains Fort Point, Crissy Field, and the Walt Disney Family Museum.

Golden Gate Bridge: You’ve seen it in movies, television, books, and postcards – now go ahead and take a walk on it! And don’t forget your camera. North Beach / Little Italy:  Little Italy offers a variety of bars, comedy clubs, and authentic Italian restaurants. Try some focaccia bread, or take a walk in the relaxing green space of Washington Squar