Presidio Tunnel Tops — Attraction in San Francisco

San Francisco has outdone itself with the Presidio Tunnel Tops recreation area built atop the Presidio Parkway tunnels. You may have driven into or out of the City many times without even realizing this urban oasis was just above you! It has become one of my favorite places to just relax and hang out in SF.

The various community organizations, activists, health experts and artists involved in its planning and construction deserve a lot of credit for helping to create a beautiful, relaxing, and fun space for everyone.

If you are driving, there is usually paid parking available near the Presidio Main Parade Lawn. Tip: parking is free on holidays.

Grab a bite to eat from one of the many food trucks featuring a rotating assortment of top notch ethnic cuisines. (The Packistani and Indonesian food is to die for.) I'm pretty sure these trucks are available every day of the week, year-round. Take you meal either to the large grassy Parade Lawn, or across Lincoln Blvd. to the Tunnel Tops. There are plenty of picnic tables, benches, and other places to eat.

If you have children, you MUST take them to The Outpost playground. This is a playground unlike any you've ever seen, containing no traditional off-the-rack playground structures, but rather amazing custom, interactive play spaces made of trees, stones, and other natural materials. There is so much to discover here; all the kids are genuinely thrilled to play in such a unique, creative environment.

Tunnel Tops has spaces for flying kites, meeting friends, or playing Frisbee. There are quiet spaces for talking, meditating, or just taking in the views of the Golden Gate Bridge or the Palace of Fine Arts.

The park is landscaped with indigenous plants, all meticulously cared for by staff and volunteers. The entire park is well maintained, clean, safe, and fully accessible for those with disabilities.

Be sure to spend some time in the Visitors Center. (Read my separate review of it.) I highly recommend Tunnel Tops as a great way to just hang out for a relaxing afternoon, especially if...

You get an excellent view of the bay side of the Golden gate bridge. There's picnic areas and grills available, a children's play area, on the weekends a variety of food trucks and restrooms throughout. it's dog friendly it's a great place to bring you're 4 legged family members lots of open area to run play they'll love it. But for all the things to see and do and explore It's safe for a large area and you'll see people bringing their dogs. Prepare yourself for the biggest unexpected adventure of the day family fun day is over, you're packing up and going home your children are worn out you're 4 legged little buddy ran you into the ground. But all in all your family had a great time a complete success and you just want to go home And relax and try not to think about how exhausted you are When did your children learn to run so fast and your little buddy with those short legs he ran you into the ground. It's okay your headed home Keep this in the back of your mind it's a popular area And it may not look overly crowded, that area has just 3 road in and out of the Presidio and by afternoon it's bumped lto bumper traffic leaving that area so prepare yourself for slowexit home on the bright side you just have to get to the city streets where you have options to get out of the traffic. quite often I'm in that area visiting friends holidays and weekends the traffic leaving is a nightmare everything else is great it's beautiful spacious access out of the area I would describe as tedious at best. Public transportation is not a bad option so you might...

A landscaped urban marvel that showcases the magnificent SF Bay w Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. Beautiful lawns w patches of native plants, accented with gorgeous redbrick historic buildings and striking, comfortable yet utilitarian seats & benches, either in native redwood or painted in striking red. The artistic Humpback Benches (how I saw it) are loved by one and all - a place of play or respite, in liquid form that literally looks like humpback whales above the water line. If you then stroll to Crissy Fields for a close(er) encounter with the sweeping Bay view, wind, sea, sand & Golden Gate Bridge, your day will be complete. Fidos frolic off-leash at Crissy Fields like they own it... and they do really! Parking on this busy music festival Sunday was tight. We parked behind the Sports Basement thanks to another G-Maps reviewer's suggestion. Music (festivals each 1st Sunday monthly in summer & fall) was very user-friendly: tuneful, dance-inducing and not too loud. Food trucks offer drinks, Gelato, small plates, but everything priced far more than reasonable. Better to pack...