Where can you find the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge? Top spot in our book is tiny Marshall's Beach in San Francisco's Presidio. The recently renovated Batteries to Bluffs Trail (thank you Trails Forever) leads directly to this little nugget of sandy serenity. The path to get there is just 0.3 mile long, and the views from the beach elate, with the iconic arches appearing close enough to touch. Sandwiched between steep bluffs, the beach is refreshingly tranquil; the only sound you hear is the swash of the waves. As with many hidden beaches, the clothes-free crowd flocks to this spot; excepting the presence of Pasty Bare-Butts (hey, we're just saying…), the sights from here are mostly Golden.
Park at one of two entrances on Lincoln Blvd. in the Presidio. One is just south of Fort Scott, on the west side of the road near the "Coyote Crossing" sign, and the other is about .5 mile further down Lincoln Blvd. with a small "Batteries to Bluffs" sign on west side of the road. At either entrance, follow the Batteries to Bluffs Trail toward Marshall's Beach. (See map.) No dogs.