Fort Point National Historic Site

Union soldiers manned a red-brick battlement on the edge of San Francisco Bay waiting for any signs of Rebel boats heading into the harbor. Those invaders never came, but that didn't stop the Army from constructing one of the strongest forts of its time. Welcome to Fort Point, currently underneath the span of the Golden Gate Bridge.

When you see Fort Point, you get a true sense of the size, scope, and strength of the place. Brick walls are 7 feet thick, designed to resist bombardments from boat-based artillery. As many as 65 cannons perched on the walls, watchfully waiting to fire upon any enemy ships. California, as remote as it was during the Civil War, was a valuable state with a lot of resources. Thankfully, Fort Point's moment never came. The 140 men stationed there never saw an attack during the conflict.

Take a self-guided or ranger-led tour through the enlisted men's barracks, an officer's room, and the powder magazine. Ranger-led tours include a candlelight walk through the grounds, which gives you an idea of what it was like to keep watch for incoming ships at night.

This Instagram-worthy historic site is a gateway to so many other stops in and around San Francisco. Tours only take a couple of hours and you get to see an intact historical fort. There's also beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Just outside the city, there are plenty of campsites to call home. Many of these are just a short drive away from Fort Point, so stop here first on your way into the city.