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How to Plan for Golden Gate Bridging

Whether you are traveling from out of state or over the bridge, planning can be the most exciting part of the trip…especially for the girls. The complexity of your travel arrangements will depend upon the distance you live from the event.

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GGB FAQ
San Francisco Guides
Where to stay in the San Francisco Bay Area
How to Travel to the San Francisco Bay Area
Getting to the Event

GGB Frequently Asked Questions

Please download and review the frequently asked questions about the Golden Gate Bridging before contacting the council. Click here to download the 2009 Golden Gate Bridging FAQ

San Francisco Guides

With so many things to see and do in SF, where do you start?

  1. First, ask your girls what they would like to see while in the city!

  2. Then click here to order the free SF Visitor Kit from the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. This guide will provide you with a variety of maps and coupons for San Francisco.

  3. As a troop, look online or in books at all the awesome things to do while in the Bay Area. Click here for a resource of the most visited tourist destinations by troops during the GGB weekend, “Places to Go, Things To Do in SF”.

  4. Use the links below to explore a wide variety of tourist options, suggestions on where to go with kids in SF and interactive maps to help make the planning process easier.

Kids in San Francisco

Interactive Map of San Francisco

Click here for Official Visitors Site Maps
For a unique view of the city, click on the interactive maps of San Francisco and zoom in on points of interest.

San Francisco at a Glance

Click here for San Francisco at a Glance from the City and County of San Francisco

Where to stay in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Tips on how to decide where to stay

  • Ask your girls what they want to see in SF – this answer will help guide where your troop stays in San Francisco. Most troops stay close to where they are visiting.
  • Decide how much your troop can afford to spend on hotel arrangements.
  • For a less expensive way to stay in SF, please check into GSNC Council Properties or Hostelling International.
  • Please note that hotels near Pier 39 & Fisherman’s Wharf can be extremely expensive compared to hotels in other areas of the city.

Girl Scouts of Northern California Properties

GSNC has multiple properties that troops can rent for GGB 2009. Click here to download a list of all properties and capacities.

The two council-run campsites below have been reserved for troops participating in GGB 2009. Please call the Property Reservation Specialist (510) 562-8470 ext. 112 to make a reservation. Be sure to mention that you’re attending Golden Gate Bridging.

Camp Bothin – located in Marin County (25 minutes North of the Golden Gate Bridge), dormitory housing, on-site showers and kitchens. Sleeping bags needed.

Camp Arequipa - located in Marin County (25 minutes North of the Golden Gate Bridge), Indoor & Outdoor Sleeping. On-site showers and kitchen. Sleeping bags needed.

Special Hotel Offers for GGB 2009

The Hilton at Fisherman’s Wharf
This is a special offer just for participating troops of GGB 2009 with the Hilton at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco! For more information, please visit click here

Holiday Inn & the Holiday Inn Express at Fisherman’s Wharf
This is a special offer just for participating troops of GGB 2009 with the Holiday Inn & the Holiday Inn Express at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco! For more information, please visit click here

GGB 2009 Travel Agent

For assistance finding a hotel in SF, try Gretchen Gates at our official GGB Travel Agent. She has special rates worked out with hotels throughout San Francisco for this event! There is NO charge to use this service. Click here to download the hotel request form.

Tips on Booking a Hotel Online

  • Search around…a lot!
  • Bed types are usually not guaranteed unless you book through the hotel directly
  • Online reservations are usually not treated as a “group reservation”. Meaning booked rooms will be located throughout the hotel and not together.
  • Usually the most guaranteed way of booking any hotel room is to go through the hotel directly. However, it is always good to shop around! If you find a better deal online, please call the hotel and ask them to honor it.
  • Always call to verify your reservations.

Please use the hotel or trip reservation site of your choice, there are many to choose from.

Hostelling International

GSUSA and Hostelling International have a partnership to provide a less expensive way for troops to stay anywhere in the world! For Golden Gate Birdging, troops can stay at one of the local hostels throughout the Bay Area.

Unfortunately, the local hostels book very fast for this weekend, if you are contemplating this option please call Hostelling International soon for availability.

(415) 863 – 1444
www.sfhostels.com
www.norcalhostels.org

Girl Scouts Go Hostelling Patch – Discover Your World
While visiting Hostelling International, your troop can earn the Girl Scouts Go Hostelling Patch – Discover Your World. For more information, please visit, the Hosteling International website

Please note that the Fort Mason Hostel (a.k.a. Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel) is SOLD OUT for GGB 2009!

How to Travel to the San Francisco Bay Area

Traditionally troops drive private vehicles, rent a van, charter a bus, or fly to the Bay Area for this event.

Tips on how to reserve flights online

  • Book Early!
  • Including Saturday night in your visit will greatly reduce the cost of the plane tickets.
  • Use online Flight Comparison Tools
  • When checking flights, please check the rates with the San Francisco and Oakland Airport. The cost will vary depending upon which state you are departing from.
  • If your troop is staying in San Francisco we suggest flying into the San Francisco Airport. This will reduce additional travel time, especially if your troop is arriving on Friday afternoon.
  • Please plan for a 1-2 hour commute from Oakland into San Francisco on Friday afternoon.

Please use the travel booking site of your choice, there are many to choose from.

Getting to the Event

The event takes place mostly in the Presidio, which is apart of the National Park Service and is located on the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate Bridge.

For online maps and transportation sites, please use this address:

603 Mason Street
San Francisco, CA 94129.

Public Transportation

The event is completely accessible by public transportation; however, it takes a some time and good planning to make it work. If you are flying into town on the day of the event and want to use public transportation, plan on it taking 2-3 hours for you to get from the Oakland or San Francisco Airport to the event.

For the fastest way to plan your public transportation route, please click here to use the 511.org Take Transit Trip Planner

  1. Enter the address of your hotel (or your starting point)
  2. Enter the destination address which is: 603 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94129. (please make sure to enter the zip code otherwise you will be directed to another part of SF)
  3. The web site will automatically map out the public transportation routes needed to get to Crissy Field, the cost of each route, and the time needed to make the journey across the city.

Other Public Transportation Resources

Driving

If you're planning to drive please carpool as much as possible. Directions and information on how to park will be included in your confirmation packet. Parking fees are included in the participant costs.