San Francisco: Golden Gate Seaplane Tour & Bay Views

4.89

(144 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect my palms to sweat just from stepping onto that little seaplane near San Francisco Bay. The pilot, Lisa, grinned and told us not to worry—she’s done this hundreds of times. There was this weird mix of excitement and nerves as we buckled in (I double-checked mine, not gonna lie). The engine started up with a growl and suddenly all I could smell was saltwater and that faint oily tang you get at marinas. We skimmed across the water, then lifted off—just like that—and the city shrank behind us.

It’s hard to explain how different everything looks from above. You see the Golden Gate Bridge all the time in photos, but seeing it curve out under you is something else. Lisa pointed out Muir Woods—just a green patch from up here, but she told us about hiking there as a kid. We flew over Marin Headlands and Stinson Beach; the sand looked almost white against the blue. At one point I caught sight of Angel Island and thought about all those stories of immigrants passing through. The wind rattled the windows a bit, which made me grip my seat tighter (my partner laughed at me), but honestly it felt safe—like Lisa had it under control.

We swung past Alcatraz—the Rock really does look lonely out there—and then over Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 where you could almost see people waving if you squinted. I tried to take a photo but gave up; sometimes it’s better just to watch. That light over the city in late afternoon… I still think about that view. Thirty minutes went by faster than I expected. When we landed back on the bay, my legs felt wobbly but in a good way.