Fort Mason

Fort Mason The General’s Residence is an amazing locale for an outdoor wedding with indoor reception. The views are amazingly spectacular. We had the perfect San Francisco day for our daughter’s wedding. The staff at Fort Mason is extremely helpful and wonderful! They made sure the day ran smoothly while working with us.

I’m a wedding coordinator and I just did a wedding reception at the newly renovated Gallery 308 at Ft. Mason. It is a beautiful new, modern room with a beautiful view of the Golden Gate bridge and some nice amenities. Troy Crossman was the event manager we worked with and he was extremely responsive and helpful as was the rest of the staff at Ft. Mason. It was wonderful that the fee for the room gives you access to it from 8 am until midnight! My only suggestion would be that they install some refrigeration in the food prep area. Regardless, our caterer, Wilma Lott, did a wonderful job with the food prep! I highly recommend this venue!

Such a nice open space next to the park and open water. There are a few stores here hidden I recommend you check out the book store! Also, Fridays off the grid is here and food is amazing. I recommend you go here if you are with friends and can’t decide what or where to eat.
Parking for fort mason can be packed, but easy to find. There area few historic buildings you can check out, but be there during their visiting/​museum open hours.
I would recommend any one to check out this unique gem in SF!

Came here today for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease today. What a fun and exciting day for acknowledging awareness.
Took the shuttle from the Bill Graham Center to get here which was nice. It is a free ride for all those attending the walk today. The ride was short but much appreciated. Got to Fort Mason fairly early. There were not a lot of people there around 8:00 am but that made getting checked in and situated a lot easier for ME though!
Firs thing, check in was easy because it is designated by last name. While checking in a made a donation as well. You cannot help but want to. After checking I then went over to get my shirt for the walk. I did not have any purple shirts because I am not a big purple wearing clothes kind of person but the situation got figured out. Luckily, someone in my team had raised over $ 100 bucks so I was able to get a shirt.
After that, it was time to get hydrated. Everyone was given water bottles for the walk so it made since to fill up early at the stations. Once the bottles were filled my team headed over to the refreshment table. I was hungry so I grabbed a chocolate chip muffin and a bagel. Once I had food we all proceeded to go around to all the booths setup and inquire with all the sponsors and vendors present.
After thirty minutes of mingling with other walkers the festivities began. There were a couple of testimonies followed by a flower ceremony. The flower ceremony was BEAUTIFUL. Let me go back a bit to enlighten everyone on this topic. Once you have checked in here you go over to the promise flower area. There are 4 different flowers that you can choose from. Blue represents someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Purple is for someone who has lost a loved one to the disease. Yellow represents someone who is currently supporting or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. Orange is for everyone who supports the cause and vision of a world without Alzheimer’s. I received an orange one which I came to find out later that I should have gotten a purple one, my grandfather passed away from Alzheimer’s. Now, back to the ceremony.
It was an experience that really touches your heart in a way that is just amazing. To see the support and the people that took the time to be present was just AMAZING. After the ceremony there was 5 minutes remaining till walk time. Everyone began to walk over to the start line.
My team was in the back so we were not in any hurry to be first. Once the whistled sounded that the walk had begun everyone was in full walk, trot, and speed walk mode. It was cool to see all the teams with their team signs. It just made this whole experience very personal and fun. Usually when talking about diseases and personal loss it can become very painful but an event like this truly does raise awareness and promotes continued research and support around the disease.
The walk was great and all the volunteers here were HYPED. The constant encouragement along the trail was cool. From the teenagers to the adults, the support was GREAT! The weather was also perfect for today. The sun was out and the people were abundant throughout the walk. So much SUPPORT. Even the drivers on the street were honking in SUPPORT. HOW COOL IS THAT!!!
The walk was just a great event for me to attend. I am happy for all the people that came out today to support this event and this cause. I wish they had more events like this. The location of the event, FORT MASON, was just PERFECT. The open area and all the green really created a warm atmosphere. I commend the staff and the volunteered that helped make today such an incredible experience not only for me but for everyone that it exceptional.

There are some great events that this place has often. My boyfriend and I have gone here for past beer tastings and today to the book fair. WOW! The building is huge and spacious. A perfect venue for such events. And, every event that we have gone to here has been worth going to! The events have been superb!!!
Pros:
–spacious venue
–clean, large bathrooms available
–lots of parking nearby
–spectacular location on the Wharf
–unique and fun events held here on a regular basis
Cons:
–Nothing!

Between Fisherman’s Wharf and Golden Gate Park you’ll find this park, an old military base. Go to the Maritime Museum if you can, or just walk along the bay and see the sights. Alcatraz and the piers are right there; the bridge is a bit farther but visible from the top of the hill. There are historical markers, paths, etc. Only thing missing is public restrooms– the map shows several, but the ones near us weren’t open anymore, and the sign showing businesses with bathrooms let us know they weren’t open Sunday evenings.
We still had a great time walking and exploring. Plenty of walkers, bikers, and dogs joined us.

This is a great spot to chill on a nice weekend. Some people picnic, drink a beer or two, and there are others who bring their beer pong tourneys to the park, play catch, or just sit and watch the Golden Gate Bridge view from afar. It’s one of my favorite spots in San Francisco. I’d always say yes to coming here on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Tip: There’s a Safeway that’s 5 minutes walking distance if you ever need to grab drinks or some small bites to enjoy at the park.

We got married here and it was BEAUTIFUL. Elexis and Brianna were very easy to work with, accommodating and fast to respond to our questions. Parking is easy. The views are AMAZING. The lawn is lovely. The neighborhood was great. We had an Indian wedding and the Baraat (parade with the horse) began in the nearby park with beautiful views of the Golden Gate. We got hotel blocks at the Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf and the Comfort Inn, which worked well. Plus, the money goes to the National Parks – so you are supporting a great cause.

Such a cool area to walk around, eat, peruse books, people watch, or just relax. I came for the Friend of the San Francisco Public Library Spring Sale and loved the location. Huge warehouse for the sale, a café on site, easy to maneuver, and a great view.
I also walked around the upper area and thought it was a lovely park with, again, a great view. If I had a dog, I would definitely take it here to play fetch.

What a beautiful place to just hang out and enjoy the SF weather! Parking is horrible, so use a Lyft or Über to get yourself in the area and just enjoy the scenery and people watching opportunities.
The «hangers» used for convention space is a little awkward, I mean I was here for the SF Marathon Expo so maybe that’s their fault, but otherwise awesome multi-​use space. :)

Fort Mason is an old military base and it looks like one. It was built with the total lack of imagination that the US military is so famous for. It is as drab as any other military base. There are four barracks style buildings surrounded by blacktop and three buildings built on piers that extend out into the bay. The piers look old and dingy. The guard building on the way in makes you feel like you are entering the realm of the third Reich.
It is in a hole and if you come from the Fisherman’s Wharf direction you have to climb a steep hill only to descend the stairs from hell to get to the exhibit halls and museums. Can’t they tunnel through from Aquatic Cove or put in an escalator? Parking can be an abortion. Can’t they put in a 10 story parking lot that is conveniently located?
On the flip side, all of the things listed above give Fort Mason a certain charm. The buildings are Spanish style with white walls and tile roofs. The «janky» appearance of the piers also lends a very subtle charm. At the top of the stairway to hell is an expansive park with breathtaking views of the bay, marina and Golden Gate Bridge.
Fort mason is located in San Francisco where public transportation is the preferred method of travel. When we go to San Francisco, we usually take public transportation, welcoming it as a wonderful alternative. If you insist on taking your car, then finding parking is something you have brought upon yourself.
Over a million and a half young American men passed through Fort Mason on their way to fight in the Pacific during World War II. Many of them did not return. Fortunately, those days are long gone and now Fort Mason is part of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
Fort Mason has become home to art schools, museums, theaters, exhibit halls, and even a hostel. My hat goes off to the people that saw the closing of yet another military base in California as a great cultural opportunity.
What? There is already an unused tunnel under the hill between Aquatic Park and Fort Mason? Why did I practically have a heart attack getting there?

I know little to nothing about the history of Fort Mason, except that the area was once an old army base. The barracks and other official buildings have been divided into a large public venue with shops, places to eat, pavilion and even a hostel. The Fort Mason Park is located on a hill above the Fort’s property. I became aware of this park only recently when my boyfriend and I were attending the «Eat Drink SF» yearly festival. We walked upward onto the long, steep driveway to enter the a lush grove of trees and other foliage to enter the park itself.
Many locals and tourists alike milled about the park hiking on foot or bicycles. Dogs were allowed as they ran about enjoying the expansive lawn areas. We also saw people flying kites, sitting on park benches, and just resting in the grass. We were tired from trekking up the hill and decided to take a short rest before proceeding to the festival. The view was very panoramic as I looked across the horizon at all the San Francisco buildings and high rises including the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, and sail boats crossing the water. The view was beautiful and even humbling!
From our upper position at the park, there is a steep stairway that leads you down to the Fort Mason buildings (or up, depending on which direction you are taking). This is where we traveled to get to the Festival Pavilions destination. Not only was the view breathtaking, but so was our hike, but well worth taking the path, and definitely a good work out for those who are older and out of shape like we are.
A nice park to relax, people watch and enjoy the scenery…

The general’s residence was a lovely place for a wedding. Beautiful views.

This former military/​WWII post of the US Army is now one of the best places in San Francisco to either enjoy some outdoor time near the water, watch the sunset over the Golden Gate or the Pacific, or to take advantage of galleries, restaurants, or concerts.
Fort Mason technically refers to two things: the Fort Mason Park, which is located on a hill, overlooking the Marina neighborhood in the South and the Bay in the North. And the Fort Mason Center which now hosts the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, the Blue Bear School of Music, the Long Now Museum and Gallery, the Mexican Museum, and lots more.
If you want to host a corporate event there you can also book a room in House D.
Parking is available but not free.

All of you should know by now that Fort Mason is different from the Fort Mason Center. I don’t want to go into all the differences, but I feel I have to. The Fort Mason Center is all the buildings on the piers and the big empty space and chocolate festivals and Off the Grid and all that other garbage that I don’t really care about.
Fort Mason proper is the park, the buildings where the officers and other higher-​ups lived, and the park, and the park. It’s a park! There are big dogs running around! There are people who still don’t dress for the weather in San Francisco, and they’re not even tourists or people who just moved here from Austin or Boston or Lostin or Drosten or wherever the hell all these new white people come from!
I’ve never liked getting my crazy on. In fact, I don’t even know what my crazy is. OK, maybe I do, but it’s more disturbing than anything, so I’ll stop there. People do get their crazy on here. And crazy is different for different people. The volleyball is mostly frat-​boy-​free, and the hills are bountiful and completely trailed. People’s loud music isn’t really that loud.
Super secret extra bonus trivia: I came to my cousin’s wedding here in the late ‘80s, many many many years before I lived anywhere near San Francisco. (I’m from Southern California, and so is my cousin who got married.) The chapel was nice, but the hall they held the reception in was really cool. I don’t remember views or anything like that, but it was such an interesting space. It didn’t feel cramped, but it was very intimate.

My dog’s favorite park! There always seems to be a lot of little dogs around. Aside from it being super dog friendly, it is a very laid back park with all sorts of people enjoying themselves. Married couples, young families with babies, single people. A lot of beer pong and drinking goes on on a beautiful day. Plus, there aren’t many trees around so no matter where you are on the grass, the sun will hit you. P. S.There is parking if you go all the way down Franklin Street, or street parking off of Bay and Laguna.

During my last visit to the SF area, I decided to trek out one day and hit Fort Mason which was an easy ride on the public transit. I arrived early one clear morning and was amazed at the views and the temps. Like other areas, taking a jacket is advised unless you want to shiver when the winds pick up!
While walking up the area nearest the bay, one can get some great shots of anything in the bay. There were plenty of people with cameras. You can also continue your stroll from there down to the water front.
The park area also is popular with people just wanting to de-​grid, read a book or simply enjoy play time with their pets. The park is open, well maintained and not overly touristy. I went where there was no special event. I found myself resting under the shade of a large palm for an hour or so just relaxing in the quiet. Enjoy.

Took the kids here over the weekend as we made our way to Crissy Field. Coming here brought back great memories… it was not only crowded but packed like sardines. Most came to hold a spot to watch America’s Cup. I caught a few glimpse but I mainly walked by and aimed towards the open grass area where people were playing football and volleyball. It was a beautiful day to just let go.
I refrained from fully being myself for the longest time.
A guy asked me to join in on the game. I had the kids w/​me but managed to serve a few before heading to Safeway across the street for some milk. The guy offered to walk me. refer to my photo I uploaded for Safeway (he’s tall and handsome, haha). I’m not interested in dating at the time but it was very nice for a guy to pay attention to me.
Lots of people out enjoying the weather, picnicking, reading, playing ball and other activities, or simply sleeping. It was busy yet peaceful at the same time. The trail consist of a lot of bikers so when you walk, be aware and be considerate.
Fort Mason is a great place to hold gatherings and to simply enjoy the city’s beauty. This is where Off The Grid hold their functions, too. Now that I know how easy it is to come here, I’ll be making my rounds here often but that is because I told him I will visit again :)

I always enjoy the fact that this place has such green, open areas. To me though, I never quite get what this place is all about. There are too many «mystery buildings». I know I need to take the time and do a little more historical research…
Did you know that there is a large performing arts theater there? Smuin Ballet uses it during their season. Mysteries indeed…

Came here for the first time when the Creators Project had the Yeah Yeah Yeahs playing on the main stage. The sound system was amazing here. Can’t say it was the same for the most recent event Wintersalt though.
Since I heard Dillion Francis was going to play at Wintersalt, my boyfriend and I decided to go.
Since the event wasn’t a huge festival or anything, majority of the activities took place inside the building (it also rained). There were two stages set up in the building, a main one and a smaller one.
While watching Dillion Francis, I had the hardest time trying to listen to the music. I started to realize that the sound system was terrible 3 minutes into his set. Though he had an amazing set, the venue was not meant to have this type of music play in here. The only thing that you’re bound to pick up is the bass from the speakers. The music was too muffled here. As for the smaller stage, the sound system was oddly better for some reason.
Not really a great place to hold an event for electro house type of music but other than that, it’s a decent venue.