Blink and you'll miss it: a sliver of sand tucked beside a Coast Guard station, hidden beneath the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge-so close to the tourists above, yet so empty you can hear ...

You're almost looking up at the Golden Gate Bridge from here and beyond it, the San Francisco skyline while a parade of ships and yachts sails in and out of the bay.

It’s a tried and true routine for anyone who’s ever played tour guide for visiting family and friends. The out-of-towners are in the Bay Area for a few days and want to see the Golden Gate Bridge.