NEW YORK, NY.- I moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles just over a year ago, and one thing that still marks me as a newcomer is how much I delight in crossing bridges in the Bay Area.
During my first trip over the Carquinez Bridge on Interstate 80 recently, I was taken with the industrial steel span and what it crossed: the wide expanse of water known as the Carquinez Strait, which separates Contra Costa and Solano counties.
That a bridge allows me to depart one county and enter another in midair seems truly magical, as anyone who has recently ridden in a car with me has heard me carry on about.
Readers have been sending me emails about their favorite bridges in California, including the most iconic ones, like the Bixby Bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur, the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena and, of course, the Golden Gate.
Some have shared their love for lesser-known bridges, like the Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge in the Santa Ynez Mountains, the Rainbow Bridge on Donner Pass Road and Fernbridge over the Eel River in Humboldt County.
All sorts of bridges can hold fascination for us and often personal connections as well. Here are some of them, lightly edited:
My favorite is the western portion of the Bay Bridge. When I was a child, my parents would drive across the double-decker bridge, and we would be on the lower section leaving San Francisco. Then on the way back, the upper section seemed to me like the Golden Gate. It took me a while to get my head around the concept of a double-decker bridge. I dont know why some memories remain very clear after over 60 years, but thats one of them. MARTY MCVEIGH, BRENTWOOD
The Tower Bridge here in Sacramento is one of the citys most beautiful landmarks, I think. The way the sunset reflects off its golden paint, or how the bridge reflects into the river. Especially the way that when youre driving down it, you can look right into the heart of Sacramento. SYDNEY AMESTOY, SACRAMENTO
The Sundial Bridge in Redding does much more than connect two banks of the Sacramento River. As one of the few who are lucky enough to give tours of the bridge, I have seen how the bridge has evolved to become a new town center. Here, locals and visitors mingle with their kids and dogs to enjoy the ever-changing view of the surrounding mountains and wildlife, from salmon in the river, geese on the river, and osprey, bald eagles and vultures flying over the river. KAY JOHNSON, REDDING
Im very fortunate that my commute to work requires that I cross my favorite bridge: the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. It feels the most scenic. You can see the city of San Francisco in all its glory or mixed in with the fog. The bridge goes right by Red Rock Island, which gives it a wild nature feeling at the same time. Crossing in either direction, you view either looming Mount Tamalpais or the expansive, lit-up East Bay hills with Oakland to the south. The bridge has a lot fewer people on it than the Golden Gate Bridge, so it feels more personal. HELEN COUTURE RODRIGUEZ, EL CERRITO
I live in San Diego and regularly cross the Coronado Bridge to go to swim practice. The bridge itself, while an engineering marvel, is no beauty. But the view going to Coronado Island always reminds me what a beautiful place I live in! BARTON LYNCH, SAN DIEGO
My young nephew was in a bridge-obsessed phase some years ago, so for his birthday we spent a very long but memorable day driving across every single Bay Area bridge. Covering all those miles with a wide-eyed 9-year-old, I gained a new appreciation for all the spans gracing our waterways. Ill never have a favorite again! BRANDI KATZ, AROMAS
I lived in the Bay Area for almost 10 years, and the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is the best. Its so long, you feel as if youre alone on a large body of water. And at certain times of the year, the commute home often had amazing sunsets. JAY TORRES, LAGUNA BEACH
Im lucky enough to commute by bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge to work most days. About 10 years ago, I was being recruited to a job in New York City and was discussing the pros and cons with my friend Tucker on the commute home. Tucker saw something in the water and stopped us midspan on the west deck. To our delight, two whales began breaching just west of the bridge, something I havent seen before or since. Tucker told me, Philip, if youre looking for a sign
. Im still happily commuting over my favorite bridge. PHILIP NORRIS, MILL VALLEY
This article originally appeared in
The New York Times.