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Just take a short ferry ride from the downtown of San Francisco; Angel Island is a magnificent retreat featuring 740 acres of grassy wilderness and woody. The Angel Island is considered as one of the major attraction in the San Francisco Tours.

Angel Island is a mountainous, meadow and forest-covered island, and the largest island in San Francisco Bay. It is situated almost 1.7 Km from the Tiburon Peninsula. It provides fantastic views of San Francisco, Marin County, and the Golden Gate, and the whole Bay Area. Other than the recreational facilities (hiking, biking, camping, boating), it is also rich in historical significance.

Angel Island is also called as the "Ellis Island of the West Coast," where thousands of immigrants from the Asia first got settled on American soil and began their lives of great hardship and great triumph. If you are planning for a tour to Angel Island be sure to visit the old immigration station where the Asian immigrants were processed earlier than being formally admitted to the U.S.

For more than six thousand years, it was used by the Miwok Indians as a fishing place and hunting site. For almost 100 years - from the Civil War to the Cold War - the island was housed by a variety of military installations, including the supporting troops who were on their way to and from the Pacific Theaters in World War-I and World War-II.

After 1846 and in the war between the United States and Mexico, Osio's identify was doubted by many people, and several squatters took up residence on this island. In the early 1850s a mine was developed on the east shore of this island, with the intension of carving high-quality sandstone from out of the cliffs above Quarry Point for usage in Mare Island, and elsewhere. The mine continued to operate until the 1920s, and finally reduced the cliff to the present-day site of the march past ground at Fort McDowell.

Today, the trails and fire roads provide the people a easier way to the whole island, including many breathtaking views and historic sites

The fire road that surrounds the island is perfect for jogging, bicycling and hiking. Also plan for a special visit in spring when the wild flowers color the island's rolling hills. Or you can also visit any time of the year to catch the marvelous views of the entire Bay Area.