Courtesy of California for Visitors at About.com and Ms. Betsy Malloy According to the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, San Francisco is "Everybody's Favorite City". It is consistently voted as one of the best places in the
world to visit by major travel magazines and its restaurants have been rated the best in the world for the past two years. The City by the Bay is ready to greet you with its many sights and delights. To get your bearings and make some plans, you many want to read an Introduction to San Francisco and Preparing to Visit San Francisco and if you can't wait to
visit, enjoy a few photos
to whet your appetite. San Francisco Sights
San Francisco has many popular tourist sights
, and millions of people visit them every year. These are the most popular:
Fisherman's Wharf - Although few fishermen are still active in the San Francisco Bay, the colorful
collection of boats and bustling sidewalk seafood stands attract more visitors than any other part of the city.
Pier 39 - A former commercial pier converted into a
cornucopia of shopping opportunities. Look for the specialty shops tucked in between the T-shirt and souvenir stores.
Sea Lions - The famous sea lions have been hanging out at Pier 39 for almost 20 years - basking
in the sun, swimming and just plain having fun. After the 1989 earthquake, they arrived in droves and they never left. The California Watchable Wildlife Project has declared Pier 39's K-Dock a "Watchable
Wildlife" viewing area and they offer free talks at the sea lion habitat on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Chinatown - Chinatown has two faces: the one that
most tourists see, and the real Chinatown you can find in its alleys and side streets.
Golden Gate Bridge - An engineering marvel and arguably the most beautiful bridge in the world.
Take the time to walk on it to learn what it's really like.
Cable Cars - San Francisco's moving historical landmark.
Alcatraz
- This former prison was home to the famous Bird Man, Al Capone and others. Make reservations in advance and dress very warmly.
However, no visit to San Francisco would be complete without a trip to some of the places San Franciscans love most. Try a few of these:
North Beach, San Francisco's "Little Italy" and
home of the beatniks in the 1950s. North Beach is home to many fine Italian restaurants and a nice evening destination.
A walk along the newly renovated waterfront.
Many people can't resist a drive down the "crookedest street". The entrance is on Hyde Street a few blocks up the hill from the waterfront (follow
the Hyde Street cable car tracks). The street is one-way and only one block is crooked. If you're on foot, take the cable car up the hill and walk down, enjoying the activity as you go.
Spouse/Companion Activities For the spouse or companion looking for things to do during the day:
- The best way to get to see a city is by walking in it, and you will understand more if you have a guide. Take one of many fine
walking tours
of the city - some of them are free!
San Francisco has many fine museums.
Union Square
is the third-largest shopping area in the United States and home to the largest department store west of New York City. Lest you shop 'til you drop, stop for tea at the Westin St.
Francis or Nieman Marcus.
If small neighborhood boutiques are more your style, visit
Fillmore Street, one of San Francisco's
popular shopping streets.
Take a cable car tour
of the city and visit some real San Francisco neighborhoods.
Bringing the kids? There are plenty of things to do with kids in the city.
San Francisco Dining and Evening Activities
San Francisco has the best restaurants in the world, according to some polls. You can find everything to eat here, from a cup of clam chowder at Fisherman's Wharf to a five-course meal in a five-star restaurant.
A word of advice: The restaurants at Fisherman's Wharf are famous and very busy, but the food is generally mediocre and overpriced. If you've always dreamed of
eating at Scoma's or Alioto's, don't deny yourself, but if you would prefer to sample some of
San Francisco's best restaurants instead, go somewhere else for dinner. You can find almost
any type of food in any part of the city
.
After dinner, you can enjoy a theater show or visit a nightclub. Beach Blanket Babylon and Shear Madness are two long running theater treats, but you should reserve your tickets in advance. Side Trips Any of these locations can be easily visited on a day trip from San Francisco:
- Wine Country: Field after field of grapes growing, tasting rooms nestled in between, fine restaurants:
Napa has the name brand wineries, and lots of them, but it can be crowded and most of the tasting rooms charge a fee. Sonoma is less dense and you can meander down country lanes from one winery to the next.
Monterey & Carmel: Home of the
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach and
Clint Eastwood.
Sausalito is a short ferry ride across the bay. Enjoy the views of the city, a walk along the water, art galleries, and shops. Try
Spinnaker
for the best meal with a view.
Other side trips include Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Hearst Castle and
Sequoia National Park. All are more
comfortably visited if the trip includes an overnight stay. Practical Considerations San Francisco weather is usually great in June, and it is not likely to rain. However, temperatures can vary widely during the day, especially if the famous San Francisco fog
makes an appearance. Dress in layers. On the average, the temperatures this time of the year are highs in the low to mid 70s and lows in the lower 50s, but you should check the weather forecast
before you leave.Unless you plan to go outside the city, don't rent a car.
Parking is scarce and expensive in the city and most attractions are accessible by public transportation or walking. If you want to take an occasional day trip outside the city, rent from a car rental company
that has an office in the city and return the vehicle in the evening.
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