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Ever since gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in 1848, visitors from all over the world have flocked to San Francisco. Today, it's still possible to find gold in the "City on the Bay" in its numerous restaurants, beautiful neighborhoods, and world-class cultural attractions. San Francisco hosts a number of national landmarks, from the famous Telegraph Hill and old-fashioned trolley cars to the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, that help make any trip special.
San Francisco Bay was the source of the city's livelihood for a very long time, and it remains the key to the city to this day. The Golden Gate Bridge, a San Francisco icon, is 1.7 miles long and frames the Bay. Located around the Bay are several remarkable beaches and parks. Golden Gate Park contains several museums, gardens, and open spaces. The Presidio, a 200 year old Spanish Fort, is also a well-known Bay Area attraction. Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 are national landmarks, offering breathtaking views, fine restaurants and great shopping. Steinhart Aquarium is the oldest municipal aquarium in America, featuring a wide selection of creatures from both the Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Of course, no tour of the Bay would be complete without mentioning Alcatraz, America's most famous prison, and now San Francisco's number one tourist attraction.
Moving away from the Bay, San Francisco only gets better. The city's famous steep hills and trolley cars run back and forth between museums like the Museum of the Legion of Honor and attractions like the San Francisco Zoo, which houses over 1000 animals on 65 acres. The world-famous San Francisco Opera is also a perennial favorite among visitors, as are the city's numerous restaurants. In fact, inhabitants of San Francisco spend more on dining out per person than any city in America.
For a few lucky miners, San Francisco in the 19th century was the gateway to an unforgettable experience. Today's visitors to the Bay Area feel the same way.
Golden Gate Bridge
415-921-5858
What would a visit to San Francisco be without a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge? The bridge connects San Francisco with Marin County and can be experienced by car, bike or foot. The two-mile long suspension bridge is one of the longest in the world. The bridge’s two towers are purposely out of alignment in order to compensate for the curvature of the earth. It is truly a sight to see.
Cable Car Barn & Museum
1201 Mason Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-474-1887
Visitors go to the Cable Car Barn and Museum to learn about one of San Francisco's most enduring icons, the cable car. Displays on the history of San Francisco's cable cars include information on how they work, how they developed and how they are built.
Chinatown
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-982-8839
Shopping for a unique gift? Try Chinatown, located at Grant Avenue and Bush Street. This area includes Chinese restaurants, shops, temples and street vendors. Don’t miss the fireworks on Chinese New Year.
Golden Gate Park
Fulton at 36th Avenue/Lincoln at 41st Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-831-2700
Measuring 1,000 acres, the Golden Gate Park is larger than Central Park and it features several attractions, including the Stybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, the ethereal Japanese Tea Garden, a children's playground, the Asian Art Museum, MH de Young Memorial Museum and the California Academy of Sciences, with its aquarium, Morrison Planetarium and laserium. The park is also a favored spot for many outdoor activities, such as tennis, baseball, archery, golf and more.
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
100 John F. Kennedy Drive
San Francisco, CA 94117
415-666-7001
The Conservatory of Flowers beckons visitors with cameras. Four main rooms house Low and Highland Tropics and Aquatic and Potted plant environments. Be sure to view the Victoria Amazonica water lilies, which can reach six feet in diameter. Their tube-like roots are visible through a glass cutaway.
Fisherman’s Wharf
#2 Al Scoma Way/Pier47
San Francisco, CA 94133
888-WHARF-SF
The Fisherman’s Wharf is an actual working wharf, where vendors sell thousands of tons of fish and shellfish. Family attractions on the wharf include Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum and the San Francisco Maritime Museum.
PIER 39
2 Beach Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
415-705-5500
PIER 39 is San Francisco's version of the old-fashioned boardwalk. The site features more than 100 specialty shops, 10 restaurants and family attractions including Turbo Ride, the Venetian Carousel and the famous California sea lions.
Alcatraz Island
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-561-4900
Located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz is America’s most famous prison. “The Rock,” as it was called, housed some of America's most feared criminals. Alcatraz has been closed for several decades and has become one of the area’s most visited attractions.
Fort Point National Historic Site
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-556-1693
The Fort Point National Historic Site was once a stone fort outfitted with cannons, used to defend the area during the Civil War. The fort now houses a museum.
Mount Tamalpais
801 Panoramic Highway
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-388-2070
At the top of the 2,571-foot peak of Mount Tamalpais is a breathtaking view of San Francisco and the surrounding area. The park features hiking and biking trails, as well as a visitors’ center and picnic area.
Muir Woods National Monument
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415-388-7059
The Muir Woods National Monument features a grove of age-old coastal redwoods. Some reach 252 feet high, 14 feet across and are more than one thousand years old. Stroll the paved trails or hike the unpaved trails and wonder at the size and beauty of these trees, among the tallest in the world.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Jefferson Street at Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-556-1843
The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park features a variety of attractions and activities. Take a guided or self-guided tour of the century-old ships or browse the museum’s displays of boating tools, scrimshaw, whaling guns, photographs and more. Picnic facilities and a recreational area are also located on site.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-357-4000
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art features five floors of gallery space and more than 15,000 pieces of artwork. Guided tours are available.
Union Square
415-869-8661
Walking along the sidewalks at Union Square, you’ll pass street performers as you head to Macy's, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nike Town and Levi's stores. Superstores such as Virgin Megastore and FAO Schwarz line up next to Coach, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada, Gucci and Guess boutiques, to name just a few.
Ghirardelli Square
900 North Point Street Suite 100
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-775-5500
Got a sweet tooth? Ghirardelli Square features not only the famous chocolate, but also shopping and waterfront dining. The Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival takes place in early September.
Bay City Bike, Bicycle Rentals and Tours
2661 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
415-346-2453
Take a tour of San Francisco on a bike! You can do a self-guide tour or accompany one of the expert tour guides. They provide maps, directions, helmets, locks and anything else you need for an exciting bike touring adventure!
City Kayak
Pier 40
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-357-1010
Take a kayak trip to Bay Bridge, downtown skyline, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, and more – all on a kayaking San Francisco kayak trip!
San Francisco Forty-Niners Football
602 Jamestown Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94124
408-562-4949
Tour the stadium or take in an exciting game while you are in town!
San Francisco Giants Baseball
801 3rd Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-972-2000
Enjoy a tour of the ballpark or take in a baseball game before you leave!
Exploratorium
Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-561-0360
The Exploratorium is a fun combination of more than 650 hands-on science, art and human perception exhibits. Young and old alike will enjoy learning about salt volcanoes, fault lines and more. The building in which the Exploratorium is housed dates back to the San Francisco Pan Pacific Exhibition of 1916.
Golden Gate Bridge
415-921-5858
What would a visit to San Francisco be without a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge? The bridge connects San Francisco with Marin County and can be experienced by car, bike or foot. The two-mile long suspension bridge is one of the longest in the world. The bridge’s two towers are purposely out of alignment in order to compensate for the curvature of the earth. It is truly a sight to see.
Aquarium of the Bay
PIER 39
San Francisco, CA 94133
415-623-5300
Aquarium of the Bay is America's first "under the sea" aquarium experience. Visitors walk through the all-new 707,000-gallon aquarium in sea-through tunnels, which allow much closer observation of marine life than conventional aquariums.
Cartoon Art Museum
655 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 04105
415-227-8666
The Cartoon Art Museum features nearly 6,000 cartoon art-related items on display, including comic books, comic strips, computer animation and more.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum
175 Jefferson Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
415-771-6188
Enjoy a large collection of odd and unusual exhibits, interactive displays, video displays, and more. Fun for all ages!
Riptide Arcade at Pier 39
Pier 39, Space M3
San Francisco, CA 94133
415-981-6300
More than 10,000 square feet of the latest in video games, shooting gallery, prize area, virtual reality area, and more!
San Francisco Zoo
One Zoo Road
San Francisco, CA 94132
415-753-7080
Enjoy approximately 1,000 exotic and endangered animals and even visit the African Savanna habitat and see lemurs up-close! They offer a historic carousel ride, steam train, Gorilla Preserve, and much more!
Wells Fargo History Museum
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94163
415-396-2619
The whole family will enjoy the interactive displays and exhibits along with rare artifacts including an original stagecoach, mining tools, gold, maps, photos, and more!
April
Cherry Blossom Festival
415-563-2313
Welcome in Spring with this cultural event offering dance, martial arts, flower arranging, and much more! Fun for the whole family!
San Francisco Oyster and Beer Festival
415-989-6222
The San Francisco Oyster and Beer Festival pairs fresh oysters with fine beers and throws in a mix of live Celtic/Folk music. The family friendly event is the biggest Celtic festival in the Bay Area.
June
Haight Street Fair
415-661-8035
The Haight Street Fair features live music, organic treats and other food vendors. An interesting mix of people turn out for this eclectic street party.
August
Golden Gate Renaissance Faire
417-334-1773
The Golden Gate Renaissance Faire recreates an Old English village and the stories of its people. The faire features a variety of live theater performances, jousting, singing, dancing, storytelling, comedy acts, sword fighting and more.
September
Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival
415-775-5500
The Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival attracts chocolate lovers from all around. A chocolate sculpting contest and other events take place. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop, located next door, offers special festival sales.
San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival
Treasure Island, 415-262-0155
Enjoy dragon boat racing, food, entertainment, children’s activities, and more!
October
Fleet Week
415-705-5500
Fleet Week pays tribute to the men and women of the US Navy and Marine corps. A variety of family friendly activities are featured.
November/December
Celebration of Craftswomen
415-731-5539
The Celebration of Craftswomen features works by more than 200 female artists. Jewelry, toys, fine art pieces, clothing and more are available to purchase. The event also features exhibits such as tarot reading and massage therapy.
Population:
776,800+
Time Zone:
Pacific
Climate:
San Francisco’s marine climate means temperatures rarely rise above 70 degrees or fall below 40 degrees. Morning and evening fog is common during the summer months, giving the area a mystic sense. A light jacket is suggested, and possibly even something a bit heavier for cool evenings. Summers are usually dry, but winters bring cooler temperatures and rainfall. A lined rain jacket is a practical item to pack if you’re visiting during November through March.
Airport:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
South Mcdonnell Road and South Link Road
San Francisco, CA 94128
650-821-5000
Rail:
Amtrak
800-USA-RAIL
Bus:
Greyhound
800-231-2222
Getting Around San Francisco:
Golden Gate Transit
City Bus
415-451-4632
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
Light Rail
510-465-2278
San Francisco Municipal Railway
Cable Cars
415-673-MUNI
The citywide public transportation agency is the San Francisco Municipal Railway, better known as Muni. It operates the world-famous cable cars, buses, trolley buses, a metro system, and historic streetcars trams.
Taxis:
Luxor Cab Inc.
415-282-4141
Yellow Cab Cooperative, Inc.
415-626-2345
Visitor Information:
Visitor Information Center
900 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-391-2000
Dining:
Cosmopolitan Restaurant Bar & Piano Lounge
121 Spear Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-543-4001
The Cosmopolitan Restaurant, Bar and Piano Lounge serves exquisite food in an elegant atmosphere. Try the peppercorn seared rare Yellowfin tuna or the Moroccan spice roasted salmon. Dinner isn’t complete without dessert; how about the Warm baked to order banana-pecan galette with Bourbon gelato?
Tommy Toy’s Cuisine Chinoise
655 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
415-397-4888
When a craving for Chinese food hits, try Tommy Toy’s for Chinese cuisine with a touch of French influence. Appetizers include foie gras and dinner choices include seafood bisque and Peking duck.
Calzone’s Pizza Cucina
430 Columbus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94133
415-397-3600
Calzone’s is a fun place to go for pizzas, pasta and a little pizzazz. Sophisticated menu choices include pizza with smoked salmon, scallions, capers and jack cheese or the Pork scaloppine topped with eggplant and fontina cheese with sautéed spinach. And you can’t miss the giant photo of Dean Martin in the bar area; a sure sign of a cool place.
Tad’s Steak House
120 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-982-1718
When the meat-eater in your group is ready for a good ol’ steak, head to Tad’s Steak House. The breakfast menu has something for everyone and the lunch and dinner menus are straightforward; filled with steaks, sandwiches and desserts. The portions are plentiful and the atmosphere is simple and casual.
Nightlife:
Jazz at Pearl’s
256 Columbus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94133
415-291-8255
Noted as the “Best Jazz Club” in San Francisco and offers top jazz acts and lush cocktails. Two shows nightly. Call for tickets/pricing.
BATS Improv
B350 Fort Mason Center
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-474-6776
Enjoy improvised comedy, music, and drama performances every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Call ahead for schedule/shows.