Sights in San Francisco
Ride a Cable Car
Visit the official San Francisco cable car website to learn more about the interesting history and find route maps etc.
Cable cars operate everyday from 6:30 am until 12:30 am. The fare is $3. You may purchase your ticket from the conductor on board (exact change required).
Walk Across the Golden Gate Bridge
A trip to San Francisco would not be complete without checking out the city's most famous landmark. The best ways to experience the bridge are by walking or biking across the 1.7 mile bridge. Information regarding parking, directions, and other logistics can be found at
this website.
Other nice vantage points from which the bridge can be viewed are the Marin headlands (just North of the bridge) and Fort Point (under the bridge on the San Francisco side).
Interesting facts about the history, construction, and maintenance of the bridge can be found at this website.
Explore Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is one of the largest urban national parks in the world. It has a plethora of nooks to explore including the Japanese Tea Garden, the buffalo pastures, Stow Lake, and Conservatory of Flowers just to name a few. In addition, there are paved roads closed to traffic to allow you to bike and rollerblade with many shops specializing in rentals near the park. You can find more information on all that the park has to offer at www.parks.sfgov.org and
www.sfgate.com.
Visit Alcatraz Island
The Rock is San Francisco's most infamous landmark and one of the most interesting to visit. It was home to Al Capone, "The Birdman", and many other notorious criminals. If you decide to visit Alcatraz, we recommend the audio tour as it enriches the experience. We encourage you to book tickets in advance as they often sell out. You can book tickets at this website. Visit this website for more information about Alcatraz Island.
Explore Chinatown
Located very close to Union Square, Chinatown is home to the largest Chinese community outside of China. This area is filled with shops, restaurants, produce markets, herbalists, and temples. More information can be found at www.sanfranciscochinatown.com.
North Beach
San Francisco's Little Italy and the historic center of the city is home to many wonderful restaurants and nightlife. For more information, visit www.sfnorthbeach.org.
Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf
Pier 39 is home to many shops, a carousel, the Aquarium by the Bay, as well as the famous sea lions, who made their home on the K-Dock at Pier 39. Nearby Fisherman's Wharf continues to be a working fishing pier, bringing in thousands of tons of fresh fish and crabs annually. There are many restaurants and shops in the area. More information on both Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf can be found at
www.fishermanswharf.org.
Shopping in Union Square
As San Francisco's premier shopping district, Union Square is home
to most major department stores as well as top fashion houses. The cafe at the center of the square is the perfect place for an afternoon cappuccino and pastry. The Cheesecake Factory atop Macy's affords an excellent view of the square.
Nearby San Francisco Shopping Center is home to Nordstrom and many other popular stores such as BCBG, Ann Taylor, and Max Studio.
Rent Bikes
San Francisco is a bike-friendly city and it is a great way to see the city and get some exercise (don't underestimate the steep hills). In addition, there are great trails both North and South of the city for hiking or biking.
Biking is also a great way to see the Golden Gate Bridge. If you are up to it, try this challenging 24 mile ride across the bridge and into the Marin Headlands for some great views.
Here are links to two bike rental companies (but there are many more if you search the internet): www.blazingsaddles.com and www.baycitybike.com.
