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50
Best Places for Sightseeing in San Francisco
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1)
Alcatraz
(Pier
41, San Francisco, CA 94133)
Alcatraz
Island, located in the middle of San Francisco bay, is a must-see
attraction for any visitor to the area. One of the most infamous
prisons... Attraction
type: Historic site; National park; Old jail; Island; Nature reserve;
Lighthouse; Natural history museum (Lincoln
Boulevard, near Doyle Drive and Fort Point, San Francisco, CA 94129) Stretching
4,200 feet and towering as high as a 65-story building, this well-known
bridge is the gateway to San Francisco. 3)
Chinatown
(Grant
Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108) This
electric neighborhood of 100,000 people is not to be missed, and it's not
hard to find: listen for the clack of mahjongg tiles and nose out the
salty spicy squid. (Jefferson
Street, Between Hyde and Powell Streets, San Francisco, CA 94133) Yes,
it’s tacky, touristy and yucky, if you don’t know where to go.
But it’s where visitors must go, so here are some fun and
unique ways to enjoy. (Haight
Street between Masonic and Stanyan, San Francisco, CA 94117) Center
of the long-gone hippie culture of the 1960s, this trendy neighborhood is
now a whole new scene with upscale boutiques, Internet cafes and hip
restaurants. 6)
North
Beach (Broadway
at Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94111) Most
of this neighborhood's former beatnik charm is retained while adding fine
cuisine to its claim to fame. 7)
Coit
Tower (1
Telegraph Hill Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94133) Monument
built in honor of the city's volunteer firemen, with an observation deck
that provides a great view of San Francisco. 8)
Union
Square (Bordered
by Powell, Stockton, Post and Geary Streets, San Francisco, CA 94123) A
shopper's paradise, this bustling square near the theater district has
everything from upscale department stores and boutiques to discount
houses. After a $25-million facelift in 2002, the cosmopolitan hub boasts
a huge amphitheater, granite pedestals on which street entertainers
perform and a tree and flower-lined environment in which to enjoy an
espresso or an elegant meal. (Embarcadero
Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94111) Major
street in the port area of San Francisco that has become a bustling area
of shops, businesses and sightseeing attractions. 10)
Pier
39 (Beach
Street & The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133) This
third most visited attraction in the U.S. is a hive of activity with
rides, entertainment, restaurants, shops and lively street entertainers.
You can easily hop a ferry across the bay to Alcatraz or Tiburon, but
don't miss the celebrated sea lion colony that inhabits the nearby
abandoned docks. (Pier
41, San Francisco, CA 94109) The
largest island in San Francisco Bay features magnificent views of Marin
County and San Francisco, while offering a wide variety of recreation for
outdoor enthusiasts. 12)
Lombard
Street (Lombard
Street between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, San Francisco, CA 94109) Known
as the "crookedest" street in the world, the steep hills and
sharp curves of this one-way road pass by grand Victorian mansions and
attract millions of tourists each year. California's
famous earthquake zone happens to be home to some of the state's most
interesting hiking trails. 14)
Nob
Hill One
of the most upscale areas of San Francisco, this is the site of two
landmarks: The Fairmont Hotel and The Mark Hopkins. 15)
Grace
Cathedral (1100
California Street, Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA 94108) The
largest Gothic structure in the West, the church is famous for its gilded
bronze doors created by Lorenzo Ghiberti for the Baptistry in Florence. 16)
San
Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (
At the foot of Polk Street, Near Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA
94123) Visitors
can take a workshop on boatbuilding, board a vessel docked at the Hyde
Street Pier or tour the fine collections of maritime lore. (900
North Point Street, At Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109) A
group of renovated factory buildings filled with shops, restaurants and
galleries. 18)
The
Castro (Castro
and Market Sts. is the heart of the Castro, San Francisco, CA 94114) San
Francisco's famous gay and lesbian neighborhood is filled with interesting
cafes, bars and shops worth exploring. The Castro Theatre draws movie
buffs year-round with film festivals and movies of every genre. 19)
SoMa
(South of Market Street) (Bounded
by Market, First and Townsend Sts., San Francisco, CA 94103) SoMa
- "South of Market Street" - is a center of artistic activity
along the lines of New York City's Soho district. (600
Montgomery Street at Washington Street, Financial District, San Francisco,
CA 94111) Located
in downtown San Francisco, this building, shaped like a pyramid, is a
well-known symbol of the city skyline. 21)
Beach
Chalet (1000
Great Highway, at Ocean Beach, Between Lincoln and Fulton, San Francisco,
CA) This
restored roadhouse landmark now houses the Golden Gate Park Visitor
Center. 22)
Japantown
(Post
and Buchanan Streets, San Francisco, CA) A
small neighborhood with Japanese restaurants, shops and other attractions. 23)
Pacific
Heights (2356
Pine Street (at Fillmore), San Francisco, CA 94115) Attractive
neighborhood where you will find multi-colored Victorian homes. This
Pacific Heights street is now known for its trendy shops and eateries 24)
Telegraph
Hill (Lombard
Street at Kearny Street, North Beach, San Francisco, CA) A
179-foot tower from which you can see the entire San Francisco Bay. 25)
Twin
Peaks
26)
The
Mission (Mission
St. between 16th and Army Sts., San Francisco, CA) This
vibrant neighborhood represents a diverse mix of Central American and
Mexican cultures. 27)
Union
Street (Union
Street Association: 1686 Union St., Cow Hollow, San Francisco, CA 94123) This
recently gentrified Victorian neighborhood is also the nighttime hotspot
for the college and professional crowds. 28)
Russian
Hill (Bounded
by Broadway, Polk and Lombard Sts., San Francisco, CA) Visitor-friendly
neighborhood which got its name when prospectors found 7
Cyrillic-inscribed gravestones at the top of the hill. 29)
San
Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (201
Third Street, Ste. 900, lower level, Powell and Market Sts., Union Sq.,
San Francisco, CA) Contact
for tourist information in San Francisco. 30)
Jackson
Square (Jackson Street between Battery and Kearny, San Francisco, CA
94111) Antique
and art lovers will enjoy browsing this area's many shops and galleries. 31)
Japan
Center (Bordered
by Geary Boulevard and Fillmore, Post, and Laguna Streets, San Francisco,
CA) Japantown
was once a flourishing center for the Japanese-Americans of San Francisco
prior to World War II. One of the oldest Go houses in the country... 32)
Ghirardelli
Chocolate Manufactory & Caffe
(900
North Point St, Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, CA 94109) Manufacturers
and sellers of one of the most famous chocolates in the world. 33)
Vermont
Street (Between
20th Street and 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA) Locals
lay claim to Vermont Street as the "crookedest" in town, despite
Lombard Street's legendary claim on the title. 34)
Painted
Ladies (Alamo
Square, Steiner and Hayes Sts., San Francisco, CA) A
famous stretch of colorful Victorian-style house. (1000
California Street, San Francisco, CA) This
historic and exclusive club built in 1886 offers membership to
"magnates" only. 36)
Dolores
Park (18th
and Dolores Streets, San Francisco, CA 94110) Dolores
Park is where area residents go for the outdoor activities they expect,
whether concerts or plays. Regardless, it makes for a lovely stroll. (Between
Lyon and Cherry, Presidio Heights, San Francisco, CA) Quaint,
undiscovered shopping district with antique stores and cafes. 38)
Marina
District Trendy
neighborhood in San Francisco with plenty of cool cafes, retail stores and
restaurant choices to explore. 39)
Market
Street Considered
to be the Champs Elysees of the city, this grand street is filled with
shops, hotels, and, along the way, remarkable architecture. (Above
Columbus, North Beach, San Francisco, CA) This
area of North Beach contains several chic clothing stores as well as
worthwhile cafes and restaurants. 41)
Alamo
Square (Fulton
St. at Steiner St., Western Addition, San Francisco, CA) Known
around the world for its Victorian rowhouses, this spectacular hilltop
park is an ideal spot for picture taking. 42)
Aquatic
Park (Northern
end of Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94123) This
waterfront area, once part of Fort Mason, is now a complex for museums and
artists. 43)
Hyde
Street Pier Historic Waterfront (Foot
of Hyde Street at Jefferson Street, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA
94123) Take
a tour of the tall ships at this antiquated pier. (700
block of Steiner Street, San Francisco, CA) The
"Painted Ladies" - find this row of colorful Queen Anne
Victorians on the 700 block of Steiner Street. (Embarcadero
at Battery, Financial District, San Francisco, CA) With
more than 125 stores on three levels, plus seasonal concerts, festivals or
art displays for the enervated shopper. Restored
street cars run on tracks up and down the Market Street Railway. 47)
South
Park With
restaurants and play equipment for children, this is a great place for
lunching and relaxing with the family. 48)
Little
Italy Section
of the North Beach neighborhood with plenty of Italian restaurants and
businesses. 49)
Pier
7 (Embarcadero at Broadway, Financial District, San Francisco,
CA) Take
in a view of the Bay Bridge while strolling on this scenic pier. 50)
Sutro
Tower (Mount
Sutro, San Francisco, CA) Towering
at 977 feet, this self-supporting steel structure transmits television and
radio broadcasts to the general public. |