During your visit to San Francisco, be sure to visit the numerous attractions in this city. Check out the Aquarium of the Bay and the California Academy of Sciences. Take part in a Golden Gate Sailing Tour to visit the Golden Gate Bridge, or visit Golden Gate Park for a relaxing afternoon.
Rudyard Kipling once said, “San Francisco has one drawback. ‘Tis hard to leave.†Indeed, Kipling’s sentiment could very well be that of the millions who choose to visit the city each year – each one perhaps leaving a part of their heart behind when they depart. San Francisco captures with its beauty, its beat, and originality. No other city in the world is quite like it, this City by the Bay.
Measuring 7 x 7 miles square, San Francisco is a compact-sized cosmopolitan gem. A short walk can bridge two or more of the city’s terrific attractions, which include 62 museums, 150 theaters, and 3,500+ restaurants. San Francisco offers something interesting every step of the way.
Walking is definitely the best way to travel when in town. To truly experience San Francisco and “see†as the locals do, one must get out and about. Fortunately, there are a number of walking tours available year-round. From self-guided audio tours to the free tours of City Guides to the thematic tours of companies like Foodie Adventures and Haunted Haight, the city and its many grand qualities await discovery à pied.
Of course, the city’s cable cars should also be experienced – at least once. The California Street line takes passengers through the Financial District, Chinatown, over Nob Hill, and stops at Van Ness Avenue. The Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines are also fine for sightseeing and experiencing a historic part of San Francisco. The steep hills of the city continue to define it geographically.
Other points of interest not to be missed include the city’s most famous icon – the Golden Gate Bridge; Lombard Street, which cuts through Russian Hill and Telegraph Hill; the urban oasis that is Golden Gate Park; the Victorian homes of Postcard Row; and the evocative island prison of Alcatraz.
Reachable by ferryboat, Alcatraz is a major attraction of Fisherman’s Wharf – a popular tourist spot that’s also home to Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, Cannery Row, Musée Mécanique, and various souvenir shops and oddities, like the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum.
Fisherman's Wharf is also an example of how diverse San Francisco’s neighborhoods are and how each contributes uniquely in shaping the city. Together, they make for a singular experience, one that takes visitors through various cultures, food choices, and sights. From North Beach to Chinatown to South of Market to Nob Hill to the Castro to the Mission – no two are alike.
And that in a nutshell is San Francisco. It can’t really be defined. It has to be experienced for one’s self, so that names like “North Beach†and “Union Square,†“Market Streetâ€, “the Curran,†and “the Academy†take on a meaning beyond neighborhood, shopping center, theater, or museum.
Yearly, Condé Nast Traveller holds a readers’ survey asking travelers to identify the “best†in a number of categories. In 2010, San Francisco was chosen once again as the #1 city to visit in the United States – for the 18th consecutive year. No other city has been so recognized for so long.
Such an honor speaks to the enduring charm of San Francisco. It is truly a destination, one that never stops adding to its vivid canvas. As Oscar Wilde once observed, “It’s an odd thing, but anyone who disappears is said to be seen in San Francisco. It must be a delightful city and possess all the attractions of the next world.â€
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