San Francisco is a city of contrasts. Its hills can be bathed in morning mist and sun at the same time. The skyscrapers spell sophistication, while the natural beauty of the surrounding waters and sculpted shoreline hint at a time before the first ship sailed into San Francisco Bay. Delight your palate, your senses, and your curiosity as you explore all that this city by the bay has to offer.
In many ways, Fisherman’s Wharf is the heart of San Francisco. Stroll along the docks that house fishing boats that are passed down from one generation to the next. Eat freshly steamed Dungeness crab and spicy sourdough bread as you make your way to the cable car loop or to Pier 39, home to a rowdy pack of sea lions that have taken over a set of boat docks and never left. Visit the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 and observe life below the waterline.
Union Square got its name from pro-union rallies held just before the Civil War began. Today it is located in the commercial center of the city. That little open space is surrounded by restaurants, art galleries, and fancy hotels. The big draw is shopping. Feast your eyes on dripping diamonds at Tiffany’s, find some exclusive runners at Niketown, or a dress to die for at Nieman-Marcus.
There was a time when a trip to Alcatraz Island wasn’t so great. It meant that you were destined to spend a considerable amount of time in the cell in the same prison that housed Al Capone. Today, visits to the island, known locally as “The Rock,” are voluntary. Now, under the protection of the National Park Service, tour boats leave Fisherman’s Wharf almost daily, allowing the curious to walk the courtyards, sit in a cell, and see the city from an entirely different perspective.
The most prominent museums in the city are located in Golden Gate Park, specifically the recently renovated California Academy of Sciences. The Morrison Planetarium, aquarium, and natural history museums now share a new space, complete with a lounge area and a green roof. In the center, the Musee Mecanique houses almost 160 vintage arcade machines. As for galleries, try the Catharine Clark Gallery on Fulton Street, which favors California artists, or the Images of the North Gallery on Union Street, which features art from Canada, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest.
In the Castro neighborhood, the 60s are going strong. It is not uncommon to find people dressed in daring outfits, sandals and flowers as hair ornaments. This is the liberal part of the city, home to San Francisco’s gay community. Dine at trendy hole-in-the-wall eateries like veggie Ike’s, which serves up sandwiches with a signature dirty sauce. Or upgrade to Incanto and enjoy regional Italian cuisine. Come with an open mind, walk the streets and find a psychedelic feast for the mind.
While it is possible to book a tour to Napa Valley to sample some of California’s best wine, there is a delicious alternative. The Napa Valley Winery Exchange, located in downtown San Francisco, offers wines not only from that famous place, but also from other California wine regions. Come and try some and then choose your favourite. If you have a hard time deciding, don’t worry, they send the wine to your house.
Japan Center is in the heart of Japantown. The Peace Pagoda, a delicately circular structure 100 feet tall, makes it easy to find. This is the place to shop for silk-textured pearls, colorful kimonos, or tiny bonsai. Dine on fresh sushi or delicate almond cookies, or take part in a traditional tea ceremony. In the summer, weekends bring impromptu performances of Japanese music and dance.
To get the most out of your San Francisco experience, spend the night at a hotel near the bay where you can wake up in the morning and almost taste the salty air. Find a sourdough bakery by smell alone, and then enjoy warm, crusty bread as you take it out of the oven. Walk down Lombard Street, known as the crookedest street in the world. Lastly, don’t leave this magical place until you’ve taken a ride on an old-fashioned cable car.