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Leaving your heart in San Francisco isn’t a hard thing to do, especially at any of the following top ten venues, each offering a unique slice of the city’s charm and allure. From iconic landmarks that whisper tales of history and romance to hidden gems pulsing with vibrant energy, these destinations are more than just places to visit; they are experiences waiting to be embraced.
Things To Do In San Francisco
Whether you’re captivated by breathtaking views that stretch across the bay, the tantalising aromas wafting from world-class cuisine, or the electric atmosphere of live entertainment, these ten spots are guaranteed to leave an indelible mark, making a piece of San Francisco forever reside within your memories.
Pier 39 And Fisherman’s Wharf
The City by the Bay is a shopaholic’s paradise. It’s also the second most crowded city in the country (after Manhattan), a circumstance that has always made finding an inexpensive place to park your car somewhat problematic. Nonetheless, it has never stopped intrepid tourists from seeking out bargains, rain or shine.
If you’re travelling with family, my first recommendation is Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf. They are within easy walking distance of each other and are renowned for their souvenir shops, seafood cafes and restaurants, street performers and art galleries. The most popular attraction at Pier 39, of course, is the colony of noisy sea lions that swam into the harbor one day many years ago and simply decided never to leave.
Union Square And Ghirardelli Square
If upscale shopping at a less frenetic pace is more to your taste, travel on over to Union Square in the Financial District. Christmas is an especially good time to window-shop, as Macy’s, Gump’s, Nordstrom and Nieman Marcus knock themselves out with decorations. Is chocolate calling your name? Heed its siren at Ghirardelli Square where you’ll not only find all manner of chocolate decadence to satisfy your sweet tooth but a variety of boutiques and galleries to tantalize the rest of your senses.
Dining And Night Life, San Francisco Style
San Franciscans eat out more than anyone else in the United States. Who can blame them? The rich palette of ethnic eateries throughout the city could turn anyone into a 24/7 gourmet. Try the Bankers’ Club at the top of the Bank of America building for a spectacular Sunday brunch and panoramic view. Experience an old San Francisco tradition at Sam’s in the Financial District (curtained booths are available for private tete-a-tetes).
You don’t have to be Irish to love the city’s pubs on Geary Boulevard, nor do you have to travel very far to find Chinese, Thai, Russian, Italian, Japanese or Mexican fare that will make you forget whatever diet you planned to start. Bars and nightclubs that cater to all persuasions abound throughout the city, as well as comedy clubs where future comedians shed their inhibitions and strip joints where performers shed everything else. Topless dancing originated here, by the way, as did the invention of the martini.
On Stage
From avant garde performance art in grungy basements to Broadway blockbusters, San Francisco is a city that loves the performing arts. Insider tip: If you’re someone who thrives on spontaneity, same-day tickets are often available at the major theaters on Golden Gate Avenue and Market Street. Oh, and you’ll find that the sidewalk scalpers do a pretty healthy business, too. Harder to come by without a reservation are seats at the Club Fugazi where the wacky and irreverent cabaret review Beach Blanket Babylon has been playing to packed houses for over a quarter of a century. The costumes alone and especially the hats are a sight to behold.
Sports
Depending on the season, baseball and football fans can catch a game at SBC Park (the San Francisco Giants) and Candlestick Park (the 49ers). Readers may recall that the World Series was being played in San Francisco when the 1989 earthquake struck. As devastating as the aftermath was, city officials reported that the loss of life would have been much higher had the commuters who would normally have been on the Bay Bridge during rush hour not gone home a few hours early that day to catch the big game on television.
Spend The Day at Alcatraz
Half a mile out on San Francisco Bay but in full sight of the city is the former home of some of this country’s most dangerous felons. Although Alcatraz aka The Rock was officially closed as a federal penitentiary in 1963, the memories of its infamous residents are kept alive by narrated tours and onsite photography and artifact exhibits. Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly and Robert Franklin Stroud (the Birdman of Alcatraz) are just a few of the names whose exploits you’ll hear about.
In addition, you’ll learn about the island’s early use as a lighthouse and military fort, as well as its short-term, hostile takeover in 1969 by a tribe of Native Americans who claimed the island as their own. Much of The Rock’s ongoing popularity with tourists, of course, is owing to Hollywood and the number of films which feature the prison as a cornerstone plot.
Explore Chinatown
Is this the way James Bond feels whenever he sets foot in the mysterious Far East? As soon as you pass through the giant pagoda gates flanked by Chinese dragons, you’ll feel as if you’ve entered another world. The cacophony of foreign tongues, the bright colors of merchandise in storefront windows and the overpowering aroma of Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine will leave you wondering where exactly to start first.
Within a fairly compressed space, visitors can find Asian art and jewelry shops, open air markets selling vegetables, fruits and seafood, apothecaries that specialize in herbal healing, and yes, even hole in the wall establishments with freshly plucked chickens hanging in the window.
A Day In The Park
If you’re looking to get away from the noise of the city, try Golden Gate Park and its famous Japanese Tea Garden. The park is closed to cars on Sunday, making it a leisurely place to jog, read, picnic, row a boat, or just stroll around and enjoy the scenery.
Coit Tower and North Beach
Though the strip clubs have given this district a somewhat salacious reputation, it’s also where you’ll find Telegraph Hill, the platform for one of San Francisco’s famous skyline landmarks. Coit Tower was erected as a dedication to the firefighters who fearlessly came to the city’s rescue during the earthquake of 1906.
This 210 foot monument was the gift of philanthropist Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a woman who probably chased more fires in her day than today’s lawyers chase ambulances and was made an honorary member of the Knickerbocker Engine Company. The top of the monument, you’ll notice, resembles a fire nozzle. North Beach also serves up some of the best Italian food in the city. Just roll down the windows; as soon as you start smelling garlic, find a place to park. You’re there.
Take a Cable Car
No trip to San Francisco is complete without riding at least once on one of its famous cable cars. Andrew Hallidie’s trolley system has been a part of the city’s hilly landscape since 1873. The ease with which the cars could go up and down the steep inclines was also a contributing factor to San Francisco’s housing industry; once people realized they didn’t have to exert themselves by hiking or jeopardize their horses and carriages, they started building Victorian homes with gusto.
Up until the 1906 earthquake, some 600 trolleys constituted San Francisco’s public transit system, covering a total of 52 miles. Although cars, busses and trains subsequently lessened the city’s reliance on Hallidie’s invention, San Francisco is a city steeped in nostalgia. The refurbished cars with their clanging bells operate daily from 6:30 a.m. until midnight and will make you feel like a native.
Image Credit: Depositphotos
