The City with the Golden Gate Bridge

The city of San Francisco is among the most beautiful cities in the US and is considered to be the jewel of Northern California.

The Golden Gate Bridge stretches across San Francisco Bay. The bridge connects the city with Marin Country and other districts farther north. Taking four years to build, it opened in 1937 and at that time was considered to be the longest suspension bridge in the world. US Hwy 101 or SR 1 is the roadway to take if you are driving across the bridge. There are walkways on either side open to pedestrians and cyclists during daylight hours. The walk begins at the start of the bridge, accessible from the Presidio shuttle, and ends with a viewpoint in Marin County. You can enjoy cycling across the bridge to the nearby waterfront town of Sausalito.

The Nob Hill area of San Francisco is the best place to get lovely views of the bridge.

In the city, looking up Telegraph Hill, you’ll see a cylindrical tower that slightly resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy but does not lean. The Coit Tower was completed in 1933 and stands 210 feet high. It offers the best panoramic views of San Francisco. There are fantastic murals inside the tower that were painted in the early 1930s showing daily life during the Depression. The tower gets its name from its benefactor, Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who was a somewhat eccentric and wealthy lady.

Alcatraz Island sits in San Francisco Bay and is home to the historic and notorious Alcatraz Penitentiary, one of the most infamous prisons in the US. It was in operation for thirty years and closed down in 1963. The prison became a tourist attraction in 1973. At one time, it held the most well-known criminals in the US, among them were Al Capone and the “Birdman,” who later became the subject of the fictional movie “The Birdman of Alcatraz.” A ferry will take you to the island, where you can get a historical look at prison life and also hear some narration by former inmates and guards. The island itself is a prominent area for nesting birds.

One of the most popular tourist attractions is Fisherman’s Wharf. The area is known for its shops, restaurants, and waterfront views. This is the place to go strolling and take in the life of the city. It has some of the main attractions like Madam Tussauds Wax Museum, Musee Mecanique, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and Ghirardelli Square.

From Pier 39, you can get great views back toward the city, and the docks here are an excellent place to see sea lions. The pier is also home to over 50 stores and unique places to eat.

Here you’ll also find San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. It includes the USS Pampanito, a WW II submarine and national historic landmark.

Ghirardelli Square at Fisherman’s Wharf is located in a restored factory area, surrounded by shops, galleries, and restaurants making their home in renovated industrial buildings. Ghirardelli’s old red-brick chocolate factory is now a center for shoppers, art lovers, and people looking for entertainment or a great meal. Those who love chocolate can sample some treats. Its belfry, built in 1916, is modeled after the Chateau of Blois in France. Later additions include rose gardens with fountains and terraces offering great views.

On the hilly streets of San Francisco, cable cars were introduced in 1873. Since 1964 these cable cars became the only public transportation system to be declared a historic monument. The most scenic routes are the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde. They are also a great way to get to the major tourist attractions in the city.

Golden Gate Park is a fantastic green space right in the heart of San Francisco and is home to gardens and museums. The park has many walking trails and cycling paths, over 5000 different kinds of plants and many different species of trees, several lakes, bridle paths, and a buffalo paddock. Bike rental is available. If you prefer, you can take the 2.5-hour Segway Tour with a local guide to see all the major highlights. Museums within the park include de Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences Museum with Steinhart Aquarium. Of interest are also the Japanese Tea Garden and the San Francisco Botanical Garden.

Chinatown in San Francisco is both the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest of its kind in North America. After being destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, it was rebuilt in Chinese style. The area has temples, theaters, workshops, small businesses, stores, antique and souvenir shops, teahouses, and traditional pharmacies. They have elaborate Chinese New Year celebrations. At Grant Avenue and Bush Street, you’ll find the Chinatown Gateway.

Lincoln Park is a lovely green space with a golf course. It has coastal woodlands and a nice place to go walking. The park is home to The Legion of Honor Museum, and just outside of the museum, visitors can take the path along Lincoln Highway, offering fantastic ocean views and perfect outlooks toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

If you love hiking, take the Land’s End Trail, a winding cliffside trail in rugged terrain also offering views of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Palace of Fine Arts is the last remaining structure from the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The impressive building is situated on a lagoon that gives off a mirror image of it. There are ducks and geese swimming in the water. The palace hosts art exhibitions and performances. The Palace of Fine Arts Theater can seat an audience of 1000.

Twin Peaks are two uninhabited hills over 900 feet high, offering one of the best views over the city and bay. You can drive up to the north peak parking area and see the views. If you prefer hiking, there are trails over the north and south peaks that offer some of the best hiking in San Francisco.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a huge natural area located across the Golden Gate Bridge from downtown San Francisco. It is a 600-square-mile park in Marin County and a designated Biosphere Reserve. It is home to many attractions and a beautiful place to enjoy nature. There are walking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and lovely beach areas. You can sit on benches to relax, looking toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

It is also home to historic Fort Baker, a former US Army Post from the early 20th century.

Oracle Park is the home of the San Francisco Giants and a great place to take in a baseball game. You can also take a 90-minute ballpark tour.

For an escape from the hustle and bustle, you can take a 25-minute ferry ride from Pier 41 to Angel Island State Park. It is the largest natural island in San Francisco Bay. You can enjoy the scenery and go hiking or biking along many trails.

People enjoy hiking to the summit of Mount Caroline Livermore at 788 feet. The island also has five picnic areas, eleven campsites, and several sandy beaches. There is a café that is open all week long and a casual restaurant open on weekends from June to October featuring live music.

Muir Woods National Monument is a 45-minute drive from San Francisco. Here you can see ancient redwood trees, and there are winding paths beneath them. Some of the trees stand 260 feet tall. At the Visitor Center, you’ll find exhibits and displays about this place and the trees.

Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley are two of the best-known and largest grape-growing areas in California. This area makes a great day trip, just about 1.5 hours from San Francisco. Napa is one of the largest Californian towns north of San Francisco. The western boundary is formed by the Napa Mountains and the eastern by the Howell Mountains.

Museums

California Palace of the Legion of Honor is housed in an impressive neo-Classical Beaux-Arts building. It is San Francisco’s most exquisite museum. The Legion of Honor was the gift of socialite, philanthropist, and patron of the arts Alma de Bretteville-Spreckles who loved all things Parisian. Therefore the museum was designed as a replica of the Palais de la Legion d’Honneur in Paris, France. The museum is located in Lincoln Park. It has an impressive collection of European decorative arts, sculpture, paintings, and antiquities from the Mediterranean and Near East.

The de Young Museum is located in Golden Gate Park. It is a fine arts museum and one of the largest public art institutions in San Francisco. There are exhibits covering many time periods and geographical locations. You’ll find art from North America, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Near East. Also represented are British art and folk art from Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific Islands.

Also in Golden Gate Park is the California Academy of Sciences which is a multifaceted museum. It is housed in a state-of-the-art “green” building which has a 2.5-acre Living Roof with native plants and rolling hills. The roof also has solar panels, and the soil acts as natural insulation. The walls are made of glass for natural light. Inside you’ll find an excellent natural history museum, planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, and more.

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art SFMOMA is one of the city’s top museums covering ten floors of exhibition space. It focuses on 20th-century art in all forms and has innovative and interesting exhibits that are constantly changing. The permanent collection has 33,000 pieces of art. The museum is housed in an architecturally modern building, making it light and airy inside to walk about. In the Jean and James Douglas Family Sculpture Garden, you’ll find Café 5 and the Michelin-starred In Situ Restaurant.

The Asian Art Museum opened in 1966, with the basis of the collection coming from art collector Avery Brundage. He offered the city his private collection to bridge the gap between the East and West. The museum building was built, and after his death in 1975, the museum received the rest of his artworks. There is an extensive collection of sculptures, paintings, bronzes, ceramics, jade carvings, and architectural fragments from Japan, Korea, China, India, Iran, and other Asiatic cultures. The works span more than 6,000 years. Plans are afoot for a substantial expansion, with the creation of a new pavilion.

The Exploratorium is one of the city’s top family attractions. It is a popular science museum with exhibits that adults and children enjoy. There are many diverse exhibits with hands-on learning experiences which are designed to educate and entertain, Children give this museum a thumbs up because there are all kinds of experiments and fun things to do.

Walt Disney Family Museum is the museum that honors the world’s most famous man responsible for family fun. The museum has 16 rooms offering a look at the man, his family, and his worldwide business empire. It also showcases animation technology known as the Multiplane Camera, invented by Walt Disney. On display are also priceless sketches of Mickey Mouse.