San Francisco is one of my favourite cities and is a fabulous place to visit. The city itself is wonderful, it has a great atmosphere, there is loads to see and do and it is a very easy place in which to be a tourist. It is very pedestrian friendly, although the hills do give you something of a workout as you walk around. Personally I am very thankful for this as it allows me to work off some of the additional calories I consume in the fantastic array of cafes and restaurants. There are lots of alfresco eating and drinking opportunities and plenty of places to pick up a picnic.
San Francisco is also a great place from which to start a trip to see some other parts of the US.
Yosemite National Park is a short drive to the east. To the south is Big Sur, Monterey and Carmel. To the north is the Napa Valley and the beautiful wine region. Further afield to the north is the Pacific Northwest with it’s beautiful coastline and giant redwood trees.
We have started or finished a number of excellent road trips in San Francisco. One of my favourites was a drive from Seattle, stopping off at the Olympic National Park, through the Cascades, Mount Rainier, Mount St Helens, Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic Park, Lake Tahoe and ending in San Francisco. It was wonderful!
The city has tons of great things to see and do. Here is our pick of the best of them, San Francisco Top 10 Attractions.
Don’t miss…
1. Go and join the other tourists for a good long walk around Fisherman’s Wharf. There is so much to see and do here including all manner of shops, restaurants, street performers. Not to mention my personal favourite, the sea lions and the view of the Bay.
2. The Golden Gate Bridge is simply beautiful. Walk out a little way and enjoy fantastic views of San Francisco Bay and the forbidding Alcatraz Island.
3. A trip to Alcatraz. The tour of this famous prison is excellent, and you get a boat trip out into the Bay. Just don’t bother trying to escape, they will happily take you back on the boat.
4. If you are looking for atmosphere it is hard to beat the hustle and bustle of Chinatown. Go for a wander and enjoy the sights and sounds.
5. Only in San Francisco can you ride a National Historic Landmark. Go and check out the Cable Cars being pulled up and down the steep streets.
6. The view from Coit Tower. This white art deco tower sits on top of Telegraph Hill and there are great views of the city and the waterfront from the top.
7. If you like to shop then look no further than Union Square. All of America’s famous department stores have shops either on the square or at the nearby Westfield Mall. Better start saving now.
8. Home to the Transamerica Pyramid, one of San Francisco’s most recognisable buildings, it is well worth walking the Financial District. Especially as you can end your walk in the market housed in the old ferry building. You may need to jog the Financial District to burn off the calories in advance.
9. Nob Hill has some lovely historic architecture including the Pacific Union Club building and the Fairmont Hotel. Check out the view from the restaurant and bar at the top of the Intercontinental Hotel, the Top of the Mark.
10. Even if you are not that bothered about art the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is well worth a visit if only to walk on the catwalk suspended high above the conical atrium. If you do like art then there is masses of interesting sculpture and work by some local artists as well as the more famous.
To get you in the mood for your trip……
Listen; “San Francisco (Be Sure to wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)” by Scott McKenzie
Read; “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett
Watch; Bullitt
