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Why
Travel to San Francisco?
A favourite city with tourists, SF is cool and courteous with a terrific watery
location and appealing hills clad in Victorian houses.
Like New Orleans, this is a city that is only vaguely American,
with a European climate and ambience and a mixed, relaxed yet dynamic
population to match.
It's a good walking, tho' hilly, city.
Downside:
- The city's compact nature means it is quickly experienced.
- It can experience dense sea fogs which detract from the ambience.
When
to Travel to San Francisco:
Best: Sept-Nov, Spring.
Worst: July/Aug [coastal fog, hot inland].
Length
of stay
not incl. flights:
Minimum worthwhile stay: 2 days. Recommended: 6 days.
Main Attractions:
[best visited on foot and via cable car]
Golden Gate Bridge*** one of the most famous
bridges in the world, two miles across
the San Francisco Bay, it's a free foot trip.
Alcatraz** a ferry trip to Alcatraz Island is a lock down experience.
Fisherman's Wharf** full-on tourists should take the Hyde St cable car to here. See
the seal lions [aka Sea Lebrities], varied colourful buskers [street performers] and an old carousel on Pier 39, check out the Maritime
Museum.
Chinatown** historic and worth
visiting especially during their New Year, but toursity of course.
Yerba
Buena Gardens* in the SoMa [South of Market] district is a relaxing grassy hang
out spot surrounded by arty places such as the San Francisco Museum
of Modern Art and Ansel Adam Center [Photography].
Financial District* for
architectural splendour try the Bank of America Building and its
top floor restaurant for views over the city; also theTransameric
Pyramid, the tallest building of all, and the Ferry Building.
Golden Gate Park** the three mile
long park is an excellent place to bike, ride, skate or stroll;
visit the Japanese Gardens and Stow Lake.
Castro** the lively, colourful gay
centre is great for people watching.
Haight-Ashbury* old hippies might
like to see where Flower Power originated.
Short
Trips:
Marin County: just
across the Golden Gate Bridge there are lots of hiking and biking
opportunities, especially at Mt Tamalpais State Park, with superb
views.
Point Reyes Seashore is scenic and a good whale watching area.
South
Peninsula: travel down the coastal route of Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay for
beaches, on to the Elephant Seals at the Ano Nuevo Reserve or the
nearby Big Basin Redwoods Park and keep going to end up in gorgeous
Santa Cruz.
Festivals
and Parades:
Jan-Feb,
Golden Dragon Parade, Chinatown,
Chinese New Year.
end of June, Gay Pride Week,
ending in a wild parade.
June-Aug, free concerts in Stern Grove
Sept, free opera, blues festival.
Sept, Folsom St Fair, wacky S & M fair.
31 Oct, extravagant Halloween celebrations.
For
some dates see: English
Speaking Festivals
Arts
and Culture:
Museums and Galleries: San
Francisco Museum of Modern Art, SoMa; California Place of the Legion
of Honour, San Francisco National Maritime Museum and Hyde St Historic
Ships Pier.
Classical
Music and Dance:the
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, highly regarded, in the Davies
Symphony Hall; opera and ballet in the War
Memorial Opera House.
Activities:
This is not a beach or swimming city, more a parks and inline skating
or jogging thing, with a lot happening in Golden Gate park.
Cuisine:
Some of the USA's best cuisine
is available here.
Asian, South American, Italian, French and sea food are all prepared
with style and ethnic verve.
Nightlife:
There's no shortage of lively bars,
lounges and clubs throughout the city, but Top of the Mark in the
Mark Hopkins Hotel is a great starting viewpoint, the Red Room is
trendy and Saturday night offers an easy way to get into a variety
of clubs all night via Three Babes and a Bus tour.
And finish yourself off with a hot chocolate brandy at the Tosca
Café.
And some more USA pages:
SW
USA Map | USA
Travel | Best
of USA | Joshua
Tree NP | Death
Valley | San
Francisco Links |
