Due to the large
number of attractions in San Francisco we have split t his section into
two parts - this page and Attractions
Part
2. Please click on the links below for descriptions.
The Bay Area is a large place
and there are many more attractions within a short drive from
The City. Some of these will be covered in later travel articles
such as articles about San Jose, or Oakland. Driving in The City
takes a bit of patience. Often there will be no left hand turn
signal and you will be forced to wait to turn on an orange
light. Usually the orange lights are a bit longer then most and
you have plenty of time to complete the turn. There are many one
way streets in San Francisco. Make sure that you have a map that
clearly shows these one way streets. There is nothing more
frustrating then finding a direct route on a map from one place
to another, and then find out when it is time to execute
that route that you are faced with many
one way streets.
When
Dave has driven in San Francisco he has found that the major streets are always the quickest way
around. However, if you are not in a hurry there are many nice side streets that are well
worth seeing for the luxurious homes, or distinctive architecture. For more
information about driving in San Francisco,
Click Here.
If Dave has visited any of the attractions below he will be sure to mention
his experiences.
Some of these attractions float coupons in local San Francisco travel guides. These guides
are usually free and many can be found at local shops or on street guide racks. Other
discounts may also be given. Some attractions that come to mind for distributing coupons
are the wax museum and Ripley's Believe It Or Not! All attractions are
alphabetized below.
Alcatraz Island is worth the ferry price from mainland San
Francisco to the island. This island was the home to a maximum security
federal penitentiary until the early 1960's. It is now a part of the
Golden Gate Recreational Area. The penitentiary used to house
several notorious characters such as Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelley, and
the Birdman of Alcatraz. The ferries leave from Pier 33 just south of Fisherman's
Wharf (5-10 mins walking distance) starting at 9:30 and 10:15am and then every 1/2 hour after that
until up to 4:15pm. Check out the popular night tour option also. Once
you are on the Rock, check the schedule for return ferries as it differs
from week to week although typically they will return every half hour on
the quarter hour - and they do leave exactly on time, so if you are one
minute late, consider yourself 29 minutes early! It is strongly suggested that you make reservations
using the website below. In the summer the tickets sell out extremely
fast and even during the off-season they sometimes sell out, especially
on good weather weekends.
The ferry ride is a wonderful way to see San Francisco
from a distance and experience the sights, smells and sounds that is the
San Francisco Bay. Make sure that you bring your camera for there are
great photo opportunities of the city as you pull away from the
mainland. Bring a jacket as this trip can be a bit windy. Comfortable
walking shoes are always nice when you will be taking a walking tour.
For
up-to-date schedules, pricing & buying e-tickets (which you can
print) visit:
www.alcatrazcruises.com
Tickets can be purchased on the same day as you plan to take the ferry. This will work
fine on some days during the off season, however in the heart of the tourist season (June through August) the
lines may be quite long and you may face delays or most likely won't even
get a ticket. I recommend purchasing your tickets ahead
of time. You can purchase your tickets up to a month ahead of time, but 2 weeks is usually
enough time to guarantee a space on a ferry.
Once you reach the island we highly recommend you take their award
winning self guiding tour which guides you through the main jail.
Typically start you tour with a Ranger Introduction as soon as you step
off the ferry - walk up the path to path on your left and watch the 15
minute intro video - then walk all the way up the hill to the jail. Pick
up headphones and a unit which hangs around your neck - this will be
your tour guide for your time in the Prison. This tour is very
informative with former prisoners and guards narrating.
Bringing a picnic lunch is smart as there is no food service on the actual
island - snacks are available on the ferry. However be aware that you cannot take food away from the main dock area
- bottled water is ok to carry with you throughout your self-guided tour
of the island. There are ranger
guided tours also available. The first time I went I took a ranger guided tour. The rangers are
extremely knowledgeable and you will learn more about this island then if you were to
explore on your own. They took us into the heart of the penitentiary and we were even able
to enter the solitary confinement cell. The ranger closed the door and we were immediately
thrown into complete darkness. Fortunately he kept us in there for only about 30 seconds.
Apparently 30 seconds was too long for some, as they began to shout hysterically. Towards the end of the tour we saw the cell
where some inmates had tried to break out of the prison. They had moved their bed against
a wall and for several months they had spent a few minutes or hours each day chiseling a
hole through the wall.
Alcatraz island is also where several movies have been filmed including
Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood and more
recently, The Rock starring Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage. More information
about this unique and well-known island available here:
www.nps.gov/alcatraz or here:
www.alcatrazhistory.com/mainpg.htm There is also an Alcatraz Alumni
website! Visit:
www.alcatrazalumni.org
Click on any of the thumbnails below for larger photos of Alcatraz.
Photos below include the main cell walkway, examples of prisoner's small
cells, the lighthouse, the water tower, grenade damage from when guards
killed prisoners after riot, recreation plaza, and photos of famous
Alcatraz prisoners.
The
Ansel Adams Center for Photography is no
longer open however a number of their programs and assets were
transferred to other San Francisco Bay Area organizations. They closed
in 2001 but amazingly their website is still active. Visit:
www.friendsofphotography.org
The
Asian Art Museum is located in Golden Gate Park. They have an extensive collection of
jade, bronze, ceramics and paintings. They are open from Wednesday through Sunday from
10am until 4:45pm. Admission is $12. Those over 65 years of age are $8, and those between
the ages of 12 and 17 are $7. You can also buy combination tickets to the Asian art
museum, the de Young Memorial museum, and the Legion of Honor. For more information call
Phone Number (415) 379-8800. Website:
www.asianart.org
Besides driving a car you can take a variety of other transportation. The renowned San
Francisco Cable cars are an alternative to driving. Muni and buses are other forms of
transportation. For Muni schedules and other transportation information you can call
Phone Number (415) 673-6864. There are also many ferries that operate in the Bay Area.
Website, home of the world's first interactive online Cable Car!
www.sfcablecar.com
The
Cable Car Museum is located at 1201 Mason Street at Washington Street. This museum
contains models, photographs, and relicts of the early San Francisco transit system. San
Francisco's first cable car is also displayed here. An added attraction is the underground
viewing room which allows you to see how the cable cars are guided on their tracks.
Admission is FREE but donations are accepted. They are open daily from 10am until 6pm from
April through October. They are open from 10am until 6pm the rest of the year. For more
information call Phone Number (415) 474-1887. Very informative website:
www.cablecarmuseum.org
The
California Academy of Sciences is well worth a visit. This center, located
in Golden Gate Park includes several museums that are excellent in their
own right. These museums are the Morrison Planetarium, the Natural
History Museum, and the Steinhart Aquarium. The California Academy of
Sciences is a great place to take children. There is a lot to be learned
in these museums. There will be an admission charged besides the general
admission, to the Morrison Planetarium. The general admission to the Academy is $7. This
includes the Natural History Museum and the Steinhart Aquarium. Those over the age of $65
and those between the ages of 12 and 17 are $4. Admission is FREE to everyone on the first
Wednesday of each month. They are open daily from 10am until 5pm. For more information
call Phone Number (415) 750-7145. Website:
www.calacademy.org
TheCivic Center
is an impressive display of governmental buildings. The top of the rod
iron fences in front of the buildings
are framed with gold leaf. Some of the buildings here are the
public library, city hall, the State building, and the Federal
building.
All these structures are constructed in French and
Neo-Renaissance style. The United Nations held an international
conference here in 1945. One June 26, 1945 the Charter of the
United Nations was signed in the Veterans Memorial Building.
Website:
www.ci.sf.ca.us
The fancy building in this complex is City Hall. Historic Gay Lesbian
marriages were conducted on the steps here for a while. This building is
popular with tourists - enter through the main door and then go through
security. There is a huge domed ceiling with a grand stone staircase
leading to the second floor.
Coit Tower
is located in the heart of North Beach atop a small hill. There is a road that
winds its way up to the top of the hill. During the heart of tourist season this road is
annoyingly crowded, and you may have to wait up to 45 minutes before you can reach the top
and enter the tower. The reason the wait is often long is that parking at the top is quite
limited. If you wait in line on this narrow winding road you will have great views
overlooking The City. You would be better off trying to find a parking spot
in North Beach somewhere, and then getting some exercise and walking like 20-30 minutes to Coit
Tower. Besides the tower there is a large statue of Christopher Columbus
looking out over the bay. There are great views from here of the bay and also of The City.
Inside the tower you will find a quaint gift shop selling touristy
knickknacks. Items for
sale are post cards, key chains, and glasses among many other things. There is also a
machine here that will turn your pennies into stretched pennies for 25 cents.
The murals surrounding the inside of this tower were inspired by Diego Rivera. If you go to
this tower make sure to take the elevator up to the top. There is a small fee. I made the
mistake of visiting Coit Tower several times over the years but never going
to the top. It was only recently that I took the elevator up.
Once at the top I was rewarded with a fantastic view of downtown
San Francisco. The downtown section from a distance looks like a
toy model of a city. The windows on this part of the tower are
tinted and act
as a filter for taking color photographs. These windows filter the light
just right and I was able to take some exceptional photographs of the
downtown area. For more information call Phone Number (415) 362-0808.
Website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coit_Tower
TheCow Palace
is located a bit south of downtown San Francisco, with part of the stadium
extending into Daly City. It is located at 2600 Geneva Avenue. The Cow Palace is an
extremely large indoor stadium. Some of the major events held here are rodeos, circuses,
concerts and pro wrestling. Every January the Sports & Boat show is held
here. For more information call Phone Number (415) 469-6000. Website:
www.cowpalace.com
De Young Memorial Museum
is located across from the California Academy of Sciences in
Golden Gate Park. Both places are separated by a large flat landscaped area. There are
trees growing in rows and also a small amphitheater in this area. This museum features
American artwork from colonial times to the 20th century. Some of the permanent works on
display are paintings by Winslow Homer, Albert Bierstadt, and Paul Revere. They also have
permanent collections of ancient art from Greece, Egypt, Rome, Africa, central Asia, and
from the United Kingdom. Besides these permanent collections the museum rotates many
different collections. Allow at least 2 hours at this museum. They are open Tuesday
through Sunday from 10am until 4:45pm. On Thursdays they are open later, until 8:45pm.
Admission is $6. Those between the ages of 12 and 17 are $3. Admission is FREE to all on
the first Wednesday of the month except for special exhibitions. Call Phone
Number (415)
863-3330 for more information. NOTE: the
De Young Museum closed in 2000. The "new" De Young museum was built and
opened to the public to great fanfare in mid October 2005. For more
information visit:
www.famsf.org/deyoung
There
are three Diego Rivera murals in The City, one in the San Francisco
Art College on 800 Chestnut Street, one in the Diego Rivera Theatre at
the San Francisco Community College and one in the Pacific Coast Stock
Exchange Building located downtown. Dave has visited 2 of these three
murals. The one located downtown is not open to the public - however
there is a docent that gives a once a month tour of this rarely visited
mural.
The 2 murals as as mentioned
above at these colleges are free and are open to the
public. The one at the Community College is in one word, awesome! Please
review the left photographs.
TheExploratorium is that really cool
looking orange domed building that you can see when looking at San
Francisco from the north Bay. It is a great place to
take children. It is a great place to turn adults into children. The
exhibits are fantastic and explore many fields of science. The
Exploratorium is off of Marina Blvd, close to the Bay. There are over
600 interactive exhibits that explore your senses of touch, smell,
sight, and taste. Some of the interesting exhibits cover subjects such
as weather, electricity and flight. Allow at least 2 hours although if I
can remember correctly I stayed at least 1/2 a day. They are open daily
from 10am until 6pm. General admission is $9. Those over 65 years of age
and students with a current I.D. are $7. Those between the ages of 12
and 17 are $5. For more information call Phone Number (415) 561-0360.
Website:
www.exploratorium.edu
Fort Mason Center
is located at Marina Blvd. and Buchanan Street.
This center is located right next to the water. Old warehouses are now
home to various shops, classrooms and galleries. Weekly events are also
given. Incidentally this is where Dave
started his bike ride to Los Angeles in 2001. For more information call
Phone Number (415) 979-3010. The
Mexican museum and the Museo Italo Americano building is also located
here. Website:
www.fortmason.org Morrison Planetarium is the home to a 5,000 pound star project.
This is housed under a 65 foot dome. Star shows are given Saturday and
Sunday on the hour and daily at 2pm the rest of the year. Admission to
the planetarium besides the general Academy admission is $2.50. Laserium
admission is $7. For more information about the planetarium shows call
Phone Number (415) 750-7141 and for the Laserium shows call Phone Number
(415) 750-7138. Website:
www.calacademy.org/planetarium
The
Natural History Museum has many different exhibits. One
exhibit that is fun for the kids is the simulated California earthquake.
You step onto a seemingly stable floor and then soon you begin to think
you are on a rough ocean as the floor rumbles and shakes underneath your
feet. This shaking is equivalent to the magnitude of the 1906 San
Francisco earthquake. This museum also has a dinosaur section, a gem and
minerals section, an African hall, the Wild California hall, and an
Earth and Space hall. The California gold exhibit is well worth a look.
There is also a discovery room with hands on exhibits for children.
Website:
www.calacademy.org
ThePerforming Arts Center is located opposite City Hall. This
center is composed of the War Memorial Opera House and Davies Symphony
Hall. The opera hall is open again after undergoing significant renovations. It is an
impressive building from the outside. Davies Symphony Hall contains an
organ with approximately 10,000 pipes. The acoustics in this great hall
are outstanding. There are about 4 stories and I enjoy walking out on
the balconies and overlooking the streets of The City. These balconies
extend from the third story. There are various musical instruments
placed in the walkways of this symphonic hall. Some are quite old and of
historical value. If you are looking for inexpensive but still good
acoustic seats then you will want the seats directly behind the main
performing stage. The prices for these tickets are often a quarter of
what you would expect to pay for seats in the main seating area. I also
enjoy this seating area because directly behind these seats are doors
that lead to the backstage area. A casual observer would think that
these doors cannot be opened or are locked because they blend in with
the surrounding wall. However, I have found that they have always been
open. After several performances I have been able to sneak backstage and
speak to the performers and get their autographs. This saves the
annoyance and hassle of waiting in the "autograph" line after
the performances. Tours of this hall are given upon request on Wednesday
and on Saturday. Call Phone Number (415) 552-8338 for more reservations.
Website:
www.sfwmpac.org
Billed as San Francisco's Number One Attraction,
Pier 39
is located near the
Fisherman's Wharf area next to the
actual Bay. This area is very crowded during the summer months. This is a collection of attractions such as an Underwater
World, Bungee jumping, a Turbo Ride Simulation Theatre and a huge
collection of touristy shops with touristy prices as well as quite a few
restaurants, mainly serving seafood. A kids Merry-Go-Round is available
for part of the season. Live performers often show their "stuff" in the
summertime on the stage right next to the Merry-Go-Round. Typical
performances are G rated and include juggling, magic shows and comedy.
Outside of the Pier 39 you will often see street performers. Walk to the end of the "Pier" through all the
shops and you will have excellent views of the Bay Area - including the
Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island.
A California Welcome Center is located upstairs on the second level -
they have high speed Internet access, and its a great place to visit for
tourist information about not only San Francisco, but also other areas
in California as well.
Pier 39 is a great place to catch boat rides in the bay, including a
tour to Alcatraz and back. Be sure to visit the World Famous Sea Lion
Resting Area - these huge creatures, mostly male sea lions, haul
themselves out of the water and plop themselves directly in front of a
viewing platform - they lounge around on floating docks. Its quite
impressive to see when there are many lying around at once. Pier 39's
restaurant association maintains a website where you can view the sea
lions via their webcam as well as read about the restaurants on the
pier:
www.pier39restaurants.com/cam.htm
You can park in a public parking garage located almost across the street
from Pier 39. There is also parking along some of the city streets west
of Fisherman's wharf, some metered, some not the further you get away
from the wharf.
For more information, visit
www.pier39.com
Lastly, the
Steinhart Aquarium is included in the California
Academy of Sciences. This aquarium houses 14,000 aquatic animals. There
is a large tank in the center of one room that contains ferocious
looking alligators. You can peer over the railing and look at them
slowly moving several feet below. There are some very good exhibits of
turtles, reptiles, sharks, anemones, and octopuses. Another highlight of
this aquarium is the 100,000 gallon tank that contains open ocean
fishes. Besides this large tank there are many other small tanks. Some
of these marine creatures are very adept at blending into their
surroundings. You will have to look carefully in some instances for the
marine creatures. The sharks are fed daily every 2 hours from 10:30am
until 4:30pm. The penguins are fed at 11:30 and again at 4pm. Website:
www.calacademy.org/aquarium
