Maximize Your Visit to San Francisco
To make your trip the most pleasurable, you should come prepared for a few things. First, make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes. Although riding the trolleys is one of the many attractions, you will probably do a lot of walking. The weather in San Francisco sometimes catches people off guard. In the summer it would be best to wear shorts and a T-shirt, but also bring a light jacket or sweatshirt with you. Especially if you are going to be taking the ferry anywhere.
Fisherman’s Wharf is a good place to start your visit to San Francisco. As you walk the boardwalk, you will find souvenir shops, seafood markets and sidewalk vendors, restaurants, and street performers. In the same area, you will find the Aquarium of the Bay. An elevator takes you under the sea to a 300-foot long tunnel. As you look above and to the sides of you, you will see incredible marine life, including sharks, eels, octopus and thousands of various fish. When you come back above sea level, you are then able to walk along open aquariums of fresh water fish and are encouraged to touch them as they swim by.
The California Sea Lions that adopted Pier 39 should not be missed. These animated creatures started camping out here after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. During the winter months there are as many as 900 sea lions at the K-Dock. During the summer months, most of them move to the Channel Islands, but there is still a small group that enjoys barking at the tourists at Pier 39 year-round.
Adjacent to Pier 39 is Pier 41. This is the Pier where you can catch the Blue and Gold Fleet ferry to travel out to the island of Alcatraz and the infamous former federal penitentiary. Alcatraz once held Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelley, and, of course, The Birdman of Alcatraz. When you arrive on “The Rock” you will be directed to the trail that leads to the cell house. This is approximately one quarter of a mile and there is a slight incline. For those that are unable to make this walk, there is transportation. Once you make the climb, you can take the audio tour of the cell house, which has actual interviews of former guards and inmates. But the prison is not the only thing to see on the island. There are extraordinary views of the bay and during bird-nesting seasons you can hike the Agave Trail to the edge of the water and wander through a protected bird sanctuary. The tour of Alcatraz Island usually last around two to three hours and, although tours are available all year-round, the tickets often sell out during the Spring and Summer months, so it is best to plan ahead.
Lombard Street is another attraction for tourists. Although many like to drive the “crookedest” street in the world, it is better viewed if walking. If on foot, you can stop in the grassy area and enjoy the beautiful view of the Bay, the incredible landscaped flower beds and the gorgeous million-dollar homes in the area. Even though the street may be crowded, it is definitely one of the best places for photograph opportunities.
Chinatown is also a must-see area of San Francisco. The streets are narrow and crowded, but definitely worth experiencing. Here you will find herb markets, curio shops, pagodas and restaurants. If you are able to make it in February, you will see the biggest Chinese New Year celebration held outside Asia! This includes stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats, lion dancers, and the humongous Golden Dragon, which is manned by 100 people.
There are many museums in the San Francisco area. You will find three of them in the middle of Golden Gate Park. The Steinhart Aquarium is home to various fish, snakes and of course, the penguins. There is also an area of tide pools at this museum for those that want to get up-close-and-personal with the sea creatures. At the Morrison Planetarium you can see special shows on black holes and other wonders of the universe. And at the Natural History Museum you can spend time at the Earth & Space exhibit, learn about safaris in the Africa Experience, and also view the T-rex skeleton on display. There is also a Cable Car Museum that allows you to view the working cable in a walkway under the street.
Now, you can’t visit San Francisco without at least getting a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. The best way to way to take in the beauty of this structure and the surrounding areas is on foot or biking. Once on the bridge, you can see the awe-inspiring Pacific Ocean, the City and Bay full of sailboats, depending on which way you are facing.
Tourists, as well as locals, find exploring San Francisco to be a very interesting experience. With a good eye and an open mind, many of the sights you see will make very memorable moments. You may even have to return often just to see the latest exhibit or visit the sea lions again!
