San Francisco city is one of the states in America that has its own special character. No other city contains so much variety within its borders. From the historic island of Alcatraz, to the busy shores of the San Francisco Bay, to the nice walks of the promenade with spectacular views of the Golden Gate in Land’s End, its magnificent skyline, the seals, and the lovely sunset view in the marina.
There are so many things to do and see and you will realize the vastness and beautiful topography of San Francisco when you are on the heights of Twin Peaks. For those who love the ocean, nature, breathtaking landscapes and quaint neighborhoods then it is a must to visit San Francisco.
When To Go:
The high season of tourists’ entry usually perks up in San Francisco from September to November, the summer season. These months of offers warm temperatures. Spring is an alternate decent time; however you can anticipate that the breezes will be somewhat a bit chilly. The Golden Gate City witnesses a surge in tourism throughout the hot time of the year as travelers flock to the west looking for sun, sand and surf. In any case, the fluctuating atmosphere can rapidly trounce a day at the sunny shore.
The off season of winter in San Francisco draws deal seekers with the guarantee of lower inn rates and less crowds. If you still choose to go and tour around San Francisco in the wintertime, arm yourself from the cold atmosphere with a lot of layers.
Here are the things to do when in the city of San Francisco.
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge spans San Francisco Bay in California. It is one of the most impressive suspension bridges of the world. You can walk on the designated footpath and part of the infrastructure that is the symbol of San Francisco. This gigantic orange bridge whose technique is explained on arrival with photos of its construction can be seen from afar on the Bay. You can ride a bicycle because tracks are provided. There is a gift shop on your way to immortalize this mythical place. If there is no fog you can have great views of the bay and the entire city of San Francisco.
It is easy to reach this attraction. You can take the hop on hop off bus that goes straight to this bridge. Be sure to take a tour on the boat that passes under the bridge and make a wish! Do not forget to take warm clothes, as in San Francisco it is usually not hot, but the weather is very cool with strong winds. There is a bus #76 from the city which goes to the bridge and onto the lighthouse, but it runs only on weekends.
Marin Headlands
The Marin Headlands has a great view of the city, the Pacific Ocean, and the Golden Gate Bridge. To have great pictures, it is best to come before sunset and let the sun behind your back further highlight the famous orange bridge. Situated near the Point Bonita Lighthouse, it is only accessible by car but it is worth it. The road goes on a hill along the coast and there is a point to stop along the road that is intended for photo opportunities.
Starting by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, this is nature at its purest and the small towns you will pass around are very cute. There is the ocean, the bay, the mountain; everything you need is always with great scenery and, great restaurants. Avoid the weekends as it gets difficult to park. If the rise of coastal bike does not put you off, do not hesitate even one second to not try the conventionally proposed rental bike route and venture into the Marin Headlands. Breathtaking views are surely guaranteed for those who love both nature and water.
Alcatraz
The boat ride up the Alcatraz Island is already worth the trip alone because of the beautiful view of the bay of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Audio headsets in other languages are available to assist you during the tour. You can walk through the corridors of the prison while listening to the audio stories of all the detainees who have spent part of their life in Alcatraz. The guides narrate that they have the impression that Al Capone’s ghost still haunts the place.
Another impression is they seem to hear the detonations when seeing the bullet holes in the walls at a famous escape attempt. Actually, you can discover a hole in the cell wall by a prisoner who escaped with accomplices but their bodies were never found.
One can also imagine while visiting the refectory (dining area), the tension and stress that the keepers face when all these dangerous men are gathered together and could use their cutlery as weapons. You can have a great half day tour in Alcatraz because it is a place steeped in criminal history and housed the greatest criminals of the United States. The visit is organized so that each one is free to go at their own pace, stay as long as they want, take good pictures, and at no time ever feel bored. A visit to this famous lighthouse and detention cell is a must when in San Francisco.
Fisherman’s Wharf
If you want to avoid the huge crowd, it is best to go early and tour around the Fisherman’s Wharf. You can wander and even see the sea lions on certain months of the year (early May onwards until August). This place is very nice and always full of tourists. There are plenty of souvenir shops, seafood restaurants, and also beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay while you take a stroll. Sometimes, there are musicians, jugglers, and other forms of entertainment to keep the pedestrians amused.
The area is properly secured and cops roam around on top of their saddled horses. There is even a staircase called the "piano", several piers that can be visited for free, submarine, tram transport tour, cruise tour of the bay and you can also go right next to the starting point for the shuttle that goes to Alcatraz. You must go up to pier 39 where sea lions enjoy basking on pontoons and goes sunbathing. It may be interesting to go far with a food trip adventure to enjoy sourdough bread filled with seafood, a known specialty on this part of San Francisco.
Land’s End
The Land’s End offers a beautiful view and a peaceful stroll in the direction of the Golden Gate bridge. It is best to visit the park in the late afternoon to see the amazing sunset as it sets a very special mood and a unique experience. From here, you can have a feeling of unprecedented views, merging elements, harmony, love and peace. Located in the western part of San Francisco, the park offers beautiful views of the ocean and coastal cliffs.
In the park there are natural contrasts, it rises above sea level on a few tens of meters and it is clearly visible from the Golden Gate Park. The beach part has a steep wooden staircase with wooden handrail that is all whole and well-groomed. On the beach there are toilets for girls and boys with washbasins, warm water, and toiletries. Everything here is clean and tidy. Free parking is available at the top (at the beginning of the stairs).
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is an elegant landmark in San Francisco. Take the bike for a day, a camera, and a basket of fruit and spend a day in the park. It is one of the most enjoyable pastimes for a vacation spent in California. The observation deck of the park offers stunning views of the chic bridge "Golden Gate". The place is not quite crowded, so you can sit quietly and think, enjoy a good view of the bridge and the city of San Francisco and of course, make a bunch of fantastic photos. It has so many places for recreation (cycling, jogging, golf, etc.), live music and entertainment.
It is a solemn and a nice park with museums and blooming garden. You can pass the marina with the Yacht Club and also the Palace of Fine Arts. The building was built for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915 in Greco-Roman style. After it was completely run down, it was demolished and rebuilt in the 1960s. It is a very nice facility with a small lake and rotunda of columns. Especially on weekends the Marina Drive is heavily populated. It is a long walk until you arrive at the bridge. If you enjoy walking, you can still go over the bridge and admire the scenic view from the other side.
Walt Disney Family Museum
The Walt Disney Family Museum is located in the middle of the Presidio and is easy to reach by public transport. In reality, this is a museum about the Disney family itself. The museum shows in great detail and with many original documents and films the creativity and work of Walt Disney and his family. You have to definitely take time to really look at all the images, fonts, art works, and movies. Delightfully decorated rooms show in chronological order all of the Disney family and their collection with some items that are very much private but made public for everyone to see.
The museum displays all the awards of the great cartoon master, the first drawings of the first videos, and his presented full biography. It shows the evolution of the whole animated cartoons, and the first model and architectural plan of Disneyland. The well-known Disney characters of course are not missing but are not necessarily in the foreground. The museum is also suitable for children because there are many interactive exhibits.
Lombard Street
It is mandatory to visit this unique attraction in San Francisco. Naturally, it refers to the section of Lombard Street, which is the steepest descent in the world. One of the top things to do while in San Francisco is to take the drive along the winding serpentine road. The winding maze of the descent itself is not a big difficulty, as all go on a very low speed, but the rise of the hill is very steep and delivers exciting thrills to its guests.
This famous street is surrounded by colorful houses, very popular with tourists, and leaves a positive and lasting impression. It is a beautiful street with flower beds and exotic trees. It has wonderful views from the hilltop and you can make great photos of the view as you descend from the maze. It is always clean and all the plants are neatly trimmed, credit goes to the city and the people of this neighborhood who work hard to preserve and cherish its natural beauty.
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is not only the film but also the lovely twin hills located in San Francisco. From there, you can have a scenic view of the city that turns especially beautiful when the sun goes down. In the center of San Francisco is an observation deck on the twin hills of Twin Peaks. It is spaced two hundred meters from each other and these hills have their own names like; North - Eureka, and the south - Noe. From the observation platform called the "Christmas Tree Point" on the northern hill you can see the entire city. The view is superb from this highest point of San Francisco.
Palace of Fine Arts
The Palace of Fine Arts and its pavilion in the Roman style is reflected in the surface of a pond, a beautiful work of landscape designers with pleasant flower gardens and open air walkways. You can take a slow walk or sit on a bench while enjoying the serene views on its grounds. It is indeed a peaceful place and the animals feel at home that when you start to photograph them, they pose to you. The pond has ducks, swan, sea turtles and goldfish that make the ambience of the attraction all very natural.
So when heading towards the famous bridge, make sure you visit this wonderful park. It is located near the Academy of Sciences, from which you can create opportunities to see both in a short time. Inside the palace, the setting is modern and elegant and there is always a well organized exhibition on modernism. Around the palace you will pass on some old style Victorian houses which are such a delight to see.
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