San Francisco is a city of contrasts. Its hills can be bathed in morning fog and sunshine in the same breath. The skyscrapers spell sophistication, while the natural beauty of the surrounding waters and sculptured shoreline hint at a time before the first ship sailed into San Francisco Bay. Indulge your palate, your senses and your curiosity as you explore all that this city-by-the-bay offers.
In many ways Fisherman's Wharf is the heart of San Francisco. Stroll the docks that house fishing boats that are passed down from one generation to another. Munch on freshly steamed Dungeness crab and tangy sourdough bread as you make your way to the cable-car turn-around or to Pier 39, the home of a noisy group of sea lions that commandeered a set of boat docks and never left. Visit the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 and take a look at life below the waterline.
Union Square was named after pro-union demonstrations held right before the Civil War began. Today it is in the commercial core of the city. That bit of open space is surrounded by restaurants, art galleries and posh hotels. The big draw is the shopping. Feast your eyes on dripping diamonds at Tiffany's, find some upscale runners at Niketown or a to-die-for gown at Nieman-Marcus.
There was a time when a trip to Alcatraz Island was not such a good thing. It meant that you were destined to spend a considerable amount of cell time in the same prison that housed Al Capone. Today visits to the island, known locally as "The Rock," are voluntary. Now under the protection of the National Park Service, tour boats leave Fisherman's Wharf almost daily, allowing the curious to walk the yards, sit in a cell and see the City from a totally different perspective.
The most prominent museums in the City are in Golden Gate Park, specifically the newly revamped California Academy of Sciences. The Morrison Planetarium, the aquarium and natural history museums now share a new space, complete with a living, green roof. Downtown, the Musee Mecanique houses nearly 160 antique arcade machines. As far as galleries, try the Catharine Clark Gallery on Fulton Street, favoring California artists, or the Images of the North Gallery on Union Street, offering artwork from Canada, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
In the Castro neighborhood, the 1960s are going strong. It's not uncommon to find people dressed in bold garb, sandals and flowers as hair décor. This is the liberal part of town, the home of San Francisco's gay community. Dine in hole-in-the-wall trendy restaurants like vegetarian, Ike's, serving sandwiches with a signature Dirty Sauce. Or, go upscale at Incanto and dine on regional Italian cuisine. Come with an open mind, walk the streets and find a psychedelic feast for the mind.
While it is possible to book a tour to the Napa Valley to sample some of California's fine wines, there is a delightful alternative. The Napa Valley Winery Exchange, located in downtown San Francisco, carries wines from not only that famous locale, but from other California wine-making regions. Come in and do a bit of tasting and then pick out your favorite. If you have trouble deciding, not to worry, they will ship your wine home.
Japan Center is in the heart of Japantown. The Peace Pagoda, a delicately circled structure standing 100 feet high, makes it easy to find. This is the place to shop for silken-textured pearls, colorful kimonos or diminutive bonsai trees. Dine on fresh sushi or delicate almond cookies, or take part in a traditional tea ceremony. In the summer, weekends bring impromptu performances of Japanese music and dance.
To make the most of your San Francisco experience, spend the night in a hotel near the bay where you can wake up in the morning and almost taste the salt air. Find a sourdough bakery by smell alone, and then indulge in the warm, crusty bread as it is pulled from the oven. Walk down Lombard Street, dubbed the most crooked street in the world. Lastly, don't leave this magical place until you've taken a hang-on-for-your-life ride on a vintage cable car.
In many ways Fisherman's Wharf is the heart of San Francisco. Stroll the docks that house fishing boats that are passed down from one generation to another. Munch on freshly steamed Dungeness crab and tangy sourdough bread as you make your way to the cable-car turn-around or to Pier 39, the home of a noisy group of sea lions that commandeered a set of boat docks and never left. Visit the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 and take a look at life below the waterline.
Union Square was named after pro-union demonstrations held right before the Civil War began. Today it is in the commercial core of the city. That bit of open space is surrounded by restaurants, art galleries and posh hotels. The big draw is the shopping. Feast your eyes on dripping diamonds at Tiffany's, find some upscale runners at Niketown or a to-die-for gown at Nieman-Marcus.
There was a time when a trip to Alcatraz Island was not such a good thing. It meant that you were destined to spend a considerable amount of cell time in the same prison that housed Al Capone. Today visits to the island, known locally as "The Rock," are voluntary. Now under the protection of the National Park Service, tour boats leave Fisherman's Wharf almost daily, allowing the curious to walk the yards, sit in a cell and see the City from a totally different perspective.
The most prominent museums in the City are in Golden Gate Park, specifically the newly revamped California Academy of Sciences. The Morrison Planetarium, the aquarium and natural history museums now share a new space, complete with a living, green roof. Downtown, the Musee Mecanique houses nearly 160 antique arcade machines. As far as galleries, try the Catharine Clark Gallery on Fulton Street, favoring California artists, or the Images of the North Gallery on Union Street, offering artwork from Canada, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
In the Castro neighborhood, the 1960s are going strong. It's not uncommon to find people dressed in bold garb, sandals and flowers as hair décor. This is the liberal part of town, the home of San Francisco's gay community. Dine in hole-in-the-wall trendy restaurants like vegetarian, Ike's, serving sandwiches with a signature Dirty Sauce. Or, go upscale at Incanto and dine on regional Italian cuisine. Come with an open mind, walk the streets and find a psychedelic feast for the mind.
While it is possible to book a tour to the Napa Valley to sample some of California's fine wines, there is a delightful alternative. The Napa Valley Winery Exchange, located in downtown San Francisco, carries wines from not only that famous locale, but from other California wine-making regions. Come in and do a bit of tasting and then pick out your favorite. If you have trouble deciding, not to worry, they will ship your wine home.
Japan Center is in the heart of Japantown. The Peace Pagoda, a delicately circled structure standing 100 feet high, makes it easy to find. This is the place to shop for silken-textured pearls, colorful kimonos or diminutive bonsai trees. Dine on fresh sushi or delicate almond cookies, or take part in a traditional tea ceremony. In the summer, weekends bring impromptu performances of Japanese music and dance.
To make the most of your San Francisco experience, spend the night in a hotel near the bay where you can wake up in the morning and almost taste the salt air. Find a sourdough bakery by smell alone, and then indulge in the warm, crusty bread as it is pulled from the oven. Walk down Lombard Street, dubbed the most crooked street in the world. Lastly, don't leave this magical place until you've taken a hang-on-for-your-life ride on a vintage cable car.
Article written by Jean-Pierre Prieur, Internet Marketing Coordinator for the Hotel Management Company Hotel Managers Group.
Hotel Managers Group proudly manages many Hotels in Utah, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado.
Hotel Managers Group recommends this hotel in the vicinity of Silicon Valley and the beautiful south end of San Francisco Bay: Camino Inn & Suites Mountain View Hotels CA.
Hotel Managers Group proudly manages many Hotels in Utah, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado.
Hotel Managers Group recommends this hotel in the vicinity of Silicon Valley and the beautiful south end of San Francisco Bay: Camino Inn & Suites Mountain View Hotels CA.
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