San Francisco "Must See Sights"

There are a so many must see sights when you come to San Francisco- Pier 39, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Coit Tower- just to name a few. So I thought I could help with not only information about each attraction, but also with the order that they appear in are the order to be seen in to maximize your time & give you the easiest course for your feet and your budget!

Union Square
Must See Sight #1

"After the great earthquake of 1906, Union Square became San Francisco's premier shopping district, and, by the 1930's the site of the world's first underground parking structure.

It's a great place to meet, enjoy coffee, or just let the world go by. Featured is a large central plaza with a terraced performance stage."

Chinatown
Must See Sight #2

Portsmouth Square is one of the many attractions in Chinatown, with locals doing Tai Chi and old men playing Chinese chess, it gives you a real sense of everyday life in its' simplest form. In the middle of the square, a 600lb bronze replica of the Goddess of Democracy used in the Tiananmen Square protest was built in 1999 by Thomas Marsh.

Chinatown also hosts one of the most extravagant Chinese New Year Parades in the world. Starting in the 1860s by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade has grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. It is named one of the top ten Parades in the world by IFEA, and is one of the few remaining night illuminated Parades in the USA.

North Beach
Must See Sight #3

Established during the Barbary Coast days of the Gold Rush (1848-1858), North Beach actually was a beach. Originally, the city's northeast shoreline extended only to what is today Taylor and Francisco streets.

It was filled with soil and landfill after the 1906 earthquake and fires. Which oddly enough, didn't destroy much of Little Italy; according to legend, some enterprising residents cracked open the barrels of red wine in their cellars and saved their houses from the fires by draping them with wine-soaked blankets.

Today North Beach is home of some of the best food, entertainment, culture, and also the first espresso house to serve an Italian espresso in America, Caffe Trieste.Followers of the Beat Generation & Jack Kerouac find themselves at home in the famous City Lights bookstore located at Columbus and Jack Kerouac Alley- along with many other popular Beat hang outs.

The history is rich on every corner of North Beach, the sun is almost always shinning and there is never a dull moment! I love North Beach- I know you will too.

Port of San Francisco
Must See Sight #4

The Port of San Francisco lies on the western edge of the San Francisco Bay at the Golden Gate. It has been called one of the three great natural harbors in the world.

The larger waterfront area extends from the anchorage of the Golden Gate bridge through the Marina district all the way around the north and then east shore of the city of San Francisco to the city line beyond Candlestick Point.

Attractions:

The "East Side" of the Ferry Building at night is a view worth seeing! (The actual sign of "The Port of San Francisco" all lit up in red) Whether it's from up close or across the bay at Treasure Island- it's a MUST SEE!

The Clock Tower:

"On top of the Ferry Building is a large clock tower, which can be seen from Market Street. Architecturally, the clock tower was modeled after the 12th century Giralda bell tower in Seville, Spain.

The present structure, designed by local San Francisco architect A. Page Brown, opened in 1898, replacing its wooden predecessor, and survived both the 1906 earthquake and the 1989 earthquake with amazingly little damage." wikipedia.org

Ferry Building:

"We are very committed to the artisan food community and to fostering the values of that community here at the Ferry Building. We envision the Ferry Building Marketplace as a vibrant gathering of local farmers, artisan producers, and independently owned and operated food businesses and the customers they serve. We are creating a community of like-minded people that will:

* Showcase small regional producers that practice traditional farming or production techniques and who develop personal relationships with their customers.

* Promote the Bay Area's vast ethnic diversity and serve and an incubator for artisan producers who are returning to sustainable methods of agriculture and production.

* Provide a central location for the promotion of the world-class food and wine producing regions of Northern California and recognize wine's connection to our rich regional cuisine.

* Collaborate with local transit authorities to build strong regional ties to the Ferry Building and support the revitalization of the San Francisco waterfront.

* Operate as a community gathering-place for the celebration of local culture and cuisine. "

www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39
Must See Sight #5

"It roughly encompasses the northern waterfront area of San Francisco from Ghirardelli Square or Van Ness Street east to Pier 35 or Kearny Street. It is best known for being the location of Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the Cannery Shopping Center, Ghirardelli Square, a Ripley's Believeit or Not museum, the Musée Mécanique, the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, Forbes Island and restaurants and stands that serve fresh seafood, most notably dungeness crab and clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl.

Some of the restaurants, like Pompeii's and Alioto's #8, go back for three generations of the same family ownership. Nearby Pier 45, there is a chapel in memory of the "Lost Fishermen" of San Francisco and Northern California though it might not always be open everyday. Once a year, the chapel has a service for the lost fishermen.

Transportation to Fisherman's Wharf can be provided in a variety of ways. The F Market runs through the area, the Powell-Hyde cable car lines runs to Aquatic Park, at the edge of Fisherman's Wharf, and the Powell-Mason cable car line runs a few blocks away. Other popular areas in San Francisco, such as Chinatown, Lombard Street and North Beach are all located in proximity to Fisherman's Wharf.

Fisherman's Wharf plays host to many San Francisco events, including a world-class fireworks display for Fourth of July, and some of the best views of the Fleet Week air shows." wikipedia.org

Want to take a cruise????
Blue & Gold Fleet is one of the Bay Area’s premier providers of Bay Cruise, Ferry Service and Motorcoach Tours. Located at PIER 39 this famous one-hour Bay Cruise sails along the City’s waterfront, past the PIER 39 sea lions, under the Golden Gate Bridge, by Sausalito, past Angel Island and around Alcatraz.

Ferry service is also available to Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island, Vallejo, Alameda and Oakland.

Motorcoach tours travel to some of the most picturesque sites in Northern California.

Alcatraz
Must See Sight #6

"Alcatraz and history go hand in hand. Once home to some of America's most notorious criminals, the federal penitentiary that operated here from 1934 to 1963 brought a dark mystique to the Rock. The presence of infamous inmates like Al "Scarface" Capone, and the "Birdman" Robert Stroud helped to establish the island's notoriety. To this day, Alcatraz is best known as one of the world's most legendary prisons.

Coit Tower
Must See Sight #7

Coit Tower Hours / Admission Prices:
To go upstairs and to see locally made artists murals
Hours: 10am - 5pm Daily
$4.50 Adults
$3.50 Seniors 65+
$2.00 Children 6-12
Children under 6 are free

Presidio
Must See Sight #8

"The Presidio’s 1,491-acres encompass open shore, wild coastal bluffs, wooded hilltops, and beautiful gardens. The history of our nation can be traced in the historic structures and landscapes that exist in the midst of rare natural habitats. The Presidio’s key points of interest include*":

Main Post
Crissy Field
Letterman District
Mountain Lake
Baker Beach, Bluffs, and Batteries
Cavalry Stables
Fort Scott
Residential Neighborhoods
San Francisco National Cemetery
Presidio Golf Course
Lobos Creek Valley
Historic Forest
Public Health Service Hospital
Tennessee Hollow
*www.presidio.gov

Check out this link for more information on the Presidio.

Fort Mason
Must See Sight #9

Fort Mason Foundation

"It is the responsibility of the Fort Mason Foundation to administer and develop this unique cultural, educational, and recreational center in partnership with the National Park Service.

Fort Mason Center, located in the historic piers and buildings of Lower Fort Mason, offers a variety of activities of the highest quality at minimum or no cost, suitable for all ages and interests.

This former military base offers the opportunity to experience diversity in a unique environment, focusing on the visual and performing arts, humanities, education, ecology, and recreation.
A National Historic Landmark and part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Center houses about 30 nonprofit organizations and is the setting for more than 15,000 meetings, conferences, performances, and special events, attended by 1.5 million visitors each year." www.fortmason.org

Click here for more information about Fort Mason activities and events.

Palace of Fine Arts
Must See Sight #10

It was designed by Bernard Maybeck, who took his inspiration from Roman and Greek architecture.[1] The sculptured frieze and allegorical figures representing Contemplation, Wonderment and Meditation were created by Ulric Ellerhusen.

The exhibition hall, which originally housed Impressionist paintings during the exposition, is now home to the Exploratorium, a state of the art interactive science museum."
wikipedia.org

Golden Gate Bridge
Must See Sight #11

The Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937 and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and the United States."