There is so much to see and do in San Francisco that most visitors have to return to get it all done and to keep pace with new attractions. San Francisco manages to mix its history with the present in what it has to offer. Do your homework before arriving, to make the most of your stay. Getting around is easy, because public transportation is excellent, including streetcars, buses, taxis and cable cars.
Opened in 1937, the 2-tower, art deco style Golden Gate Bridge is 1.7 miles long, and among the most popular sightseeing attractions in the city. It spans the Golden Gate Strait, which is the 3-mile gateway to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The bridge links the city of San Francisco and Marin County. The east sidewalk of the bridge is open year-round to pedestrians. Authorities advise wearing comfortable shoes and layered clothing. Pedestrian access includes wheelchairs and dogs on leashes. The Fort Point overlook, landscaped gardens, the Roundhouse gift center and a café are additional attractions.
Golden Gate Park is at the heart of San Francisco, spread out over more than 1,000 acres, and running about 3 miles long by a half mile wide. The park offers something to interest everyone. The Conservatory of Flowers dates back to 1879, a glass-and-wood Victorian greenhouse whose exhibits include plant species from around the world. The Garden of Shakespeare's Flowers reflects plants and flowers mentioned in his plays and poems. The 5-acre Japanese Tea Garden displays Japanese and Chinese plants amidst pathways and ponds, sculptures and bridges. Traditional tea and cookies delight visitors to the teahouse. The 5-acre San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum incorporates 26 different gardens so that there are flowers blooming year round. Created in 1961, the Rose Garden is home to hybrid teas, floribunda, grandiflora and miniatures. The De Young Museum houses permanent collection of paintings, decorative art and sculpture. The California Academy of Sciences accommodates the Kimball Natural History Museum, the Morrison Planetarium, the Steinhart Aquarium, a 4-storey rainforest dome, and 38,000 animals representing 900 species. There are also footpaths, cycle tracks and numerous other recreational facilities including archery, basketball and biking.
Golden Gate Park
Main Administrative Offices
McLaren Lodge & Annex
501 Stanyan Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
415-831-2700
sf-recpark.org
In 1964, Ghirardelli Square started life as a brand new retail mix in a former factory complex. The red-brick chocolate factory established by Domenico Ghirardelli now accommodates shops, galleries, cafes and a cinema. Rose gardens with fountains and terraces with views provide places where visitors can take a break and literally smell the roses. The Chateau de Blois in France provided the inspiration for the design of the belfry, which housed the chocolate factory's main offices in 1916. Visitors to Ghirardelli Square experience a part of San Francisco's history, as well as complimentary Internet access at the Square.
Ghirardelli Square Management Office
900 North Point Street
Suite E100
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-775-5500
GhirardelliSQ.com
