Bring an appetite to Fisherman's Wharf on the northern waterfront. You'll get the fresh seafood and sourdough bread that San Francisco is known for. On Pier 39, don't miss the sea lions on the docks. In nearby Ghirardelli Square, sample chocolate from the famous Ghirardelli Ice Cream Shop. On the south end of the square, the Museum of the City of San Francisco tells about the Gold Rush of the mid-1800s and the 1906 Earthquake.
You may not be able to leave, but getting to Alcatraz is no problem. The famous prison that operated from 1934 to 1963 is reachable by a ferry ride off Fisherman's Wharf. Once there, you learn about its famous prisoners, including Al Capone, "Birdman" Robert Stroud and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.
Don't forget to bring your camera when visiting the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1.7-mile walk over foggy San Francisco Bay features the city's skyline and mountains in the backdrop. The bridge, painted in orange vermilion called International Orange, is a great photo opportunity in itself. When you finish walking, take a look at the gardens and shop at the circular gift shop called the Roundhouse.
The San Francisco Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest one in North America. You'll want to see the Sing Chong Building---one of the first rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake---and the Bank of Canton, formerly the Chinese Telephone Exchange.
The curvy street on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth is known as the "Crookedest Street in the World." It drops at a natural incline of 27 degrees. Cars go downhill only and walkers use steps.
Hippies made the Haight Ashbury area famous in the 1960s. Today, most are gone but their spirit lives on. You could visit the Grateful Dead House where members of the band used to live or take a peak at the Sacred Space Healing Center to learn about holistic healing. Beautiful Victorian houses stand near the corner of Haight & Ashbury.
To travel around town, try a cable car. The three routes in operation will get you to most of the hot spots. Cable cars have been a San Francisco staple since it first ran in 1873.
