If you are an art enthusiast, you will enjoy a drive through the city to gaze at the city's remarkable architecture, from historic Victorian houses in ritzy Pacific Heights to modern day marvels such as the Transamerica Pyramid in the Montgomery Financial District.
Driving is the best way to see Victorian houses such as Haas Lilienthal House, a Queen Anne Victorian built in 1886. It is located on Franklin Street. Start at The Embarcadero, following Bay Street west to Franklin Street. The east and west sections of Pacific Heights begin at Vallejo and extend south to California Street. Lower Pacific Heights is located between Van Ness Avenue and Presidio Avenue.
San Francisco is enhanced with more than 600 murals painted on the walls of various buildings. One of San Francisco's most famous murals is at the San Francisco Art Institute. The mural, "The Making of a Fresco Showing the Building of a City," is a fresco inside a fresco painted by the late Mexican artist Diego Rivera in 1931. The Diego Rivera Gallery at SFAI is located at 800 Chestnut St., between Jones and Leavenworth.
Take time to study the fascinating street art in the Mission District of the city. Artists from various ethnic backgrounds, but primarily Latino, have been painting thought-provoking murals on walls in Clarion Alley since the 1960s and Balmy Alley since the early 1970s. There are more than 100 murals in and around Clarion Alley. Follow Market Street from The Embarcadero to South Valencia Avenue to get to the Mission District. Once there, walking is the best way to see the murals.
You will need a private boat or a ferry ticket to get to Angel Island State Park located in San Francisco Bay. Tram and Segway tours, and bike rentals are available for sightseeing on the island. If you want a little exercise, rent a headset and walk a 5-mile-long self-guided tour. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily throughout the year; however, there is limited weekday ferry service during the winter, according to the California State Parks Department. Blue and Gold Fleet provides ferry service from Pier 39.
Alcatraz Cruises LLC, located on The Embarcadero, provides the only ferry service to Alcatraz Island, home of the first lighthouse and United States fort on the West Coast, and of course, the infamous federal penitentiary that has been featured in a number of Hollywood movies. Be prepared with a light rain jacket because the weather on Alcatraz Island can change unexpectedly. It is usually foggy and cool in the summertime while rainy and cold in winter. Alcatraz Island is open every day with the exception of Christmas and New Year's Day. Island hours vary according to the season. Purchase your ferry tickets at Pier 31-33 at Fisherman's Wharf. During the summer, it is best to purchase your tickets a few weeks in advance. Ferry tickets range in price from $16 to $58.There is no entry fee to the island itself.
