What sights should I see in San Francisco?

Question

I'm staying in Union Square. There are all the obvious sights : Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, etc. But I would really like to hear from someone who has been to San Francisco and anything else they would like to recommend. We're of course going to the popular attractions...but are there any hidden treasures I should know about that are lurking in San Francisco? Thanks!

Answer 1

You can walk around Pier 39, FIsherwman's wharf and go to Alcatraz (buy your tix before you come), but try to do some of other SF's gems:

Chinatown - try Dim sum

Tour of AT&T Park

North Beach - old Italian Section

Walk/Bike across Golden Gate Bridge

Walk/Drive down Lombard Street

Golden Gate Park - De Young Museum and Conservatory of Flowers

Ferry Building (Located at the Embarcadero)

The Metreon

MOMA

A ferry ride to Sausalito or Tiburon would be a great add.

If you like Shopping, San Francisco Center.Union Square is a must

For checking out the diversity of SF, walk these neighborhoods:

The Castro District

Marina District

Haight/Ashbury

Restaurants:

Lunches- Farmers Market (at the Ferry Building), Mission (La Cumbre, El Toro, or La Tacqueria), Swan Oyster Depot, Mitchell's Ice Cream

Possible Dinners: Slanted Door, Zuni, Foreign Cinema, Boulevard, Chow, or for a special but very pricey treat, Gary Danko!

Answer 2

If you are going after the Stienhart Aquarium reopens, which is in September you should go.

I like going to Japan Town, it is smaller than China town, but fun.

China town is good too.  There are some great hikes in the Precedio.  Just remember San Francisco can be very cold anytime of the year.  

Answer 3

Ocean Beach along the Great Hwy.  It's near the more residential part of SF, but it is really beautiful.  You can even play in the water or have a picnic on the shore if it's warm enough.  

Answer 4

go to San Jose, just south of San Francisco and go to the Winchester Mystery House

it is a facinating tour, and will cost about $30, but well worth every penny

http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/

Answer 5

Things you must-see and I highly recommend when you visit SF:

GOLDEN GATE BRIGDE: It's the city's most famous symbol. The full splendor of this structure can be appreciated from a viewpoint near  the access road on the south side of the bridge.

MARKET STREET; This street cuts across the city from the northheast to the southeast. This is a perfect place to start a tour. The departure for cable cars is at the junction of Powell St and Market.

ALAMO SQUARE; Is one of the prettiest squares in SF and one which offers a much-photographed view of the skyline. It's surrounded by a fine collection of "Painted Ladies", as the magnificent Victorian houses are called.

GOLDEN GATE PARK: This expansive and beautiful park is full of blooming flowers, tall trees and gushing waterfalls.

TELEGRAPH HILL AND COIT TOWER: A wonderful view opens out across San Francisco Bay.

GRACE CATHEDRAL: It was inspired by Notre Dame in Paris.

HAIGHT ASHBURY: This area became synonymous with the hippy movement in the 60's. These days it's more gentrified, but the counterculture is still represented by offbeat stores selling vintage clothes, funky jewelry, smoking paraphernalia, posters and records.

EMBARCADERO: You can visit the old building located in here. In addition, you can get really cool pictures of the Bay Bridge from this place.

There's a lot of things you can see in the city, the list above is just a couple options I highly recommend to visit. Enjoy your vist to The City By the Bay

Answer 6

Catch a ferry to Sausilto it's a really pretty little town. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge, Go see the wiggly street it's cool to watch the cars go down. Little Italy and Chinatown, and you have to ride a cable car

Answer 7

Definitely the golden gate bridge and Berkley and Stanford. Also try just to stay in the city of berkley go outside at night and u can smell all kinds of great foods.  

Answer 8

traffic jams.

Answer 9

Get off at Fishermans wharf and follow Embarcadero toward the Golden Gate bridge, and then get on Jefferson. It's a nice walk, with lots of cool places for you to see along the way. There's some places to eat, and some shops as well. Take it until you hit Ghiradelli Square, and then treat yourself to some ice cream and of course CHOCOLATE!!

Find Haight and Ashbury, some nice history there.

And Ashbury is a really cool place to walk around and see some places.

Don't forget the famous Victorian houses.

And Lombard street.

Answer 10

Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square

The Golden Gate Bridge

Alcatraz

Union Square

Cable Cars

Chinatown

Lombardoit Tower

Sausalito

Cliff House