San Francisco is a cultural mecca, with museums, beaches, mountains, and of course, the famous cable cars. In this sunny, fascinating city, you will not be sitting around with nothing to do, that's for sure. In fact, there is so much to do, you will want to carefully plan out your time so you don't miss anything!
San Francisco Cable Cars
- To start your day, hop on a cable car and ride up and down the hilly roads. There are over 17 miles of cable car track still in existence, and they have been dubbed a national monument. To learn more about them visit the Cable Car Museum, which gives you historical and technical info on this amazing mode of transportation, and takes you underground to see the actual running cables.
Fisherman's Wharf
- You could ride a cable car to Fisherman's Wharf, one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco. At the Fisherman's Wharf, you can see street performers, visit open-air seafood markets, restaurants, shops, sidewalk vendors and, of course, boats! Sea lions also make appearances at Pier 39, which is also to gateway to several top attractions including Alcatraz and the Maritime Museum.
Alcatraz
- Speaking of Alcatraz, even though you can see it from Fisherman's Wharf, most people want to get even closer and explore the actual place. The Blue & Gold Fleet Tour Company offers tours around the island and actually over to it. Once on the island, you can take a tour and hear all about the history of 'The Rock' and about the infamous people who were once held here. There are several different types of tours, including the Alcatraz After Dark Tour, which makes your visit even more interesting. You will love hearing the anecdotal tales and stories from the nearly 30 years that the 'inescapable' maximum-security prison operated here.
Golden Gate Bridge
- And who could visit San Francisco without seeing the Golden Gate Bridge? You can simply view this amazing structure, but there are walkways for getting out on the bridge or bicycling over it. There are viewing areas on either side of the bridge. Don't be scared when you feel the bridge swaying: it was built to move with the wind to make it less vulnerable to earthquakes. From the bridge you have amazing views of the city and the bay. You can, of course, also cross it by car or sail under it by boat.
San Francisco Chinatown
- Chinatown is another area you won't want to skip when visiting San Francisco. This interesting cultural neighborhood is home to 30,000 Chinese residents, and is a closely- knit community. There is a lot to see, and you can get caught up in the moment and forget you are in the U.S. Take a stroll and observe all that Chinatown has- colorful sights, shops, markets, pagodas and more!
San Francisco captures the heart and the imagination with all the amazing things to see and do. Plan your trip today, and prepare to be enthralled by this bustling, fascinating city.
