To call the San Francisco Botanical Garden a living museum of plants does not adequately describe this remarkable conservatory. With 55 acres (22 hectares) of landscaped and open spaces, the urban garden is a veritable sanctuary, an escape from the hustle and bustle, in the heart of Golden Gate Park.
Part of San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, the Hyde Street Pier introduces visitors to San Francisco’s maritime heritage as a busy Pacific port with its collection of ships from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Jutting out into San Francisco Bay, the pier also offers scenic views of the waterfront.
Perched atop Nob Hill, Huntington Park is one of San Francisco’s most elegant neighborhood parks. Once the site of a mansion destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, the land was donated by the widow of the park’s namesake, rail tycoon Collis P. Huntington. Today, it’s a peaceful place to play, picnic, and soak in some of San Francisco’s most impressive architecture.
This two-block pedestrian lane in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood is a charming residential walkway with extraordinary views of Alcatraz Island and the San Francisco Bay. Tucked away from the busyness of the main streets, Macondray Lane is known for its Edwardian-style cottages covered in flowers and greenery.
Founded in 1984 and supported by a grant from Charles Schultz, San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum is the only museum on the West Coast devoted solely to this art form. With more than 7,000 original pieces, the museum’s collection includes everything from editorials and comic books to graphic novels and Anime.
A scenic stretch of Marin County across the bay from San Francisco, Tiburon is a relaxed seaside community with charming architecture and homes that feel more like New England than California. Bay cruises, hikes, and bike tours abound, and ferries run during the week, making it easy to visit this laid-back, affluent town.
Known for its unusual layout and many bizarre features, the Winchester Mystery House® in San Jose is said to be haunted. The massive Victorian Mansion, a National Historic Landmark and a California Historical Landmark, is the creation of Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune, and a popular tourist attraction.
Opened in 1980, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall is the home of the San Francisco Symphony. The hall features more than 200 days a year of musical performances, from classical to contemporary.
One of San Francisco’s most storied watering holes, Vesuvio Cafe is an icon of the Beat Generation and a symbol of the history and culture of North Beach. Founded in 1948, the bohemian saloon was a popular hangout spot for writers and poets such as Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Other famous patrons include Bob Dylan and Francis Ford Coppola.
Drive north across the Golden Gate Bridge and you’ll find yourself in Marin County—home to the bayfront town of Sausalito, giant redwoods, wide sandy beaches and mountain bike trails.
A community of stately homes along the Pacific Ocean, the Sea Cliff neighborhood of San Francisco is a prime city destination. The palm trees, ocean fog, and view of the Golden Gate Bridge together create an experience that is unique to San Francisco. Consider a hike, stroll along China Beach, or a stop at the colorful Lincoln Park Steps.
The Fillmore District can be considered a microhood of the Western Addition, covering the blocks around Fillmore Street from Geary to Grove streets. At the corner of Fillmore and Geary, you’ll find the neighborhood’s most famous resident, the Fillmore, the legendary music venue that hosted performances by bands like Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane in the 1960s.
Built into the hillside in Seward Mini Park, the Seward Street Slides are a pair of parallel concrete chutes that delight both young and old. The slides are steep and slick, making them appropriate for big kids but not tiny tots.
The Roman Catholic Saints Peter and Paul Church dates back to 1924, and its cathedral-like façade and twin spires tower over the north side of Washington Square Park. Located in San Francisco’s North Beach district, or Little Italy, the church still holds daily mass, but it’s best known for a photo op—Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe posed here after getting married.
A path of bronze markers and arrows located on the sidewalks of San Francisco, the Barbary Coast Trail connects 20 of the city’s most historic locations, mostly related to the years between the 1849 Gold Rush and the 1906 earthquake. Back during the Gold Rush days, the term Barbary Coast referred to the red-light district that developed in a section of the city that is now pieces of North Beach, Chinatown, and Jackson Square.
Get up-close and personal with California’s native wildlife, including seals, sea lions, sea otters, and elephant seals, at the Marine Mammal Center. Known for its rescue and treatment work, the center offers a range of tours. While entry is free, booking a tour is encouraged, as proceeds go towards helping sick and injured creatures.
Spanning more than 60 miles (95 kilometers) in and around San Francisco, Golden Gate National Recreation Area is home to beaches, former military posts, hiking trails, and historic landmarks—including the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and architecture lovers will all find something to delight them at the various sites.
There are plenty of ways to navigate California Wine Country, but few rival the charm of the Napa Valley Wine Train. Offering visitors the chance to travel on restored, vintage locomotives, the Wine Train has on-board kitchens serving gourmet meals of farm-fresh fare paired with local wine. Some routes also include a tasting at a Napa winery.
With two blocks of public green space in downtown San Francisco, Yerba Buena Gardens offers a refuge in the middle of one of the city’s busiest areas. Located next to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the gardens include public art, waterfalls, and landscaped lawns for relaxing and people-watching.
The very northern tip of the Point Reyes Peninsula, Tomales Point faces the Pacific Ocean where it meets Tomales Bay, a narrow inlet of water known for oyster farming. The remote location is popular with hikers and nature lovers who make the trip through Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay State Park.
The largest and busiest of the three main airports in the San Francisco Bay Area—the others being in Oakland and San Jose—San Francisco International Airport, or SFO, welcomes visitors on all major US airlines as well as many international airlines. It's also the hub for Alaska Airlines and a gateway to downtown San Francisco.
One of the most photogenic spots in San Francisco, this 163-step staircase is decorated with technicolor mosaic scenes of the universe from the seas to the cosmos. Leading from 16th Avenue up to Grand View Park, the steps were created by local artists and community volunteers in 2005 and take visitors to sweeping views over the city.
There’s nothing stuffy about this “museum,” the creation of a local artist and circus founder who turned an unassuming home in one of San Francisco’s most desirable neighborhoods into an immersive “fairy-grove” experience. Book one of eight themed tours, head inside, and explore “portals” filled with purposefully weird art along with your live performer/fairy guide.
Beer lovers rejoice at this beloved San Francisco bar. Pouring from a selection of at least 40 brews on draft and more than 70 different bottled beers at any given time, Toronado Pub is a must-try. The tap list is updated almost daily, keeping even the most discerning beer drinkers coming back for hard-to-find brews.
Whether you’re a casual drinker, home brewer, or suds aficionado, take a tour at Anchor Brewing Company for a fun blend of history, science, and passion for beer. Most tours include a historical overview of the brewery, a look at the production process—including a glimpse at the impressive copper brewhouse—and a generous tasting of any, and all, of Anchor’s 12 brews on draft.
In a city known for its Victorian architecture, the Haas-Lilienthal House is one of San Francisco’s crown jewels. The only intact private Victorian house open to visitors as a museum, the Queen Anne–style home was built in 1886 and features the period furniture and artifacts of an upper-middle-class Victorian-era life. It is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
The James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 is one of the Port of San Francisco's many properties, and this modern station is a welcoming portal to the city with numerous activities nearby. Walk to Fisherman's Wharf for coffee and shopping, catch a baseball game at Oracle Park, or hike to Coit Tower for great views.
Home to historical exhibits about the city of San Francisco and the rest of the Golden State, the California Historical Society dates back to 1871 and is headquartered in the former home of the San Francisco Builders Exchange—a historic building painted orange as a nod to the Golden Gate Bridge during its 75th anniversary in 2012.
There's no need to travel to New York to experience fantastic theater—the San Francisco Playhouse hosts several mainstage productions yearly, in the heart of San Francisco's theater district. The intimate space seats fewer than 200 guests, so it's the perfect place to take in a show. Buy tickets in advance to get great seats.
Building on the idea that collaboration and creativity are the basis of fun and learning, the Children’s Creativity Museum offers a range of engaging activities for kids. Visitors to the museum will find a multimedia experience focused around art and technology to support the inventive side of youngsters.
