When you think of the San Francisco Bay Area, the first things that come to mind are the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown and Alcatraz, but there's a whole lot more to "the city by the bay" than these popular attractions and enjoyments.
San Francisco is an outstanding California travel destination that offers endless opportunities for escape and adventure. For the more family-oriented vacation there's the Aquarium of the Bay, Fisherman's Wharf and the Cable Car rides. And for a "couples only" weekend, enjoy China Town, Coit Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge and Union Square.
So, if you're looking for a romantic weekend getaway or a fun-filled family vacation, San Francisco is the ideal place for you. Between the many things to do and the exceptional lodging you’ll experience at the Washington Square Inn, your time in "San Francisco", will end far too soon.
Alcatraz
Park rangers conduct tours by recounting the prison's thrilling
history along with intriguing anecdotes about Al Capone and other
legendary figures that made a "home" here.
Cable Cars
The Powell-Hyde line begins at Powell and Market streets,
terminating at Victorian Park near the Maritime Museum and Aquatic
Park; the Powell-Mason line also begins at Powell and Market, but
ends at Bay and Taylor near Fisherman's Wharf; the California Street
line runs from California and Market streets to Van Ness Avenue.
Chinatown
Enter at "Dragon's Gate" at Grant Avenue and Bush Street. This
electric neighborhood of 100,000 people is not to be missed, and
it's not hard to find. San Francisco's bustling Chinatown is a
tightly-packed warren of Chinese restaurants, shops, temples and
street vendors.
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Coit Tower
Monument was built in honor of the city's volunteer firemen.
The 180-foot tall Coit Tower overlooks an impressive
panoramic view of the Embarcadero, Pier 39, the Golden Gate
Bridge, Mt. Sutro, and the Financial District.
Fisherman's Wharf
Popular with tourists and sea lions, Fisherman's Wharf is
full of shops, silly museums and family fun. Still a working
wharf, its vendors sell thousands of tons of fish and
shellfish. Take an early morning walk down "Fish Alley" to
see fisherman at work. Later, the Wharf is boardwalk-style
family entertainment with decidedly tourist attractions such
as Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, the Red & White
Fleet, a the Wax Museum. For maritime-lovers and WWII buffs,
the San Francisco Maritime Musuem is at the foot of Polk St.
and massive USS Pampanito is docked right at Pier 45 |
Coit Tower |
Ghirardelli Square
Enjoy shopping and waterfront dining at fine restaurants and shops
in historic San Francisco Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory near San
Francisco Fisherman's Wharf. The building was saved from destruction
in one of the U.S.'s first examples of adaptive reuse.Ghirardelli
Square Chocolate Festival takes place in early September.
Golden Gate Bridge
Arguably the world's most beautiful bridge, the mammoth rust-red
deco San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco with
Marin County and can be experienced from near countless angles.
Drive, bike, or walk across the two-mile long suspension bridge or
get down to the base and look up from the tide pools at Baker's
Beach or from a Frisbee toss at Crissy fields, both in the adjoining
Presidio.
Pier 39
This third most visited attraction in the U.S. is a hive of activity
with rides, entertainment, restaurants, shops and lively street
entertainers. You can easily hop a ferry across the bay to Alcatraz
or Tiburon, but don't miss the celebrated sea lion colony that
inhabits the nearby abandoned dock
Union Square
A shopper's paradise, this bustling square near the theater district
has everything from upscale department stores and boutiques to
discount houses. After a $25-million facelift in 2002, the
cosmopolitan hub boasts a huge amphitheater, granite pedestals on
which street entertainers perform and a tree and flower-lined
environment in which to enjoy an espresso or an elegant meal.
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