San Francisco is absolutely stunning city and once you've been there you will know why they wrote songs about this city. The most iconic image with San Francisco is of course the Bay Bridge. This reddish orange bridge is beautiful especially with the backdrop of all the greenery.
Take the last exit (to your right) before you cross the bridge to Sausilito for a nice area to take photographs.
  
If you are in this area plan on visiting Muir Woods National Monument. Named after conservationist John Muir, this was my absolute favorite spot we visited in Northern California. It is beautiful here-if you are a nature love it is a must see! The Muir Woods is awe inspiring. It is like a sanctuary in the city. Huge coastal redwood trees, hundreds of years old and taller than the Sequoias, this is an incredible area to hike.
Towering over 200 feet, the trees remind us of how small we really are in the whole scheme of things. Also making them difficult to photograph.
The dirt paths are well kept and even though this place has tons of visitors you can still find spots that will make you think you are the only one around. Most of these giant trees have been here for the past 600-800 years, pretty impressive when you can take a short 12 mile drive to the urban core of San Francisco.
 
If you love nature and want to take a beautiful hike very close to a major urban city, this is the perfect refuge.
Next to seeing the Muir Woods, Alcatrez was my favorite thing we did in San Francisco. It is an interesting piece of history and the view of the city from the island is incredible.
 
Defenitely take the audio tour, without it you are just touring an old prison, with it you are transported back in time to the days when the prison was in use. We bought tickets online 3 weeks in advance-they sell out quickly and the lines are long if you wait in person you may not get a seat that day. You will learn about the construction of the prison and how you could hear the activities of the city from the city, and you will learn about the people who served time there. You can go inside the cell to imagine what it was like to be stuck here. If you enjoy history, you will find this tour interesting.
We visited in April and the wind on the island was unbelieveable (defenitely have a jacket or windbreaker on.) To take the picture of the city view I literally had to hold on to the railing to not be blown over from the wind-And they call Chicago the windy city? Go figure. The view of the city is beautiful from the island, much more impressive in person than it is in photographs.
Information: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41
Website: http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/ (415) 705-5555
Riding the Cable Cars in San Francisco is just something you have to do if you come here, since it is snymonous with San Francisco.
This was a lot of fun- a very long long wait (think disneyland ride) but it was fun and the views of the city were great.
We caught the cable car near Ghiradelli Square. We did not go to the museum. Personally I found the terminology used for transportation confusing-what is generally considered a bus is called a trolley and what i considered a trolley is called a cable car. So if you want to take a ride on an authentic trolley ride that runs on the rails in the streets-this is considered a cable car. (just so you are not standing in the wrong line)
While in San Francisco we were on a boat, a plane, car, train, and a cable car. If possible I prefer to walk as it ends up taking longer to use other forms of transportation to get anywhere. We waited an hour for the F train to arrive because we were at the stop a second to late. With a total of 5 small kids in our group at dinnertime we were wondering how long it takes the %!@** "F" train to come back around to the stop. Bring a stroller and a baby bjorn for kids, and yikes if you miss the train find another way to get where you are going-better yet get back on the cable car and go back where you started. All is good though~ San Francisco was fun.
You can see Alcatrez Island from the Cable Car.
Information: 1201 Mason St. at Washington/ There are 4 cable car lines (Hyde, California, Mason
Website: http://www.sfcablecar.com
Lombard Street:
The most crooked street in the world. A well known tourist attraction with a great view and doesn't take long at all to see. If you visit San Francisco drive down this street and mark it off your must do activities.
Address: Lombard Street. Descent begins at Hyde Street
Ghirardelli Square: For Chocolate Lovers
World famous chocolates and boutique shopping. We came for the chocolate and to sit by the water fountains. Tons of tourists and something we did to mark off our list of things to do.
We walked from Fisherman's Wharf and enjoyed walking up the steep hill to Ghiradelli's Square
Phone: (415) 775-5500
Address: 900 North Point Street at Larkin
Directions: Near Fisherman's Wharf
Website: http://www.ghirardellisq.com/
Pier 39: Shopping & Sea Lions
PIER 39 is San Francisco's #1 Attraction-so expect lots of people. Two levels of shopping and bay view restaurants. You can ride the Carousel and of course go and see the Sea Lions on the pier. They are smelly and most of them were being pretty lazy when we were there, but a few were entertaining to watch!
Phone: (415) 705-5500
Address: The Embarcadero at Beach Street
Website: http://www.pier39.com/home.cfm
Alamo Square: The Famous Victorian "Painted Ladies"
This was one of our "Tourist" spots we had to go see for ourselves since the postcards always look so picturesque.
I have to say that of all the things we did in San Francisco this was kind of a disappointment. No doubt it has a great view from here, but when we went Alamo Square it was unkept. The grass was tall,the weeds were tall, the trees needed trimming, there were high school kids hanging out (when school was in session) smoking and it just didn't look like a great spot to have a family picnic or anything. No warm fuzzy feelings here. Maybe we picked a bad day, but it wasn't the park like setting I had imagined.
The view of the "Painted Ladies" with the city behind was beautiful though and made it worth the stop.
Address: At the intersection of Steiner and Hayes streets. |
