Great San Francisco Tourist Attractions

A conglomeration of vibrant and diverse cultures, languages and backgrounds, San Francisco has long been a tourist mecca with throngs of people arriving each year to traverse the cities 49 miles of wonder. A juxtaposition of precipitous inclines and lush vistas, San Francisco is said to be built on 43 hills. Whether you've got a few hours to kill between meetings or you've got weeks to imbibe the San Francisco ambiance, there's something here for you. San Francisco is pedestrian friendly, so there's plenty to do within walking distance of myriad hotels, inns and quaint, romantic bed & breakfasts. In fact some destinations such as Telegraph Hill recommend coming on foot or by public transportation to avoid the areas legendary traffic snarls.

**Fun Fact**

The San Francisco Bay is not a bay at all. A bay is filled with ocean water. San Francisco Bay is actually an estuary as it is filled with a combination of salt and fresh water. However 'City by the Estuary' doesn't have the same ring to it.

Visitor Information
The San Franciso Convention and Visitor's Bureau website, "Only in San Francisco" offers a wealth of information on anything you're thinking of doing during your stay. Make this the first stop on your itinerary.

www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/

Attractions

Alcatraz
Home of some of America's most notorious criminals. Al Capone, "Machine Gun" Kelly, Alvin Karpis, known in his ofetime as "Public Enemy #1" and perhaps Alcatraz's most famous denizen, Robert Stroud. Stroud was known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz".

www.nps.gov/alcatraz

Cartoon Art Museum
A 1987 donation from "Peanuts" creator, Charles Schulz helped the museum secure a permanent location.

Tues - Sun 11am - 5 pm.
655 Mission St
cartoonart.org

Chinatown
Signature Dragons adorn the gateway to perhaps the most famous Chinatown in America and the largest, outside of Mainland China. Visit the Chinese Culture Center at 750 Kearny St for information about art exhibition or to schedule a tour.

www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/?

City Lights Books
City Light Books played host to some of the most evocative writers of the 20th century. Notably those of the "Beat" generation. Among them, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Noted for publishing Allen Ginsberg's seminal work, "Howl".

261 Columbus Avenue at Broadway
415-362-8193
www.citylights.com/?

Whale Watching at Fort Mason
See some 23 species of mammal including 18 species of whales. Gray Whale season runs from December to May. Farallon Island Whale season runs from May to November.

800-326-7491
www.oceanicsociety.org/whale

Ghirardelli Square
Site of a working chocolate factory. The scent of warm luscious chocolate hangs in the air, enticing and decadent. Schedule your trip for September and arrive just in time for the world famous Chocolate Festival.

900 N. Point St.
415-775-5500
www.ghirardellisq.com

Golden Gate Bridge
Architect, Joseph Strauss's labor of love was completed in 1937. When Strauss first conceived of the notion of building a bridge to connect San Francisco to Marin County, city leaders regarded it as an implausible pipe dream. Now some 72 years later it still stands as an enduring symbol of San Francisco.

www.goldengate.org/?

Haight Ashbury
Made famous as a must see destination during the 60's "Summer of Love". The Haight once again came to prominence when it played a pivotal role in Armisted Maupin's "Tales of the City". The Haight is still a mecca for aging hippies and cutting edge hipsters alike

Haight and Ashbury Streets
415-391-2000

Lombard St
Perhaps the most famous street in America, Lombard St. features 9 hair pin turns in one city block.

www.sftravel.com/lomabardcrookedstreet.html?

Coit Tower
Situated atop Telegraph Hill, the Art Deco Coit Tower celebrates volunteer firefighters of the 1850's and 1860's. The interior includes frescoes inspired by Diego Rivera and painted by some of Rivera's students. Coit Tower was one of numerous beautification projects commissioned as part of the Work Progress Administration(WPA). WPA was part of President Roosevelt's, "New Deal".

1 Telegraph Hill Blvd
415-362-0808

Tours

Bay Quackers DUCK Tour
Take this fun tour in the Bay Quackers Amphibious vehicle. As much fun on water as on land.

http://www.bayquackers.com/index.html

Red & White Fleet Bay Cruises
Celebrate the 70^th Anniversary of San Francisco's oldest Bay cruise company. Departing from Pier 43 ½ at Fisherman's Wharf.

800-668-4322

http://www.redandwhite.com/?

The Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruises
Join the Legendary Blue and Gold fleet for their lunch, dinner, dancce, weekend, champagne brunch and special event cruises. Call or check the website for more information

800.668-4322
http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/?.

Driving Tour
If you're up for drive then make it the 49 Mile Drive. The tour path is marked by Blue and White Seagull signs. The drive wends its way through the entire city and features some of the most breathtaking scenery anywhere.

http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/maps/49miledrive.asp?

Segway Tours
After a 45 minute training on the proper way to handle the Segway, you're ready to head out on any of The Electric Tour Company's Segway Tours. A fun and exciting way to see some of San Francisco historic sites.

http://www.electrictourcompany.com/?

The San Francisco Treat
Long seen as synonymous with San Francisco, the Cable Car is a historic landmark. San Francisco's Cable Cars are among only a handfull still operational in America. With three lines running, the Cable Car is an ideal way to tour San Francisco's historic neighborhoods like Russian Hill and Nob Hill.

http://www.sfcablecar.com/?

Helicopter/Cruise
See San Francisco from above. See San Francisco from above on one of the most exciting and romantic tours. After flying over San Francisco's diversity of landscapes, wind down with a relaxing dinner cruise.

San Francisco Vista Helicopter Tour with Sunset Dinner Cruise