It's Easy to Leave Your Heart in San Francisco

Although there are a myriad of places to choose from when selecting a vacation spot, your selection can be scarce if you factor in limiting circumstances such as lack of vacation days, ease of transportation, and relative close vicinity of the attractions to visit. This holds especially true when choosing a last minute destination, as the convenience of being able to sightsee and engage in various activities with ease becomes vital. The perfect place where you will be able to maneuver around the city without much guidance and confusion is San Francisco.

Not only are there various things to do and so many places to see -- such as the city's many districts each with its own unique ambiance -- the public transportation and close proximity of each attraction make it easy to tour the city in a limited amount of time. There is also an array of accommodations in each district. I recommend staying somewhere near Union Square, which is where I feel is the heart of San Francisco. It is basically in the center of the most well known areas of the city and is walking distance from the city's most popular restaurants and shops. In fact, where shopping is concerned, the collection of shops and boutiques in the area rivals that of Los Angeles, actually it might even be better. Within several blocks of Union Square, there are the all the major department stores you can think of, including Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus. The Macy's at Union Square is five stories and is the third largest department store in the world. There are even specialty boutiques that do not exist in Los Angeles yet, such as Juicy Couture.

I recommend staying at The Hilton in Union Square, which is in the ideal location for all the sights of San Francisco. This 4 star hotel is located 2 blocks away from Union Square and has a restaurant on the top floor, Cityscape, which provides a spectacular view of the city. There is also an outdoor heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi, perfect for relaxing after a full day of walking around town. The pristine lobby consists of numerous helpful staff that are more than welcome to recommend places to eat and attractions to see. They are also very accommodating to their guests need, as they were able to check me in my hotel room at 10 am, despite the actual check-in time being 2pm like most hotels. This ideal hotel is also located within blocks of the cable car, as well as the muni transit line as well as the subway and takes you to Fisherman's Wharf within 15 minutes, tops.

In addition, San Francisco has a very reliable mode of transportation called the BART, which conveniently takes you to and from the San Francisco International airport. For just $5.15, at approximately every 7 minutes, there is a BART that arrives at the station on Market and Powell, right in the middle of all the shopping, all within 35 minutes. Furthermore, at the BART station at the airport, there is a tram that takes you directly to your terminal. It does not get more convenient than that!

As far as tourist sites that are worthwhile, a must is the tour of Alcatraz Island (which requires advance purchase of tickets as they tend to sell out in advance). Unfortunately, there is only one way to get to Alcatraz Island and this cruise/tour is the only way to visit, so if you cannot get tickets, you are out of luck. However, there are other Bay cruises that will take you around Alcatraz Island (though you cannot actually get on the island), as well as under the Golden Gate Bridge and near Sausalito and Angel Island. These tours run frequently throughout the day and depart near Fisherman's' Wharf. The best and most popular is Blue and Gold Fleet. Best of all, you can buy your tickets on the spot.

Since near Fisherman's Wharf, the perfect thing to do after a cruise is to walk a few blocks to Ghirardelli's Square and enjoy their famous chocolates and ice cream, while enjoying the lovely view down the Bay. Walk the opposite direction and you will find yourself in the Ferry Building, where there is quite a selection of unique eateries and shops from different cultures that make San Francisco unique.

Many cultures even have their own towns/districts within San Francisco, including the historic Chinatown, Little Italy, and Japan town, where you can sample delicious and authentic ethnic food. Other districts are not cultural, but unique in it's own sense, from the trendy area of Fillmore Street, to the quaint feel of the Union Street shops. These are all located within 10 minutes drive of one another.

As much of a metropolitan city as San Francisco maybe, there is a refreshing natural aspect to this city as well, as there are parks hidden behind tall buildings and malls. The perfect place to relax is the Yerba Buena Gardens, which is a about a 15 minute walk from Union Square. On weekends during summer, there is live music and entertainment that makes this enclosed park a perfect place to relax.

San Francisco is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the excitement of the city at the same time. It is perfect for those who do not have many days to spend on a vacation, but seek an escape from their own city, as it combines all that make a city enjoyable.