San Francisco Sightseeing

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that New York City is impressive. Often referred to as the “Big Apple,” the “City That Never Sleeps” or the “Capital of the World,” New York is one of the most vibrant urban centers on the planet, and also one of the largest.

When people talk about New York, they typically mean Manhattan, which is but one of five boroughs that make up the city proper, the others being Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. The full metropolitan area, which includes nearby Long Island, Westchester County, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, has a population upwards of 18 million.

New York draws tourists from around the globe, not only for its rich cultural and historical attractions, but also because it is a major center for media, theater, food, fashion, art, research, finance, trade and nightlife. It also has one of the most famous skylines on earth, dominated by the iconic Empire State Building.

First-time visitors can’t go wrong by hitting the traditional tourist spots: the top of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Greenwich Village and SoHo, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, Central Park, even Times Square. But those looking for more local, authentic experiences, plan a trip to Brooklyn to check out the Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park and the Botanical Gardens; Manhattan’s Lower East Side for a taste of old-world immigrant history meets modern-day hipsters and nascent art scene; or Jackson Heights in Queens, for the best Indian and Thai food outside of Asia.

San Francisco, a bustling, cosmopolitan city in northern California, is the centerpiece of the Bay Area, well-known for its diverse ethnic and political communities, hilly terrain, world-class restaurants and scenic beauty.

It is the home of the ‘50s beat generation, the ‘60s flower power students, the ‘70s gay rights movement, the ‘80s culinary revolution and, of course, the ‘90s technology boom. Today, the city remains the epicenter for all things cyber and is on the leading edge of the sustainable food movement.  

Ride a cable car, walk across (or windsurf under) the Golden Gate Bridge, scribble poetry in a North Beach café, shop at the hip boutiques along Union Street, check out the latest exhibit at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, see an opera, then club-crawl through cyber-cool South of Market.

So much to see and do, it’s no wonder why Tony Bennett left his heart there.

The Fairmont San Francisco is central to the Financial District, Union Square, and Fisherman's Wharf. With an endless number of landmarks punctuating the horizon, including Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Golden Gate Bridge, it's easy to navigate the city's many interesting neighborhoods. San Francisco's vibrant cultural heritage, combined with its incredible architecture and stunning views, make it one of the most popular cities to visit in the world. The two restaurants and two lounges provide guests with an extensive selection of mouth-watering cuisine. To unwind, guests can pay a visit to the Club One Health Center & Spa. The hotel also has meeting facilities, 24-hour room service, business services, concierge, currency exchange, doctor on call, hairdresser, laundry/valet, valet parking, and plenty more.Each of the hotel's spacious guestrooms and suites were also redecorated in elegant style. Rooms feature cable TV, alarm clock radios, plush terry cloth bathrobes, extra-long mattresses, irons and ironing boards, minibars, safes, dual-line-telephones, voicemail, bathroom amenities, dataports, fax machines, and high-speed Internet access. Refrigerators are available upon request.

Located in The Westin St. Francis, in Union Square, the heart of San Francisco, Michael Mina is right where you want to be when visiting the City by the Bay. Jump on a cable car and bring your appetite for American cuisine. Sample dishes from their Three Course Seasonal Menu or feast on succulent selections like ahi tuna tartare, miso glazed sea bass, crispy kurobuta pork loin and maine lobster pot pie. For dessert, indulge in brioche bread pudding, warm chocolate pudding cake or a traditional root beer float. Maintaining an atmosphere of modern elegance, Michael Mina is the ideal restaurant for having a cocktail with friends, out-of-town guests or business associates.

The first thing you will learn here is that the fanciful polychrome paint jobs on San Francisco's Victorians are a recent invention. This turreted-and-gabled gingerbread fantasy is a uniform and authentic shade of gray. Inside, this large house still feels like the family home that it was from 1886 to 1972, with rooms covered in expensive wood paneling, embossed wallpapers and featuring marble fireplaces. Guided tours leave every 20-30 minutes and last about an hour.

San Francisco has had a riotous past, to put it mildly, and this 3.8-mile tour takes you to most of the famous spots where things happened, as well as many other points of historical and cultural interest. Eras of interest here range from the Gold Rush times to the present. Follow the brass medallions and arrows in the sidewalk from the Old Mint at Fifth and Mission to Aquatic Park for a great way to see the city. Printed guides, audio tours and guided tours are available. See website for further details on each.

The Old Mint designed by Alfred B Mullet in the conservative Greek Revival style, was the first building to be completed in 1874. It was the busiest mint in US during the gold rush and is one of the city's oldest stone buildings which has been abandoned since 1993. It is part of the National Historic Landmark and is now used as a museum for the city of San Francisco. The Old Mint building is one of San Francisco's most beautiful architectural marvels.

Conventional wisdom holds that this monument is shaped like a fire-hose nozzle. It is not, at least not by design. The tower is the gift of Lilly Hitchcock Coit, an eccentric heiress who managed to stand out in a city full of them. Lilly's particular passion was for the San Francisco Fire Department. So when the money she left in her will for the city's beautification was used to construct the art deco tower on Telegraph Hill in 1932, people made assumptions. The view from here is one of the most impressive in San Francisco, taking in the Bay, two bridges, and the Marin Headlands. Inside, the first floor is decorated with excellent murals, commissioned in 1933, depicting San Francisco's history.

Get a little history of the wild wild west Wells Fargo-style, and check out the great collection of Gold Rush memorabilia here. The artifacts illustrate the impact of Wells Fargo in the development of the American West. You can view an original Concord stagecoach, strong boxes, gold nuggets, and mining tools, as well as century old photographs and documents of days gone past. The bookstore offers an excellent selection of books about the history of the area and of Wells Fargo.

Constructed as a temporary attraction for the 1915 Pan-Pacific International Exhibition, this Grecian temple of a monument continues to enchant and enhance the city. The original plaster, which made up the monuments exterior, has been gradually replaced with funds raised by Marinas well-heeled residents who were loath to lose such a graceful part of their landscape. Swans in the adjoining lagoon glide by the soaring ochre-tinted colonnades and the imposing dome ringed with panels of centaurs and warriors engaged in battle over nubile maidens. Those column-top statues of sorrowing maidens turned away from prying eyes are using their tears to water the long-gone oaks that originally stood in the planters that they surround. Stroll inside the dome, clap your hands and marvel at the uncanny acoustics, then enjoy a picnic lunch on one of the park benches scattered to provide an unparalleled view of this gem.

If you want to know how a cable car works, Cable Car Museum is the place to learn. The world's first cable car rests here and with it a concise explanation of how those little cable cars go halfway to the stars. In an underground viewing area, you can look at the system's enormous cable wheels, which pull 11 miles (18 kilometers) of cable at 9.5 miles (15 kilometers) per hour. The cable cars move by clamping onto it. Examine closely the steel cables, gears, and pulleys that bring this city's most famous transportation to life. Don't miss the gift shop, where you can purchase your very own length of used cable! Opens daily at 10 am

This lively addition to the downtown scene is in equal parts a Pacific Rim restaurant, brewery and live music venue. The food is great, but many people come simply to sip a beer and to listen to upcoming Bay Area musicians. Lighter eaters can enjoy an exotic salad, such as the Papaya-Avocado with spicy Asian greens. Folks with an appetite can feast on Indonesian Fried Rice or Javanese Grilled Salmon.

Acting as a major cultural destination since 1895, the de Young Museum re-opened in October 2005, newly housed in a facility designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron and Fong & Chan Architects in San Francisco. The Building is magnificent and from the observation tower you can get a great view of the park. It is open, airy and massive. It als o has a perforated and embossed copper facade which goes very well with the greenery around the museum. The museum has world-renowned collections of American Painting and Sculpture dating from the 17th to the 20th century. Also is Primitive Art highly represented with extraordinary pieces from Native American Art (from the ancient Teotihuacan City), African Art (statues and potteries) and Oceanic Art (shields, dance dress and masks).

An engineering masterpiece, this bridge, built in 1937, towers with sturdy grace over the Golden Gate. Stretching over 4,200 feet, it is every bit as awesome an accomplishment in suspension-bridge engineering today as it was over half a century ago. Pedestrians and bike riders can access the east entrance for a jaunt on one of the world's most famous corridors. For photos, or to view the bridge in its entirety, try the spectacular lookout points located at the southeast and northeast ends. Don't miss the historic Roundhouse, a gift shop/visitors center, which boasts a fine selection of souvenirs, and an informative exhibit about the bridge's construction and history.

In the late 1800s, a Scotsman named John McLaren transformed more than 1000 acres (405 hectares) of sand dunes into a wondrous haven in the midst of busy city life. Stretching from Stanyan Street to the Pacific Ocean, the lush landscaping features ever-changing settings at every turn. There are trails for walking, jogging, biking, horseback riding, as well as a golf course, lawn bowling greens, soccer fields and a baseball diamond. For those seeking less strenuous diversion, check out the California Academy of Sciences and an authentic Japanese Tea Garden. For families with children, there are playgrounds, a live buffalo reserve and a carousel.You could also find the Shakespeare Garden going down a hidden lane in The Golden Gate Park.

The Conservatory of Flowers, located in Golden Gate Park transports you from San Francisco to a tropical rain forest, minus the exotic animals. The five galleries within the conservatory include the Lowland Tropics, Plotted Plants, Aquatic Plants, Highland Tropics and an ever changing special exhibit. The Conservatory of Flowers displays plants and flowers in its unique environment, offers guided school tours and is available to rent for corporate events and weddings. This gallery of flowers is a must see for any nature or horticulture lover.

This museum houses more than 87,000 paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and tapestries. Some pieces date back 4,000 years. The main floor is dedicated to the museum's permanent collection, much of which features the works of Rodin. European and ancient art are also on display. The lower garden level features temporary exhibitions, ranging from Andy Warhol to Francis Bacon. Take a break in the museum cafe, which features light snacks and has outdoor seating. The gift shop, though small, has a nice selection of postcards, books, posters, jewelry and some reproductions from this and other fine arts museums.

Located in the reborn Ferry Building, practically in the shadow of the Bay Bridge, Boulette's is a downtown gem. Diners can waltz in and choose from gourmet breakfasts and lunches made fresh every day. Furthermore, the menu itself changes daily as well, reflecting use of the freshest seasonal ingredients. Meals range from traditional French to exotic Mediterranean and more. Patrons can also choose to pick up a meal to go from the magnificent takeaway menu (which includes such delicacies as Lamb Shoulder Stew and Roasted Marrow Bones). Whole lists of soups, pastries, house-made spice blends, cured fish platters, spreads, baking ingredients, yeasts and even pet food make a visit to Boulette's a true old-world experience right on the Embarcadero. See website for full list of daily to-go items, as well as private dining info.

This impressive neo-Gothic structure crowning Nob Hill was built on the site of the Crocker Mansion after the 1906 earthquake and fire. The interior features stained glass windows in celestial blues and vibrant reds and yellows. There are also frescoes depicting the history of San Francisco and scenes from the life of San Francisco's patron saint, St. Francis of Asissi. The gilded bas-reliefs that adorn the doors of the main entrance are cast from Ghiberti's original molds for the Gates of Paradise that adorn the Baptistry in Florence. This facility also boasts an indoor and an outdoor labyrinth.It has the outdoor labyrinyth made up of Tezzaro stone and the indoor one made up of limestone.

Painted Ladies refers to the row of impressive and beautiful Victorian houses that face the park on Steiner Street. You can often see these quaint architectural wonders in the city's Downtown area. The Alamo Square Park, which is located at the top of a hill, provides a brilliant view of these architectural mansions. The Painted Ladies is depicted in several photographs and postcards of San Francisco and also features in the opening credits of the series, Full House.

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, Union Square has been the centerpiece of the city's shopping district. With big names like Burberry, Emporio Armani, and Kate Spade lining the streets, this is the place to go for luxury retail therapy. If you need to fuel up after a long day of shopping, Union Square has a variety of dining options, from the ultra-posh to quick stops. At the heart of the square, a large open-air plaza is bustling year-round with art sales, musical performances or holiday decorations. In the center of it all stands a huge stone monument which was built in 1903 and crowned with a bronze statue of Victory.

As much a trademark of The City's skyline as the Golden Gate Bridge, this 853-foot high masterpiece, the tallest office tower in The City, is headquarters to some of San Francisco's most powerful companies. Unfortunately, the elevator, which ascends to the building's uppermost heights, is no longer open to the public. Fortunately, rooftop video cameras allow visitors to "virtually see" the bird's-eye view from the comfort of the lobby. Outside, a man-made Redwood Park offers a welcome green oasis within the concrete jungle.

This picturesque stretch of Lombard Street has eight angles along a single block. They twist at very acute angles, making for very slow going if you are in a car, though, oddly enough, cars were the reason for designing the street this way back in 1922, the idea being that this design would make it easier for them to negotiate the steep 16-percent grade. The drive is usually bumper-to-bumper and in the summertime, there is almost always a line of cars waiting to take the drive down, so a stroll is a good option, especially when the hydrangeas along the sidewalk are in bloom.

One of the busiest areas of the city, Chinatown is a hodgepodge of shops, restaurants and businesses of every kind. The vibrant and close-knit community that lives within this neighborhood has also made it one of San Francisco's top tourist destinations. Thankfully, there are many side streets, quiet shops and traditional restaurants that provide some relief from the bustle outside. Try your luck at one of the hundreds of dining options in the area, especially those serving Dim Sum, as they can be some of the best in the city. Also make sure to stop in some of the small herbal shops for some unusual trinkets and art. It is on Grant Avenue which is one of the oldest streets in Chinatown.

Gerald Hirigoyen, the restaurateur who created Fringale, which is one of the most popular restaurants in San Francisco, scores another win with this French-Basque (a region that borders Spain) bistro located in the Financial District. The concept is the same. It offers top-quality food in a charming atmosphere at reasonable prices. People flock to this attractive restaurant to enjoy Caramelized Quail, Stuffed Chicken Breast, and Marinated Rack of Lamb. Enjoy a fabulous meal that will not destroy your budget!

Beach Blanket Babylon started 30 years ago, springing from the creative mind of impresario Steve Silver, as a rag-tag collection of bizarrely costumed street theater performers. It is a fairy tale for adults, wherein Snow White takes a fast-paced musical journey in search of her Prince Charming. Along the way, Snow White encounters a star-studded, always changing, always contemporary line up of hilarious pop culture characters like Rush Limbaugh, Oprah Winfrey, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson, Martha Stewart, George W. Bush, Britney Spears and the gang from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, just for good measure! This preposterous romp is music, mayhem, madness and altogether an amazing night of nut-cake cabaret and razor sharp satirical wit. Beach Blanket Babylon is a must see for San Francisco tourists and locals.Club Fugazi is a permanent home for them as all their shows are performed here. Beach Blanket Babylon is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8pm.

The Fairmont San Francisco is central to the Financial District, Union Square, and Fisherman's Wharf. With an endless number of landmarks punctuating the horizon, including Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and the Golden Gate Bridge, it's easy to navigate the city's many interesting neighborhoods. San Francisco's vibrant cultural heritage, combined with its incredible architecture and stunning views, make it one of the most popular cities to visit in the world. The two restaurants and two lounges provide guests with an extensive selection of mouth-watering cuisine. To unwind, guests can pay a visit to the Club One Health Center & Spa. The hotel also has meeting facilities, 24-hour room service, business services, concierge, currency exchange, doctor on call, hairdresser, laundry/valet, valet parking, and plenty more.Each of the hotel's spacious guestrooms and suites were also redecorated in elegant style. Rooms feature cable TV, alarm clock radios, plush terry cloth bathrobes, extra-long mattresses, irons and ironing boards, minibars, safes, dual-line-telephones, voicemail, bathroom amenities, dataports, fax machines, and high-speed Internet access. Refrigerators are available upon request.

San Francisco, a bustling, cosmopolitan city in northern California, is the centerpiece of the Bay Area, well-known for its diverse ethnic and political communities, hilly terrain, world-class restaurants and scenic beauty.

It is the home of the ‘50s beat generation, the ‘60s flower power students, the ‘70s gay rights movement, the ‘80s culinary revolution and, of course, the ‘90s technology boom. Today, the city remains the epicenter for all things cyber and is on the leading edge of the sustainable food movement.  

Ride a cable car, walk across (or windsurf under) the Golden Gate Bridge, scribble poetry in a North Beach café, shop at the hip boutiques along Union Street, check out the latest exhibit at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, see an opera, then club-crawl through cyber-cool South of Market.

So much to see and do, it’s no wonder why Tony Bennett left his heart there.

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that New York City is impressive. Often referred to as the “Big Apple,” the “City That Never Sleeps” or the “Capital of the World,” New York is one of the most vibrant urban centers on the planet, and also one of the largest.

When people talk about New York, they typically mean Manhattan, which is but one of five boroughs that make up the city proper, the others being Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. The full metropolitan area, which includes nearby Long Island, Westchester County, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, has a population upwards of 18 million.

New York draws tourists from around the globe, not only for its rich cultural and historical attractions, but also because it is a major center for media, theater, food, fashion, art, research, finance, trade and nightlife. It also has one of the most famous skylines on earth, dominated by the iconic Empire State Building.

First-time visitors can’t go wrong by hitting the traditional tourist spots: the top of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Greenwich Village and SoHo, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, Central Park, even Times Square. But those looking for more local, authentic experiences, plan a trip to Brooklyn to check out the Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park and the Botanical Gardens; Manhattan’s Lower East Side for a taste of old-world immigrant history meets modern-day hipsters and nascent art scene; or Jackson Heights in Queens, for the best Indian and Thai food outside of Asia.