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Alcatraz Island
Known by many as The Rock, Alcatraz Island is located just north of San Francisco in San Francisco Bay. The United States Department of Justice used the island as a military prison from 1868 to 1933, and then as a federal prison for dangerous criminals from 1933 until 1963. In 1972 Alcatraz became part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. It is a beautiful island in itself, home to one of the largest western gull colonies on the northern California coast, the first lighthouse built on the Pacific Coast (1854), and spectacular views of San Francisco and the Bay. It’s an interesting and exciting adventure so head to Pier 41 and hop on the ferry.
Cable Cars
One of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco are the famed cable cars. They look like they were especially made for tourists, but were actually created out of a necessity. If you have walked around San Francisco’s downtown, you’ll know what I mean: the slopes are so steep, ordinary tramways could not drive up the hills.
The history of San Francisco’s cable cars goes back to 1869, when Andrew Smith Hallidie, the owner of a wire-rope factory, saw a horse-drawn streetcar slide backwards under its heavy load, causing the death of five horses. This accident, together with his experience of the use of wire-rope for pulling cars in mines, brought
Andrew Hallidie to build the first cable car in San Francisco. It took until 1873 before the first cabled streetcar started operations. The system was used in several other cities, but most switched to electric streetcars, which became practical in the late 19th century.
Several lines started operations in the late 19th and early 20th century. The decline of the cable cars started after the 1906 earthquake, when many cable cars were replaced by electric streetcars. In the 1940s, several lines were replaced by buses. In 1947, mayor Lapham tried to close the cable cars, but a committee set up to save the cable car system campaigned successfully to keep the cars in operation. In 1954 though, several lines were abolished, leading to the current 3 lines. Between 1982 and 1984, the cable car system, which was in a deplorable state, was rebuilt and the cars were renovated.
The three current operating lines are Powell-Mason, Powell-Hyde and California lines. The first two start at a turntable at Market & Powell street and the last one starts at Market & Drumm Street.
The Powell-Mason line runs over Nob Hill, Russian Hill and ends at Aquatic Park.
The Powell-Hyde line runs over Nob Hill to Fisherman’s Wharf.
The California Street line runs from the Financial district over Chinatown, Nob Hill to the Van Ness Avenue.
Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in North-America, but it is also the most commercial. Unlike the Chinatowns in Vancouver or New York, San Francisco’s Chinatown is in some areas filled with tourist shops. Still, it has a lot of charm and atmosphere.
Besides the well known Chinatown Gate, the approx.
24-block area contains a lot of pagoda-roofed buildings, as well as nicely decorated lamp posts and phone booths in Chinese style. Chinatown also has several temples; three of them are located in the Waverly Place, which is also known as the ’street of painted balconies’. This street is certainly worth a visit. Another nice and much-photographed place in Chinatown is the corner of California and Grant, which has some nice pagoda-roofed buildings.
The best way to visit San Francisco’s Chinatown is by strolling through the streets. The area you should visit is located between Stockton Street and Grant Street, which has the best Chinatown atmosphere.
Attractions in China town:
- Grant Avenue is the more tourist-oriented street in Chinatown, particularly on the end nearest Union Square and the Chinatown Gate.
-Wok Wiz offers excellent guided walking tours of San Francisco Chinatown. Some include a dim sum lunch. Reservations required.
-The Chinese Cultural Center: Two San Francisco Chinatown walks, focusing on heritage or cuisine. Reservations required.
-Chinatown Gate
-St. Mary’s Church
-Portsmouth Square
-Waverly Place
-Clarion Music Center
-Tien Hou Temple
-Spofford Alley
-Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
-Stockton Street
Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf, the district that stretches from Telegraph Hill to Fort Mason, was originally San Francisco’s busy industrial area and fishing port. The wharf has Aquatic Park on one end and Pier 39 on the other, and views of scenic San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz in between. A slow walk along these five blocks takes about 30 minutes. Allow more time for souvenir shopping, stopping at the Fisherman’s Wharf attractions listed below, or if you plan to eat in one of the Fisherman’s Wharf restaurants. While Fisherman’s Wharf supplies only a fraction of the fish served in San Francisco’s restaurants these days, some vintage Monterey Hull fishing boats and modern diesel boats still work from here, and if you get up early enough, you can see the fishermen bringing in their catch.
The boat for Alcatraz leaves from the eastern end of Fisherman’s Wharf. Alcatraz tours sell out a week or more in advance, especially in the summer, so it pays to reserve ahead. Many San Francisco visitors choose to stay at Fisherman’s Wharf to be near the world famous attractions. The Port of San Francisco manages Fisherman’s Wharf including sport and commercial fishing. San Francisco’s fishing fleet docks at the Jefferson Street promenade. Get there early to see the fishermen unloading their catch or come later for the view of the boats.
Fisherman’s Wharf Attractions
Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, USS Pampanito and SS Jeremiah O’Brien, Pier 45, Fish Alley, Cannery Shopping Center,San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.
Ghirardelli Square
An old red brick building, a city-block large, was the site of the Ghirardelli chocolate factory in the late 1890s. The company flourished in that location (having done well earlier at their Jackson Square location - still standing since the 1850s surviving the 1906 earthquake). In the 1960s the company was bought out but a larger conglomerate and moved to another facility. Various city denizens became fearful that this wonderful old structure would be razed to make way for sparkling new apartments units. With their efforts the Ghirardelli building was spared. The name - and the enormous 125-foot wide lit sign - remains forever ingrained on the edifice. Today it is known as Ghirardelli Square and is the home of several specialty stores and several restaurants as well as a couple of art galleries. It was one of the earliest successful structural-reuse projects in the US that aimed to preserve the historic past. Upon arriving here you will immediately notice an amazing view of the water and harbor.
Alcatraz Island is visible in the immediate distance. Walk within the red walls and you’ll find a beautiful open-air patio with benches, potted plants, food and novelty carts and a sculpture fountain. Certainly you won’t want to miss the Ghirardelli chocolate outlet that lends the square its name. Browse the many shops and have a bite at one of the restaurants. The views are terrific. Nearby you can wander over to Fisherman’s Wharf and watch the fisherman bring in their daily haul.
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge, completed after more than four years of construction at a cost of $35 million. The Golden Gate Bridge’s 4,200 foot long main suspension span was a world record that stood for 27 years. The bridge’s two towers rise 746 feet making them 191 feet taller than the Washington Monument. This landmark defines San Francisco. The gateway where the Bay meets the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge has established the boundary to riches for people throughout history. At the time it was the largest suspension bridge on the globe. It connects Santa Rosa with the Presidio Park and is an almost spooky sight when shrouded in the mist. The best chance to seen the bridge covered in clouds is in the early morning.
You can walk across the bridge, this takes a little (lot) more time than the bicycle but is an experience you will never forget. It can be very windy to walk across so dress warmly with a good jacket.
The bridge is about 4 km long, so think twice before you cross it on foot to have a view on downtown San Francisco from the other side of the bridge. A lot of people turn back after they cross the first pillar because the usually strong wind makes the bridge tremble significantly.
This flexibility makes the bridge less vulnarable for earthquakes, as is proven with the big eartquakes in San Francisco. If you cross it by car, remember you’ll have to pay toll. The best way to go to the Golden Gate Bridge from downtown is by walking through the Presidio Park along the Bay. It is a pleasant trip along cliffs with a nice panorama. You will find the Golden Gate Bridge at the northern end of the Park. Actually, you can’t miss it as you will see the bridge a long time before you reach it
Lombard Street
Known as the “crookedest” street in the world, the steep, hills and sharp curves of this one-way road pass by grand Victorian mansions and attract millions of tourists each year. It is best known for one block on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, with eight sharp turns (or switchbacks) that have earned the street the distinction of being the most crooked (winding) street in the United States.
The main attraction of Lombard Street is watching people drive down the crooked, one-block section, or driving down it yourself. On a busy day, a seemingly-endless stream of automobiles and scooters buzz down, their passengers squealing in mock fear at every turn. If you’re on foot, you can walk down (or up) the sidewalks and watch the show. The best place to photograph Lombard Street is from the bottom, looking up.
North Beach
North Beach is probably the calmest, quietest time in North Beach is the morning. It has been a predominantly Italian neighborhood. Italian immigrants who first arrived in San Francisco in the 1860s chose North Beach because it reminded them of home and, up until the 1940s, offered affordable housing. North Beach is a perfect place for a lunch date. It is walking distance from the Downtown and Financial Districts. With its wide variety of restaurants, it can satisfy just about every taste and budget. I particularly like to meet out-of-town visitors in North Beach because of its history, local color, and wonderful array of unique shops in which to browse.
The Shops
Most of the shops are on Grant Avenue, Columbus Avenue, and Stockton Street, between Broadway and Chestnut Street, and on their intersecting streets. Throughout, but especially on Stockton Street, you will also find Chinese markets and shops; Chinatown, whose northern border is “officially” Broadway, is expanding north. While there is metered parking on the streets throughout North Beach, finding a vacant spot is difficult. There are at least 20 more small lots and garages throughout North Beach. When you visit, pick up copy of the free monthly North Beach Now newspaper, available in most shops and restaurants; it is filled with information on what’s going on in North Beach and has a comprehensive Parking Guide which you can save for future visits.
The most complete and efficient way to shop North Beach is to methodically walk up and down the three main streets, making short detours on the side streets. This assumes, of course, an ideal world in which all the shops you wish to visit are open. The reality of North Beach is that, while most shops are open by noon, some may be closed for unexpected or unknown reasons. Also, many shops still follow the North Beach tradition of closing on Wednesdays. A mention of North Beach to a longtime San Francisco resident will bring nostalgic thoughts of a Little Italy, the Beat Generation, and Carol Doda and the topless dance clubs. Most guide books give tourists much the same view. What is not that well known is that there are a lot of high-style shops in North Beach. Here are some highlights of what I consider some of North Beach’s most interesting shops.
Pier 39
What: A former commercial pier converted into a shopping and dining complex
Where: San Francisco waterfront off The Embarcadero between Grant and Stockton
When: Visit Pier 39 any time of day
Who: Pier 39 appeals mostly to shoppers and souvenir-seekers, but everyone enjoys the sea lions that live beside the pier
How Long: A few minutes to a few hours, depending on how much shopping you do, and whether you hang around for one of the shows.
Tips: Take advantage of the rest rooms at Pier 39, they are free and you may not find one again soon. If you park in the Pier 39 parking lot across the street, pay attention to the discounts they offer for purchases.
Pier 39 is touristy to the extreme. You may find some of it tacky (or not), but try to pick out the things that appeal to you and don’t let the crowds get you flustered, and if you really want to avoid the Pier 39 crowds altogether, go around the outside of Pier 39, then follow the water over to Fisherman’s Wharf.
Pier 39 Sights
Most of Pier 39 is filled with shops and restaurants, but there are a few attractions at Pier 39 of general interest:
Venetian Carousel: A beautifully carved and painted carousel made in Italy, the only carousel in the country that has artistic renderings of its home city.
Crystal Geyser Center Stage: Some of San Francisco’s best street performs appear at several shows daily near Pier 39.
Pier 39 Marina: On the quiet east side of Pier 39, you can enjoy views of the marina and city.
Great San Francisco Adventure: A 30-minute destination film highlighting the history, scenic beauty, celebrations, people and enchantment of San Francisco.
Aquarium of the Bay:A “diver’s-eye"view of marine life in the San Francisco Bay. In crystal-clear, acrylic tunnels, visitors travel on a moving walkway through 707,000 gallons of bay water, and come nose-to-gill with 10,000 marine creatures.
Sea Lions: The Pier 39 sea lions took over some of the nearby docks in 1990, and now they’re a year-round sight. You can see them from Pier 39, but the view is better from Pier 41. They’re always jostling around for the best spot to lie in the sun.
Forbes Island: The world’s only man-made floating island is open for dining every Wednesday through Sunday.
Union Square
Union Square is San Francisco’s top destination for shopping. An actual park that became a primary focus for renovation and restoration this past year. The square itself underwent a much needed $25 million facelift, transforming one of San Francisco’s oldest patches of greenery into a wide open space for tourists and locals alike.
Unions Square is ringed by Macy’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nike Town and Levi’s stores along with colorful flower stands and street performers. Surrounding streets feature superstores like Virgin Megastore, FAO Schwarz, Gump’s and Britex Fabrics along with boutiques for Coach, Bulgari, Cartier, Thomas Pink, Louis Vuitton, MaxMara, Emporio Armani, Diesel, Prada, Celine, Escada, Gucci, Guess, Hermes, Agnes B., Betsey Johnson and Wilkes Bashford. However, you should be particularly careful in this area, as it is notorious for extensive panhandling and also close to surrounding less desirable neighborhoods.
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