ADMISSION: there is no cost to enter Alcatraz prison, but you must pay for the ferry ride here and back; ages 12-61 $26, age 62+ $24.50, ages 5-11 $16, age 4 and under enter Free; cruises to Alcatraz frequently sell out as much as 2 weeks in advance in the summer and near holidays

DAYS & HOURS: departures every half hour beginning at 9a-3:55p plus 610p and 6:45p night tours; tours combined with Angel Island are also available depending on the season;

ADDRESS: Alcatraz Island  MAP

TRANSIT: catch the ferry at Fisherman’s Wharf Pier 41; book your reservation at https://www.alcatrazcruises.com

PARKING: at Fisherman's Wharf garage

PHONE: 415-981-7625

WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz

Ghirardelli Square
DESCRIPTION: The great chocolate maker, Domingo Ghirardelli opened his first store downtown in 1856; in 1893, his sons bought the entire block which is home to Ghirardelli Square today; by the 1960s, In the 1960's, Ghirardelli Chocolate was sold and relocated it to a modern new facility across the bay in San Leandro; in 1964, two real estate developers with a sense for history, engaged with the city to renovate the entire Ghirardelli block - in what is known as one of the earliest adaptive reuse projects in the country; today one can get self-absored in all the shopping and fine dining with priceless waterfront views and talented street performers in the historic Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory; to top things off, a both Cable Car and a vintage Muni Streetcar stop nearby and there's a Fairmont Heritage Place hotel in Ghirardelli Square

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Thu 10a-6p; Fri-Sun 10a-9p; restaurants open later

ADDRESS: 900 North Point Street  MAP

TRANSIT: Hyde Street Cable Car turnaround is 1.5 blocks away, adjacent to Aquatic Park; Taylor Street turnaround is a 5-minute walk; Muni F line stops within a block

PARKING: 6a–2, daily; $2.25 every 20 minutes $30 maximum for up to 24 hours; parking validation with a purchase at stores and restaurants; enter garage on Beach Street between Larkin & Polk Streets.

PHONE: 415-775-5500

WEBSITE: http://www.ghirardellisq.com

Del Monte Square
DESCRIPTION: built in 1907 and once the largest peach cannery in the world, it was operated as a fruit cannery by the Del Monte Company until 1937; in 1963, the historic structure was saved as a place for people to shop and relax in romantic European marketplaces; a smart team of architects, desgners and engineers restore the abandoned cannery into a three-level complex of brick walkways and bridges encasing an emporium of fine stores, restaurants and entertainment venues surrounding a courtyard with 130-year-old olive trees; still called The Cannery by most locals, today this red brick warehouse remains an energetic waterfront marketplace featuring unique shops and restaurants, live entertainment, and a world-class jazz club

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Thu 10a-6p; Fri-Sun 10a-9p; restaurants open later

ADDRESS: 2801 Leavenworth Street  MAP

TRANSIT: Hyde Street Cable Car turnaround is 1/2 block away, adjacent to Aquatic Park; Taylor Street turnaround is a 5-minute walk; Muni F line stops within a block

PARKING: Anchorage Parking Garage is 1/2 block away at 500 Beach Street; 2-hour validation available at some Cannery restaurants

PHONE: 415-771-3112

WEBSITE: http://www.delmontesquare.com

North Beach
DESCRIPTION: San Francisco's version of a neon red-light district blending into a traditional Italian-American district; although it has strip bars, the doormen and signage do not offend a typical family walking by, besides they make their money on single men; the Italian part of the district has the finest collection of Italian restaurants in the city and a fancy Beatnik-era bookstore, City Lights, at the corner of Columbus Ave, Jack Kerouac Alley and the landmark Coppola Building

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily, the district is vibrant from dawn until late at night

ADDRESS: Columbus Ave from Washington Street to Leavenworth Street  MAP

TRANSIT: Hyde Street Cable Car runs on the northern portion of the district above Broadway

PARKING: mostly on street; some restaurants offer valet parking

WEBSITE: http://www.sfnorthbeach.org

Chinatown
DESCRIPTION: The first Chinese arrived here in 1848, today this district retains the highest density of Chinese restaurants, shops and street vendors in California; its exciting to visit, but not for the claustrophobic; you can get great unique gifts and excellent Dim Sum here; the fireworks and dragon during Chinese New Year are a must-see event enjoyed by all San Franciscans and savvy visitors

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: Grant Street from Bush to Broadway, enter at the Dragon's Gate" at Grant Avenue and Bush Street  MAP

TRANSIT: California Street Cable Car stops at the district

PARKING: street parking near impossible to locate; take transit, taxi or walk from a garage located a few blocks away

WEBSITE: http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com

Union Square
DESCRIPTION: Two years before the Gold Rush, in 1847, Jasper O'Farrell designed Union Square as a public plaza; by the 1880s, it was a fashionable residential district, and in 1903, the towering monument was added; after the great earthquake of 1906, Union Square became San Francisco's premier shopping district, and by the 1930s, the site of the world's first underground parking structure; after a $25 million renewal, it remains the city’s shopping Mecca ringed by Macy's, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nike Town and flower stands; a little further to the south you find Virgin Megastore; to the east you find Gump's for fine oriental gems; there are as many chi-chi designer stores as Beverly Hills nearby including: Coach, Bulgari, Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada, Hermes, and Wilkes Bashford

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily, sunrise to sunset

ADDRESS: surrounded by Post, Powell, Geary and Stockton Streets  MAP

TRANSIT: Powell Street Cable Car stops at the square; Powell Street BART Station is 2 blocks south of the square
PARKING: garage underneath the park; begins at $3 per hour with a tops fee of $31 for 24 hours

WEBSITE: http://www.unionsquareshop.com

The Embarcadero
DESCRIPTION: A reborn attraction in the city that may in the future, rival the Champs Elysees in Paris; its incredible to think that many in the city fought against its wonderful rebirth seen today; though no one welcomes the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, it forced the city to tear down the eyesore Embarcadero Freeway which obliterated the waterfront; despite lots of political lobbying to rebuild the eyesore freeway, the city widely replaced it with a palm landscaped boulevard, priceless vistas of the bay, a linear jogging-biking trail, major works of public art, historic markers, and attractive access to the Ferry Building and Embarcadero Center; the Embarcadero has become so popular, hotels and restaurants have raced to claim the last remaining places on its waterfront path and piers are being adaptively re-imagined for favorable public uses as well; note that odd-numbered piers are north above the Ferry Building and even-numbered piers below the Ferry Building

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: AT&T Park on its southern axis up to Pier 39 at its northern axis  MAP

TRANSIT: California Street Cable Car and Embarcadero BART Station are only one block west of the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero; Muni F line of vintage streetcars runs from Market Street to the Ferry Building and up the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf
PARKING: paid parking lots are located along the Embarcadero

WEBSITE: none

Ferry Building
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1898 and rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, the 660 feet long Ferry Building with a a 245-foot-tall clock tower modeled after the 12th century bell tower in the Seville Cathedral in Spain boomed for many years as ferries were the fastest way to travel from the East Bay; then in 1936 the San Francisco Bay Bridge opened for cars and trains, triggering a major decline in ferry traffic; by 1955, it was converted to office space, which probably save it once the double-decker Embarcadero Freeway eyesore opened in front of it in 1957 to accomodate cars; after mnay years looking seedy; this remarkable attraction would never have been revitalized, if the 1989 quake hadn't forced the freeway to be torn down in 1991; once again visible to the public, enlightened politicians saw anothe tourist attraction-rebirth of ferries and tax generator as impetus to complete a major renovation in 2002; today its hosts an outside Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, cafes, bars, and specialty vendors of wine, cheese, coffee, vegetables, fruit, meats and fish keep the place busy, while the vaulted skylight always feels comfortable inside rain or shine; sip a cocktail several bars/cafes open to the bay so you watch or catch a ferry to Larkspur, Sausalito, Oakland, Alameda or spend a couple hours being creatively leisure

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 10a–6p, Sat 9a–6p, Sun 11a–5p

ADDRESS: 1 Ferry Building  MAP

TRANSIT: The hub of the San Francisco Bay ferries with California Street Cable Car and Embarcadero BART Station only one block west and the Muni F line of vintage streetcars runs stopping in front
PARKING: paid parking lots on the premises

WEBSITE: http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

 

Teatro ZinZanni

DESCRIPTION: A intoxicating mix of European cabaret, cirque, divas and madmen, fine arts, interactive theater, spectacle and sensuality with live music and a gourmet 5-course dinner; the ever changing cast features world-class practitioners of some of the oldest and most time honored traditions in entertainment magic in an intimate venue

ADDRESS: Pier 29
WEBSITE: http://www.love.zinzanni.org

Yerba Buena Gardens
DESCRIPTION: In 1980, Mayor Dianne Feinstein and the Redevelopment Agency issued an invitation to developers worldwide to "create a magnificent urban garden that featured the arts; Opening in 1993, Fumihiko Maki's daring architecture meets peaceful gardens meets family entertainment center over a convention center; this wonderful, but hard to categorize public treasure is the place to meet someone; includes the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Waterfall, Esplanade, Center for the Arts Gallery, Center for the Arts Theater, Sony Metreon entertainment complex, Zeum childrens Museum, a bowling center, ice rink, children's garden, Child Care Center, Convention Center Ballroom; Museum of the African Diaspora, Museum of Modern Art and Contemporary Jewish Museum across the street; as you would expect, its a popular setting for experimental artistic performances and Indie films; the lawn of Yerba Buena Gardens is also great for relaxing and sometimes includes Summer concerts; ohhhh ... did we mention that a giant convention center lies underneath

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily sunrise to sunset
ADDRESS: Third Street, Mission Ave, Fourth Street and Howard Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: Powell Street BART Station only one block north and 1 block west, Muni F line on Market Street only one block north
PARKING: garage on 3rd Street next to the Museum of Modern Art

PHONE: 415-820-3550 Management Office
WEBSITE: http://www.yerbabuenagardens.com

Crookedest Street in the World
DESCRIPTION: Perhaps you’ve seen post cards of the garden-lined street the crookedly winds down a residential hill -- there’s nothing like the real thing; the crooked designopened in 1922 to reduce the hill's 27% grade,[ which was too steep for most vehicles to climb, to a 16% grade on the block long crooked section of the street; the street travels 5 mph one-way east (downhill) and is paved with red bricks and landscaped gardens

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: Lombard Street between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets  MAP
TRANSIT: on your way back up the Powell-Hyde Cable Car line from Fisherman’s Wharf, exit at Lombard Street, walk two blocks to encounter the Crookedest Street, then walk down hill on Lombard for three blocks to catch the Powell-Mason Cable Car line on Columbus Ave for a return ride downtown

PARKING: none and there is strict parking enforcement to reduce noise in the neighborhood

WEBSITE: none

Haight-Ashbury District
DESCRIPTION: The center of '1960s Hippie-era, it has an eclectic collection of anarchist bookstores, piercing salons, offbeat clothing shops, head shops and restaurants set amidst Victorian houses; despite gentrification it remains a focal point for alternative lifestyles

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: Haight Street from Central Ave to Golden Gate Park  MAP

TRANSIT: Muni J Line

PARKING: on street

WEBSITE: http://www.haightstreet.com

Mission District
DESCRIPTION: On Mission Street between 16th and 24th Streets, lies the heart of San Francisco's Latino community; a colorful collection of authentic Mexican restaurants, produce markets, bakeries, specialty shops and attractive murals; two blocks east of Mission at Dolores and 18th Street, Spanish-style Dolores Park sites adorned with mature palm trees -- its a wonderful site to relax from the hectic pace of the Mission District

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: Mission Street between 13th Street and Cesar Chavez Street  MAP

TRANSIT: several BART station line the street

PARKING: on street

WEBSITE: none

Cliff House
DESCRIPTION: first built as a bath house in 1863 by Adolph Sutro and rebuilt several times, it is the best place to watch and photograph seals off the Pacific Ocean coast and to watch San Franciscans enjoying Ocean Beach; it had two predecessors that burned to the ground to form runs adjacent to the Cliff House, so the third Cliff House is more modest than the eight-story French chateau built; now operated by the National Park Service as a restaurant, bistro, lounge and visitor attraction; the Sunday Brunch is quite popular

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: Sun—Thur 9am—12a, Fri-Sat 9a-1a
ADDRESS: 1090 Point Lobos  MAP

TRANSIT: Muni bus

PARKING: lots within walking distance
PHONE: 415-386-3330
WEBSITE: http://www.cliffhouse.com