What are the must-see attractions in San Francisco?

Question

My best friend is visiting from Texas and wants to see San Francisco. I’m not familiar with the area as I'm new to the South Bay and she will only be here a few days. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Alcatraz and Angel Island. Bring along a picnic and enjoy a nice hike. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=468n... You may need to book a day ahead because sometimes boats are full.

The Ferry Building is a great place to eat and get things for a picnic. They have a wonderful Saturday farmer's market. http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/

You can walk along the wharf area. It is very interesting. Be on the alert for pickpockets. Enjoy an ice cream at Ghirardelli. It has an amazing history. http://www.ghirardelli.com/

Walking through China town is nice.
Don't miss taking a cable car. The lines are long on weekends so either go early on during the week.

Check out the Asian Art museum. http://www.asianart.org/
If you like modern art go to the SF MOMA. http://www.sfmoma.com/

Pier 39, Union Square and the Ferry Building are nice locations. Prices can be high so shop around. There is an amazing farmer's market at the Ferry Building on Saturdays. Stock up with fresh fruits for the week. Ideal makings for a picnic. http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/...

Walk across the Golden Gate bridge. It can get windy so bring a light jacket.

If you are a student bring your student ID card. Many tourist places offer student discounts.

Answer 2

First off, Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39 is a must-see. Spend the entire day in downtown San Francisco... first I'd buy a ticket for a ferry out to Alcatraz and take the audio tour (it is the best kind, and very intresting and infomative). Go shop on Pier 39 and eat lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company (ask for a window seat, it's worth waiting 10 minutes for). Now, over by Ghiradelli Square is a man who hides behind a bush and scares people (he started out a hobo, but earned a bunch of cash doing this). It is just hilarious! After the "Bush Man" I'd also check out the sea lions on the docks. Somewhere in there you'll do the Alcatraz tour too, it takes about an hour and a half. Drive the most crooked part of Lumbard Street. Drive across the Golden Gate bridge after this, and check out some of the views from Sausalito. It's just beautiful. By now it'll probably be late... eat dinner somewhere else on the pier or anywhere you like, San Francisco has the most magnificent food. One more thing to do is ride a cable car downtown. Alamo Square, where Full House is filmed can also be fun if she's a fan of the show. You may need more than a day to do all of these things, but that's just the basics. San Francisco is a glorious city, embrace yourself in it.

Answer 3

The San Francisco Zoo, the Union Square, Ghiradelli shop, Japan town, Chinatown, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate park, Fisherman's Wharf, Ripley's Believe it or Not, and the Golden Gate Bridge and by the why Will Smith is shooting a movie this year in S.F. so maybe you two can try and sneak onto the set!

Answer 4

Walk the Golden Gate Bridge

Take a tour of Alcatraz (take the audio tour, it's very informative)

Walk through China Town

Buy Chocolates at Ghiradelli Square

Do major shopping in Union Square

Eat al fresco at a Cow Hollow restaurant

Drive to the top of the Twin Peaks at night and see the whole city and bay - it's gorgeous

Visit the cemetary at the Presidio - it's very peaceful there

Drive down the windy section of Lombard street.

Walk around with tourists from all over the world at Pier 39

Eat, eat, eat - http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/find/section/sanfrancisco/restaurants.html?

Have fun - it's an incredible city!

Answer 5

I think that the best, least obvious thing to see is the Point Bonita light house. It's an active lighthouse in the Marin Headlands, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation area, just across the Golden Gate bridge at the mouth of the opening to the bay.

You'll have to follow a steep path down through a long dark tunnel carved in a giant rock and cross a rickety bridge (only two at a time, please) to get to the lighthouse, which is the oldest, constantly functioning one on the West Coast and features a 100+ year old French crystal lens.

http://www.nps.gov/goga/mahe/pobo/index.htm

Plan ahead, I think it is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. On full moons, it's open at night!

Don't miss dim sum at Ton Kiang on Kearney or the Farmers Market at the Ferry building on Saturday mornings..

Answer 6

depending on your friend's age and interests:

the ferry building at market st. and embarcadero is great for sampling local food and eating a casual meal by the water. a walk down embarcadero from there towards the bridge is pleasant and interesting.

my midwestern relatives love a visit to the haight-ashbury area to see the crazies. others get the same effect in the castro.

i've driven over the golden gate bridge 10,000 or so times and i'm still awestruck every time. so, i'm thinking she might like that.

i agree with the above post: sfmoma and the asian art museum are good museum options, and if she likes art, there are tons of galleries around where kearny meets market. that's also near union square and tons of shopping, if that's her thing instead. for a shopping alternative that is more unique to s.f., go down to the mission district, on valencia around 20th street or so. and if she has a hobby or particular interest, consider finding a specialty shop or two that cater to it.

best advice: plan 2 or 3 things to do at most, and have a back up plan of 1 or 2 other possibilities. less is more when you're fighting the crowds and running from one destination to another.

Answer 7

The San Francisco Bridge of course!

Answer 8

Golden Gate Bridge
Alcatraz
Fishermen's Wharf
Cable Car
Get a tourist guide for SF

Answer 9

Follow TravelOn's advice! She about covers it all San Francisco is a beautiful place. While your there take lots of pictures.

Answer 10

i am going to san francisco!!!