Great Sights, Fine Food, Fun Times on a San Francisco Vacation
A San Francisco vacation will delight all your senses and provide you with the opportunity to experience one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Not only will you thrill to the sights of the Golden Gate Bridge, the quaint cable cars, and the city's pastel-colored Victorian homes, but you'll also love the smells of Chinatown and the tastes of the splendid chocolate at Ghirardelli Square.
You'll want to experience every nook, cranny, and hill of this truly marvelous town, which has long been touted as one of the finest tourist cities in America.
Getting There
Reaching San Francisco via airplane isn't difficult. As a matter of fact, you may choose from three major airports in the San Francisco area: San Francisco (SFO), Oakland, and San Jose. Some travel experts advise avoiding SFO, as the inevitable fog often causes delays.
Getting Around
If you've chosen to rent a car, you may want to explore the wonderful hills on your own. Don't miss crooked Lombard Street, with its hairpin turns!
If, however, you're relying on public transportation, you'll have no problem making your way around the city.
The cable car lines can get you to most major attractions but are often crowded during the peak tourist months, when you may need to wait for the next car in order to travel to your destination. Riding them can also be costly. City buses are also available and are sometimes less crowded.
If you don't mind walking, invest in a good map (obtain one from AAA before you leave for your San Francisco vacation) and plot out your course for each day. You'll find that walking the hilly streets is fun and provides great exercise. If you stick with one area each day, you won't tire easily.
What to See
Visiting Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 are favorite activities on any San Francisco vacation. Covering about six blocks along the waterfront, the wharf and pier are home to lots of shops and restaurants.
While you may be enticed to visit the "touristy" museums like Ripley's Believe It or Not, consider instead the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park for an education on the city's maritime history.
If you don't want to eat dinner here, plan your visit in time to enjoy lunch or a mid-afternoon snack. The chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl is a must! Delicious!
Just one block from the waterfront, you'll find Ghirardelli Square. Domingo Ghirardelli began making his famous chocolate in San Francisco in the mid-1800s and today, visitors can taste this sweet delight at a retail outlet located here. Try the ice cream sundaes smothered in Ghirardelli chocolate!
A trip to island prison of Alcatraz is quite interesting but should be booked months ahead, especially during the busy summer months. If you fail to get reservations, you'll be able to sail past the island on one of the city's many harbor tours.
Chinatown provides tourists with some of the best food in the city as well as a number of souvenir shops, antique stores, and Chinese markets with unusual fruits and veggies. Choose from many fine, authentic Chinese restaurants and enjoy menu selections that you'll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
What to Bring
Remember, not all cities in California are warm and dry. Mornings and evenings are often chilly in this town, so be sure to bring a sweater or jacket along on your San Francisco vacation. Comfortable shoes or sneakers are a must as well as you'll surely be doing lots of walking. And don't forget your camera! You'll want to capture every moment!
Posted by Pat on Tuesday, September 6, 2005