Visit San Francisco - one of the most vibrant and desirable cities
San Francisco is one of our favorite cities to visit in the USA. It's home to some of America's most iconic landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Coit Tower. If you're looking for something more off-the-beaten path, though, then check out Lombard Street -- known as the "crookedest street in the world." On your next trip to San Francisco?
Here are some places I recommend visiting:
Castro District
San Francisco is a city of hills, and its heart is the Castro District, where you'll find old-school San Franciscan restaurants and bars. San Francisco's Castro District is known for its Victorian architecture and famous cable cars, but it's also one of the best places to get a taste of San Francisco's history. The area was once home to many Italian immigrants, who established businesses such as restaurants, bakeries and cafés that still exist today.
The Castro District has become synonymous with the gay community in San Francisco; however it wasn't until after World War II that gays began moving into the area en masse due to housing shortages elsewhere in town (and because landlords didn't want homosexuals living in their buildings). Today there are dozens of bars and restaurants lining its streets--along with shops selling everything from vintage clothing to artsy trinkets--so if you're looking for something different than another tourist trap, check out this neighborhood!
Mission District
The Mission District is the alternative to the Castro District. It's a hip place to visit, with its murals and street art adorning every building. The Mission District is home to many of San Francisco's best restaurants and has a vibrant nightlife scene that rivals any other in the city.
If you're looking for some culture while visiting this vibrant city, then try out one of our favorite museums:
- The de Young Museum (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) houses fine art from around the world including works by Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso among others.
- If you're traveling with kids then check out their Discovery Center where kids can explore interactive exhibits based on different themes like "art" or "science." The museum also offers free tours every day at noon!
Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf is a must-see for visitors to San Francisco. It's a great place to try some seafood, see some museums, and take a boat tour or visit Alcatraz Island.
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island was once home to one of America's most infamous prisons, which shut down in 1963. Alcatraz Island is a small island in the San Francisco Bay. It was home to a prison from 1934 until 1963, when it was closed due to high costs and low security. Nowadays, Alcatraz serves as a museum that offers tours through its historic buildings and structures.
The island has long been considered an ideal location for military fortifications due to its proximity to San Francisco Bay and access to fresh water sources such as springs on Angel Island (which you can see from Alcatraz). In 1775 Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala charted San Francisco Bay's entrance with his ship "San Carlos"; he named this area "La Boca del Puerto de San Francisco" (Port of San Francisco). Later explorers renamed these waters "Golden Gate Strait", but at that time there were no permanent settlements here yet!
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge spans San Francisco Bay and connects the city with Marin County to the north. It was built from 1933 until 1937, when it opened to traffic on May 27th. Today it's considered one of America's most beautiful landmarks and is featured often in movies and TV shows about the city. This magnificent structure spans across San Francisco Bay connecting Marin County with San Francisco County on Highway 101. If you're planning on taking photos from this vantage point then make sure you get there early as it can get very crowded!
Lombard Street
Lombard Street is known for its famous "crooked street". Lombard Street is the most crooked street in the world. It runs along Russian Hill, a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. The street has eight hairpin turns and a maximum incline of 28% (8 degrees).
Lombard Street was originally called "Washington Avenue" until it was renamed after Charles C. P. Lombard, an early resident who had served as secretary for Governor Leland Stanford and was later elected to Congress from California's 5th District from 1887-1889.
Presidio
The Presidio is a former military base that is now a national park. Located on the San Francisco peninsula, it's home to many native species, including the endangered tule elk and California grizzly bear. The Presidio offers visitors plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking through its green spaces or biking along its scenic trails. You can also enjoy one of several beaches along Crissy Field Beach or Spreckels Lake within its boundaries!
Hilly landscape, Victorian architecture and cable cars
San Francisco is a major city in California, USA. It is known for its hilly landscape, Victorian architecture, and its landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and Alcatraz Island.
San Francisco was first settled by Europeans in 1776 as a military garrison on the San Francisco Peninsula's southern tip. The city began to grow rapidly during the mid-19th century; soon after California became part of the United States following the Mexican-American War (1846-48). After gold was discovered in nearby hills in 1848, thousands rushed to make their fortunes by panning for gold or working at one of many local saloons that sprang up around Sutter's Mill--but it wasn't until 1849 when San Francisco officially became an incorporated city under state law that growth really took off!
Other sites of interest
A trip to San Francisco wouldn't be complete without visiting one of its most famous landmarks:
The cable cars are another must-see attraction in San Francisco! They were built in 1873 by Andrew Smith Hallidie after witnessing an accident while working at his gin mill business where someone fell down an incline shaft due to insufficient braking power when using horses instead of electricity (yes - even back then people had problems with drunk driving!). In other words - don't drink & drive!
History and Art
San Francisco has many museums dealing with two areas of interest - history and art.
- The Museum of Modern Art showcases current trends in American art while also hosting exhibitions from around the world. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is a great place to learn about art. The museum has a wide variety of exhibits, ranging from modern paintings to ancient sculptures and everything in between. It's located right in San Francisco's bustling downtown area, so it's easy to get to if you're staying at an Airbnb or hotel nearby. And best of all? It's free!
- Another popular museum is the Contemporary Jewish Museum which focuses on modern Jewish culture through art exhibits, performances and classes open to everyone.
- The Contemporary Arts Museum shows new works from artists around the world while offering educational programs for children ages 6-17 on specific topics such as photography or digital media arts.
The MOMA, SFMOMA and de Young all have free admission days throughout the year so be sure to check their websites for more details!
It's easy to see why San Francisco is such a popular tourist destination. It's a beautiful city with lots of interesting things to do and see, from museums and parks to restaurants and bars. If you're planning on visiting soon make sure you check out our list of top attractions before your trip!