By Penelope Lane
San Francisco is a vibrant city on the water, easily recognized by the iconic Golden Gate bridge, steep city streets and historic cable cars. While rainy days in San Francisco can limit vista views and popular outdoor experiences, tourists need not allow the weather to dampen a city vacation. Unique factories, eclectic museums and boutique wineries are available for discovery, providing hours of vacation entertainment.
Unique Tour Experiences
Rainy days don't have to spoil the fun of discovering San Francisco's landmarks. Delight the senses with a chocolate experience at Ghirardelli Square. Learn about the history of this unique, 100-year-old factory and the confectionery trade. Indulge in an ice cream and chocolate experience.
Or, drive just over the Bay Bridge to Berkeley and visit the Scharffen Berger Chocolate Factory for an entirely different experience. Although facility tours are no longer offered, visitors can visit the shop and discover premier baking and dark chocolates.
Another unique tour opportunity in San Francisco is at Takara Sake. Tourists can learn how sake is made and taste different sake varieties in the Tasting Room.
Eclectic Museums
Premier art is on display at The Palace of the Legion of Honor. Recent collections have featured high-end luxuries, such as Faberge eggs and Tiffany jewelry pieces, in juxtaposition with Andy Warhol exhibitions. Those who appreciate all-things-quirky will enjoy Musee Mechanique, a facility that features old-fashioned arcades, including fortune tellers, strength evaluators and enchanting vintage games. Round out a museum experience by learning about the history of San Francisco's unique transportation system at the Cable Car Barn Museum (and see antique ones on display).
Boutique Wineries
While California fine wine is generally associated with the award-winning Napa and Sonoma Valleys, many wineries exist within the wooded territories near San Francisco Bay. Each tasting room is carefully designed and decorated. The wines available are distinct representations of vineyards, regional flavors, Old World influences and New World interpretations. Stop into Wattle Creek Winery, nestled in Ghirardelli Square, for premier estate wines in a charming atmosphere. Consider visiting Chouinard Vineyards and Winery, a small boutique winery for a sweet taste of award-winning Port or granny smith apple wine.
If you have an entire day to devote to wine-tasting, reserve a space on one of the many wine tour shuttles that departs from San Francisco. Each offers in-depth, full-day wine experiences at Napa and Sonoma wineries.
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