By Sabah Karimi
Famous for cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge and a hip, metropolitan city vibe,
San Francisco offers plenty to see and do on any type of visit. When you're heading to this California city for some fun, skip the usual tourist hotspots and explore some of the area's neighborhoods and cultural sites! From the art galleries in Sausalito to the hands-on exhibits at the Exploratorium, you'll soon find there's more to San Francisco than meets the eye.
Relax in the Japanese Tea Garden
This beautiful garden is tucked inside Golden Gate Park and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a peaceful, meditative setting. The garden covers five acres of the park and is home to an authentic pagoda, waterfalls, a koi-fish pond and an elegant Japanese tea house. Admission is only $4 for adults and $2 for children. Call (415) 668-0909 or visit the Golden Gate Park website for more information.
Visit The Exploratorium
Make a half-day trip to this modern science museum that houses some of the city's most photographed sights and attractions, and gives you a chance to learn some history about the city. The museum is filled with interactive exhibits, galleries of artwork and movies from are university research labs. You'll find it at 3601 Lyon Street; call (415) 561-0360 or visit the Exploratorium website for more information.
Explore Grace Cathedral in Nob Hill
The Nob Hill neighborhood is famous for its ritzy hotels and upscale restaurants, but it's also home to historic sites such as the Grace Cathedral. You can take a self-guided walking tour of this majestic cathedral free of charge, and catch some amazing views of the gardens and landscapes from the large arched windows. Grace Cathedral is located at 1100 California Street. Call (415) 749-6300 for more information.
Visit the Cable Car Barn Museum
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about the classic Cable Car at this museum that houses antique cable card displays, photographs of the original cable cars in action, and dozens of artifacts and antiques from an era gone by. You can also watch the cable-winding machinery from the elevated gallery at the museum, and admission is free. The museum is located at 1201 Mason Street. Call (415) 474-1887 or visit the Cable Car Museum website for more information.
Take the 49-Mile Drive
Take a scenic drive over 49 miles of cultural attractions and historic sites in San Francisco to see the highlights of the city in one day. The drive was designed by the Downtown Association in 2938, and is one of the best ways to take in dozens of sights and attractions on one trip. Pick up the map from the Downtown Association to map out your route and see points of interest including Union Square, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and the Haas-Lilienthal House.
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About the Author:
Sabah Karimi is a professional web and print copywriter with an educational background in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She writes in several niches including travel, fashion, beauty, health, fitness, lifestyle and small business. Karimi received a Top Content Creator Award from Demand Studios in 2009.
