By Sandy Mitchell
San Francisco Things to Do & See
, that compact "City by the Bay," has a rich literary and cultural history. It's also an easy city to navigate with attractions to interest most every taste. The temperature never dips too low, and it rarely gets too hot, perfect for sightseeing. Below are just a few of the city's top attractions.
Explore Ghirardelli Square
Located at the edge of San Francisco Bay, Ghirardelli Square is a former chocolate factory turned entertainment complex. Amidst the historic brick buildings are restaurants, shops, a hotel and a winery--all with that stunning bayside view.
Ghirardelli Square
900 North Point Street
San Francisco, CA
(415) 775-5500
Walk Across the Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a symbol of San Francisco. It's also a major thoroughfare, linking the city with the northern suburbs in Marin County and beyond. Visitors who venture across the 8,981-foot bridge are rewarded with a one-of-a-kind view of the city on their way back. The crossing is free to those on foot.
Climb Coit Tower
Coit Tower, built in 1933, sits atop Telegraph Hill, midway between Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf. The 210-foot, Art Deco-style, concrete tower offers a commanding view of the city. It also houses a collection of WPA-era murals by 26 different artists, including Diego Riviera.
Coit Tower
One Telegraph Hill
San Francisco, CA
Listen to Poetry at City Lights Bookstore
The Beat movement began in San Francisco, and no place was more involved in this literary and cultural phenomenon than City Lights Bookstore. Founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1953, the bookstore and small publishing house supported such authors as Allen Ginsberg, Charles Bukowski and Gregory Corso, among scores of others. City Lights still thrives, and visitors can enjoy browsing the stacks or listening to a variety of readings.
City Lights Bookstore
261 Columbus Avenue
San Francisco, CA
(415) 362-8193
Hang Out at Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park is one of the largest public parks in America. The 1,017-acre park attracts more than 13 million visitors each year. Among the park's attractions are a Japanese tea garden, several concert stages, two windmills imported from Holland, a botanical garden, several museums and two lakes. Admission to the park is free, although some of the attractions carry a fee.
Resources
About the Author:
Sandy is a Northeast Ohio-based writer, blogger, and editor. Among other projects, she writes and edits the Cleveland pages for About.com. Before devoting herself full-time to writing, Sandy was a travel agent and cruise school instructor for 18 years. Sandy holds a Bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University.
Photo Credits:
(© Bill D'Agnostino/ cc license)
