By J.D. Chi
Eclectic and compact,
San Francisco is a great walking city with a new adventure in just about every neighborhood. The city's combination of hilly topography and oceanfront also make it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Home to the beatnik movement and the famed Haight-Ashbury district, San Francisco combines outdoor activities, culture and great shopping against a liberal and diverse backdrop.
Views
Because of its geography, San Francisco offers great views of the city and the Pacific Ocean. A trip to the top of Coit Tower or a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge are standard fare for tourists. But get off the beaten path for the best views, including a full-city view from the top of Twin Peaks, a stunning look at the power of the Pacific crashing against the cliffs from the 17th hole at the Lincoln Park Municipal Golf Course or a colorful sunset from a comfy stool at the beach Chalet Cafe.
Coit Tower
#1 Telegraph Hill
San Francisco, CA
415-362-0808
http://www.parks.sfgov.org/site/recpark_index.asp?id=89032
Golden Gate Bridge
P.O. Box 9000, Presidio Station
San Francisco, CA 94129-0601
415-921-5858
http://goldengatebridge.org/
Lincoln Park Golf Course
34th Ave & Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94121
415-221-9911
http://www.lincolnparkgc.com/Lincoln_Park/Home.html
Beach Chalet Cafe
1000 Great Highway@Ocean Beach
San Francisco, CA 94121
415-386-8439
www.beachchalet.com
415-386-8439
Golden Gate Park
One of San Francisco's most well-known landmarks, there's plenty to do in Golden Gate Park. You can rent a paddleboat at Stow Lake, visit the windmill and tulip garden, play tennis or golf or cycle through to catch all the sites. The park also houses a variety of gardens, including the Japanese Tea Garden, Shakespeare Garden and Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. In addition, the DeYoung Museum of Fine Arts has standing exhibitions of American painters and sculptors, textiles and African art. Originally opened in 1895, the museum building was fully renovated in the early 2000s and re-opened in 2005.
Golden Gate Park
Bordered by Stanyon, Fulton, Lincoln and Great Highway, San Francisco, CA
415-701-2311
www.sfgov.org/site/recpark
Culture
Located near the downtown business district, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art houses an extensive collection of Modernist pieces from Robert Mapplethorpe, Henri Matisse, Ray and Charles Eames and Jackson Pollack, among others. The museum also hosts traveling exhibits featuring such popular artists such as Georgia O'Keefe and Ansel Adams. Other cultural sites include the DeYoung Museum and various gardens in Golden Gate Park, excellent live theater, opera and symphony. The San Francisco Symphony, directed by Michael Tilson Thomas, is housed in a modern, state of the art building.
SF MOMA
151 Third Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-357-4000
www.sfmoma.org
San Francisco Symphony
201 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-864-6000
www.sfsymphony.org
Shopping
Tie-dye shirts and other beatnik-era collectibles are available in the Haight-Ashbury District, but San Francisco is a different kind of shopper's paradise. Neiman-Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom's and Macy's all have flagship stores in the business district, beginning at the corner of Market and Powell up to Union Square. The Macy's is one of only two (the other is in New York) to have a true "The Cellar" section. The newly renovated and expanded Westfield San Francisco Centre is home to Bloomingdale's, Juicy Couture, Ambercrombie & Fitch and many other well-known retailers.
Westfield San Francisco Centre
865 Market St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-512-6776
http://westfield.com/sanfrancisco
Tourist Sites
No trip to San Francisco is complete without hitting the key tourist spots in town, including a ride on a cable car, a visit with the seals at the wharf or a trip to Alcatraz.
Alcatraz
Fort Mason, B201
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-981-7625
http://www.nps.gov/alca/
About the Author:
J.D. Chi is a professional journalist who has covered sports for more than 20 years at newspapers all over the United States. She has covered major golf tournaments and the NFL as well as travel and health topics. Chi received her Bachelor of Arts in professional writing from Carnegie Mellon University and is working toward a master's degree in journalism.
