Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Victorian houses known as
the “Painted Ladies.” Continue
via the
Golden Gate Park
Panhandle
(p136)
to lively
Haight Ashbury
(pp134-5).
Golden Gate Park
(pp144-55)
is
jam-packed with things to see
and do, but be sure to visit the
California Academy of Sciences
(pp152-3)
and the relaxing
Japanese Tea Garden
(p149)
.
of quaint Victorian houses.
Continue through the
Golden
Gate Park Panhandle
(p136)
to
explore the historic hippie
neighborhood of
Haight
Ashbury
(pp134-5 )
.
Afternoon
Head downtown to
the
San Francisco Museum of
Modern Art
(pp120-23)
; stop by
the top-floor exhibit of local
artists' work. End the day with
some shopping around
Union
Square
(p118)
; be sure to visit
Gumps
(p118)
, renowned for its
inventive window displays.
Afternoon
The park ends at
Ocean Beach. Head north to
wild
Land's End
(p159)
and visit
Cliff House
(p159)
for a look at
the Camera Obscura, and dinner
in one of its restaurants
.
The grand dome of City Hall at Civic Center,
San Francisco's main public space
Day 3
Morning
Start early and head
to
Golden Gate Park
(pp144-55)
,
which offers outdoor activities,
botanical gardens, and museums
galore. Visit the wonderful
California Academy of Sciences
(pp152-3)
for natural history and
the
de Young Museum
(p149)
for
an amazing art collection.
toward Napa. Take a free tour of
the
Clos Pegase
winery
(p192)
,
which specializes in Cabernet,
Merlot, and Petite Syrah port.
5 days in San
Francisco
Visit the myriad attractions
of Golden Gate Park
Afternoon
Continue north to
the historic hot-springs town
Calistoga
(p195)
and spend an
indulgent afternoon in a spa.
•
Take a cable car ride up
Nob Hill
•
Sample fine wine in Napa
Wine Country
•
Day 5
Morning
Enjoy breakfast at
Fisherman's Wharf
(pp80-81)
and
watch the sea lions on fun-filled
PIER 39
(p86)
. End the morning
with a tour of the vintage
submarine
USS
Pampanito
(p86)
.
Afternoon
Take a picnic to the
broad sweep of
Ocean Beach
(p155)
. Continuing north toward
Land's End
(p159),
stop off at
Cliff House
(p159)
to see the
fascinating Camera Obscura.
In the evening, head to the
sumptuous
Castro Theatre
(p138)
in the city's bustling gay
district, for a drink and a movie.
Day 1
Morning
Rent a bicycle at
Fisherman's Wharf
(pp80-81)
and
head along the bike trail through
Fort Mason
(pp74-5)
to
Golden
Gate Bridge
(pp64-7)
.
Watch for
dolphins as you cross into
Sausalito
(p163)
.
Spend some
time exploring the town before
taking the ferry back for lunch
at the
Ferry Building
(p114)
.
Afternoon
Take the ferry to
historic
Alcatraz Island
(pp82-5),
making use of the informative
audioguide. Afterward, explore
Chinatown
(pp98-9)
and take a
ride on San Francisco's famous
moving landmark, a cable car,
up to
Nob Hill
(p103)
. See the
majestic
Grace Cathedral
(p105)
and finish the night with dinner
at the
Top of the Mark
restaurant at the
Mark Hopkins
Inter-Continental Hotel
(p104).
Day 4
Morning
The Bay Area doesn't
stop at the city limits, so take a
day to get out and explore:
Napa Wine Country
(pp192-5)
is just an hour away by car. Have
breakfast in
Russian Hill
(pp182-
3)
, before heading out across the
Golden Gate Bridge
(pp64-7)
Afternoon
Take a trip up
Coit
Tower
(p93)
to see the city from
up high, before visiting Catholic
Saints Peter and Paul Church
(p92)
near the pretty park at
Washington Square
(p92).
Walk
to
North Beach
(pp88-9)
and
visit the
North Beach Beat
Museum
(p89)
, to learn about
the artists and poets that gave
this neighborhood its vibe.
Day 2
Morning
Visit the Beaux-Arts
style
City Hall
(p129)
at
Civic
Center
(pp124-31)
, then take a
stroll along
Hayes Valley
(p130)
,
which has an interesting mix
of boutiques and thrift stores.
Stop off at
Alamo Square
(p131)
to see the “Painted Ladies,” a row
Grapes ripening on the vine on a Napa Valley winery