San Francisco, California Hotels and City Guide

San Francisco - Attractions

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Not only is San Francisco filled to the brim with activity, but it also brings in a great diversity of places and people, which gives everyone a little something to do, no matter who you are or what you love. California is known for its celebrations of diversity and San Francisco isn’t afraid to boast about its respect toward everyone and everything, from vegetarians to lesbians, San Francisco is an open book that anyone can write their story in.

There are a few passes you can obtain that will give you discounts to many attractions in the city. CityPass is one of these. Adults are $54 and children 17 and under are $44. With a single CityPass you receive admission to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum (they must be visited on the same day), the Aquarium of the Bay, a Blue and Gold Fleet bay cruise, and the Asian Art Museum or the Exploratorium. From the moment you use it, your pass will be good for 9 days and offers 7 days of fares for cable cars and Muni buses.

You can also grab a Go San Francisco Card. Similar in concept to the CityPass, the Go San Francisco Card offers a different line of attractions to enjoy. Card costs vary depending upon how many days you plan to use it. $45 for 1 day, $65 for 2 days, $89 for 3 days. $119 for 5 days, and $139 for 7 days. With the Go San Francisco card, certain tours such as the Wine Country tour, San Francisco Sightseeing, and the City Tour are free of charge, as well as admission to Bay Cruises, museums, aquariums, The Conservatory of Flowers, and more. If a tour or activity isn’t on the free admission list, no worries. Many other places to visit are discounted anywhere from $5.00 to 40% when you use the card.

San Francisco Attractions

Golden Gate Bridge

Address: Lincoln Blvd. near Doyle Dr. and Fort Point, Presidio
Phone: 415/921-5858
Open: Pedestrians March – October, daily 5:00am-9:00pm; November – April., daily 5:00am-6:30pm; (hours change with daylight savings time.) Bicyclists daily 24 hours.

If you have never seen the Golden Gate Bridge, chances are you may have heard of it. This famous bridge has stood since 1937. It took four years to construct the bridge and not even earthquakes can take it down. The designers made sure to give the bridge plenty of room to move in order to handle even some of the more violent quakes. It has the ability to sway up to almost 28 feet without being damaged. During the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, while other bridges shattered, the Golden Gate Bridge remained unscathed. It has a 2 mile span with 750-foot towers that will have you squinting up into the sun. It tends to get windy out there, so be sure to bring a jacket when you visit. On clear days, the view from the bridge is fantastic, giving you an amazing look at the Bay Area. You can easily get there by car or by bus. Muni buses make stops at the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza, where you can walk along the platform (eastern-side only) and enjoy the San Francisco skyline. Driving allows you to enjoy the bridge from multiple angles, and there are also designated stopping areas for visitors to hop out and take pictures.

Alcatraz

Address: Pier 33, Fisherman's Wharf
Phone: 415/981-7625

One of America’s most notorious prisons, Alcatraz sits on a lonely island in the middle of the bay. If you want to see where some of the most infamous criminals like Al Capone were held, then make sure to get your tickets well in advance. Spots fill up fast, even during the off season. A short 15-minute boat ride gives you gorgeous views of San Francisco, Marin County, and the East Bay before you step onto the island. The audio tour is highly recommended, giving you insights into both the thoughts of the guards as well as the prisoners of Alcatraz. Because there is much to see in this massive building, allow for at least a 3 hour time frame to peruse the area (and don’t forget to add in boat travel time).

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Address: 151 3rd St., SoMa
Phone: 415/357-4000
Cost: $12.50, free 1st Tuesday of the month, ½ price on Thursdays
Open: Labor Day-Memorial Day, Friday-Tuesday 11:00am-5:45am, Thursday 11:00am-8:45pm
Memorial Day-Labor Day, Friday-Tuesday 10:00am-5:45pm, Thursday 10:00am-8:45pm

Also known as SFMOMA, you will find a dazzling array of artworks housed inside. With four floors to explore, doing a little planning beforehand can help keep you from getting too overwhelmed. Modern-art museum inside and out, you’ll find some of the world’s famous artists’ works hanging alongside modern-style pieces. The second and third floors house the big-name exhibits that travel from museum to museum as well as parts of famous collections from Robert Matisse, Georgia O’Keefe, Ansel Adams, and Alfred Stieglitz. Floors four and five bring visitors large-scale contemporary exhibits that can be as eye-catching as they are mind-boggling. In 2008, SFMOMA celebrated the 100th anniversary of Frida Kahlo’s birth with an impressive show of her works. Keep an eye out, because you never know what famous exhibit might show up next. A person can easily spend the day there, and if you are so inclined, you can catch a bite to eat and a delicious drink at Caffè Museo, and of course, don’t forget to stop by the museum’s store – it’s not just knickknacks and snowglobes!

Exploratorium

Address: 3601 Lyon St., at Marina Blvd., Marina
Phone: 415/561-0360 general information; 415/561-0362 Tactile Dome reservations
Cost: $13, free 1st Wednesday of the month; Tactile Dome $3 extra
Open: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm

A "museum of science, art, and human perception" is enough to catch the interest of any adult or child. Massive exhibits, bold colors, and expecting the unexpected are only a few of the things you’ll encounter here. Everything is hands on, from the distortion room to the shadow room. Over 650 exhibits are dedicated to science, biology, and much more. From DNA-sample collection and the Tactile Dome, you’ll feel 10 again as you walk, crawl, touch, smell, jump, hear, and look at everything the Exploratorium has to offer.

Hotels in San Francisco, California