San Francisco Free Travel Guide and Information

		San Francisco: Sights & Places of Interest

	Background & History
		Karen has put together some suggested itineraries for you. You will find details of each of the highlighted sights listed further below.

	1 Day Tour Includes: Chinatown Dragon Crested Gate St. Mary's Square Old St. Mary's Church Portsmouth Square Chinese Culture Center Tin How Temple Chinese Historical Society of America Museum	Walking Tour of Chinatown: Begin at the Dragon Crested Gate in Chinatown (for more information, check out allaboutchinatown), at Grant avenue and Bush Street. You can get there by taking the 2, 3, 4, 9X, 15, 30, 38, 45, or 76 bus. Meander through the 18 square blocks, and come back to the gate. Then go 2 blocks east, make a right at California Street in St Mary's Square. Walk to the other end of the square, toward California Street, cross California, and you'll be standing in front of Old St. Mary's Church. Turn right (east) on Sacramento Street and left (north) on Kearney Street - half a block up on your right is Commercial Street, a small alleyway where you will find the Pacific Heritage Museum of San Francisco. Return to Kearney Street and turn right to Portsmouth Square. The pedestrian bridge on the Kearney Street side leads to the Chinese Culture Center - inside the Holiday Inn, 3rd floor. Back outside the Holiday Inn, on the north side of the Square at 720 Washington is Buddha's Universal Church. Turn left (west) and walk up Washington Street noting the quarter's oldest Pagoda-Style building at 743 Waverly Place and the "Street of Painted Balconies" where you will find 3 temples one of which is Tin How Temple at 125 Waverly Place, accessible by way of a narrow stairway four floors up. Return to Washington, turn right on and then left on Grant Avenue. Walk 3 blocks north to Broadway, turn left to the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum at 644 Broadway. Walk 1 block west to Stockton Street. The 1000-1200 blocks are the colorful Chinese neighborhood district. Here you will find exotic foods, tea houses, spice shops, and even a fortune cookie factory where you'll see one lone woman, sitting in front of a conveyer belt, stuffing fortunes in the cookies. You can end your trip here with an authentic Chinese meal at one of the many inexpensive but great restaurants. To reach Union Square, walk straight ahead 7 blocks via the Stockton tunnel.
	2 Day Tour Includes: Fisherman's Warf Pier 39 Wax Museum Ripley's Believe it or Not Blue and Gold Fleet Bay Cruises Alcatraz	Walking Tour of Fisherman's Wharf. If You Have 2 Days, spend the first day as suggested above. In the morning of the second day, take the Powell-Hyde Cable Car over the two panoramic hills, Nob Hill and Russian Hill, to the beachside terminal in Victorian Park to Fisherman's Wharf and go to Pier 39. Start your tour here at Pier 39. The piers go from right to left in numeric order. While at PIER 39, you can ride the Venetian Carousel. Visit K Dock -- the home of PIER 39's internationally renowned sea lions; experience "The Great San Francisco Adventure" and "The Living Sea" both showing on a big screen at Cinemax; watch street performers entertain at the Crystal Geyser Center Stage; stroll through the beautifully landscaped waterfront parks; relax at the 300-berth marina. Have a great lunch in one of the many restaurants along the wharf. Then take a journey through the PIER 39 UnderWater World® aquarium. Afterwards you can visit novelty attractions like the Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum. Then go to Pier 43 1/2, where you'll find the Red and White Fleet, they have the only Bay Tour narrated in Six Languages! You can also check out Pier 41, the home of Blue and Gold Fleet Bay Cruises with exclusive tours to the Famous Alcatraz.
	3 Day Tour Includes Asian Art Museum California Academy of Sciences Chinese Historical Society of America Museum The Palace of Legion of Honour Exploritorium Union Square Tiburon Angel Island	Shopping, Museums or Tiburon. If You Have 3 Days, spend the first 2 days as outlined above. On the third day, you can do one of many things: Visit he vast array of museums like the Asian Art Museum, The California Academy of Sciences, The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Palace of Legion of Honour, The Chinese Historical Society of America Museum or the Exploratorium (Get your City Pass for reduced admission and no waiting lines!), or do some World Class shopping at Union Square, or take the ferry from Pier 41 to Tiburon and Angel Island.
	4 Day Tour Includes: 49-Mile Scenic Drive Golden Gate Bridge Golden Gate Park	The 49-Mile Scenic Drive If You Have 4 Days, spend the first 3 days as outlined above. In the morning of the fourth day, get a FREE Route Map at the San Francisco Visitor Information Center, at Powell and Market streets. A few of the Scenic Drive marker signs, blue-and-white seagull signs, are missing so the map comes in handy. The route follows a rough circle around the bay and passes the best-known sights from Chinatown to the Golden Gate Bridge, Ocean Beach, Seal Rocks, Golden Gate Park, and Twin Peaks. Although it makes an excellent half-day tour, this mini-excursion can easily take longer if you stop to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge or have tea in Golden Gate Park's Japanese Tea Garden.
	5 Day Tour Includes: Muir Woods Mount Tamalpais	If You Have 5 Days, spend the first 4 days as outlined above. In the morning of the fifth day, you can take the 12 mile drive (directions below) to Muir Woods. Hike up the Ocean View Trail and return on the Fern Creek Trail. Follow the signs (directions below) to Mount Tamalpais - the home of mountain biking. This is a great place to escape from the city for a leisurely hike on any of the hundreds of trails and take in breathtaking views of the bay.

	Alcatraz Island	Alcatraz Island is the notorious former federal prison in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, is accessible to the public through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Blue and Gold Fleet. To reach Alcatraz Island, you travel by ferry from Pier 41 at San Francisco's famous Fisherman's Wharf. The ferry ride will take you approximately 20 to 25 minutes. The ferry is easily reached from the Union Square by bus (lines 15-Third or 30-Stockton) or by cable car (Powell-Mason line). Once you arrive at Alcatraz Island you must walk up a steep hill. There are no elevators. There is an accessible, interactive computer program of the island's history available for those unable to make the walk uphill. For all others, you may choose to either rent a self-guided audio tour of the island or tour the island on your own. During the summer and fall months, you should reserve your tour at least one week in advance! Admission Prices are: Adult $8.75; Adult with Audio Tour $12.25; Senior (62+) $7.00; Senior with Audio Tour $10.50 Child (5-11) $5.50; Child with Audio Tour $7.00 To charge tickets with a credit card by phone or to check the tour schedules, please call 415 705 5555 or visit the ticket booth at Pier 41, Fisherman's Wharf. The ticket booth is open Monday through Sunday, 8:30 am to 5 pm. Call 415 705 5555 for an update on extended summer hours.
	Angel Island	Angel Island: Angel Island State Park, a short ferry ride from Fisherman’s Wharf’s Pier 41, is the largest island in the bay, with spectacular views of the Bay Area. The island has miles of hiking trails and bike paths, plus picnic areas. Historic military structures from this West Coast internment camp still remain. An open-air, audio-enhanced TramTour® circles the island. Bike rentals available at Ayala Cove. For kayak tours, call 488-1000. Campsites available for overnight stays. Park information: 435-1915; ferry information call 705-5555.
	Asian Art Museum	Asian Art Museum: The Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. Opened in 1966 as a result of a gift to the city by industrialist Avery Brundage, the museum holds more than 12,000 art objects spanning 6,000 years of history and representing countries and cultures throughout Asia. The museum will be open to the public in Golden Gate Park until October 7, 2001, and is scheduled to open in its new, expanded facility at San Francisco’s Civic Center in the fall of 2002. hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30am-5:00pm, (closed Monday and Tuesday). Open until 8:45 PM on the first Wednesday of each month (free admission on first Wednesdays).
	Blue and Gold Fleet Cruise	Blue and Gold Fleet Cruise Click here for coupon One hour sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and offers views of the city, skyline, Colt Tower and Alcatraz. address: Pier 41 Marine Terminal phone: (415) 773 1188 Recorded Sailing Times and Information
	California Academy of Sciences	California Academy of Sciences The California Academy of Sciences' Steinhart Aquarium, Natural History Museum and Morrison Planetarium are open every day of the year including all holidays. Earth, Ocean, Space. All in one place! Includes the Steinhart Aquarium and the Natural History Museum. Explore the ocean’s sea life, survey African animals and California in the wild. Ride an earthquake and travel back three billion years in time. address: 55 Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park hours: Open every day (except Wednesdays) 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Summer hours (Memorial Day - Labor Day) 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Open late Thursdays until 9 p.m. admission: Adults-$8.00 Get Your CityPass for 1/2 Off Admission
	Chinatown & Dragon Crested Gate	The entrance to Chinatown is at Bush and Grant Streets, through the imposing Dragon Crested Gate, a gift to San Francisco from the Republic of Taiwan. Chinatown is the quickest trip you will ever make to Hong Kong's present and past. A residential area includes authentic markets and fabulous restaurants. Home to one of North America’s largest Chinese communities, Chinatown is a bustling 18 square blocks centered along Grant and Stockton from Bush to Columbus. The streets are lined with shops and trading companies offering a variety of colorful merchandise - silk, jade, artifacts and antiques. You can enjoy an authentic, inexpensive Oriental meal and a variety of culinary adventures. Annual special events include the Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Pageant and the Lunar New Year Festival and Parade.
	Chinese Cultural Center	Chinese Cultural Center: This center offers lectures, films, and seminars; there are also interesting display cases housing Chinese art and a gallery with rotating exhibits of Asian art and writing.
	Chinese Historical Society of America Museum	The Chinese Historical Society of America Museum is an interesting collection that focuses on the role of Chinese immigrants in America, particularly in San Francisco and the rest of California.
	Exploratorium	Exploratorium Click here for your coupon for the Exploratorium Housed within the walls of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium is a collage of over 650 science, art, and human perception exhibits. The Exploratorium is a leader in the movement to promote the museum as an educational center. This unique museum was founded in 1969 by noted physicist and educator Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, who was director until his death in 1985. address: 3601 Lyon St., San Francisco, CA 94123 phone: (415) EXP-LORE hours: Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) 7 days a week, 10am-6 pm, Wednesdays 10am-9pm. Winter (Labor Day to Memorial Day), Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm, Wednesdays 9:00pm. Closed Monday, except holidays. Admissions: Adult-$8.00
	Fisherman's Wharf	Fisherman's Warf: Eighty-seven percent of visitors to the city include Fisherman's Wharf on their itinerary--and with good reason. The wharf abounds with shops and restaurants. Still a working wharf, "Fish Alley" sells thousands of tons of sole, shrimp, salmon, sea bass, squid and other deep-sea delicacies. During crab season (mid-November through June) devotees line up for the best of the catch. A fleet of historic ships berth at Hyde Street Pier, near the Maritime National Historical Park and Museum. San Francisco's most popular destinations and begins at the north end of Columbus Avenue. A long coastal row of seafood restaurants, street vendors, and souvenir stores is combined with a major fishing pier. The wharf can be reached by cable car from Union Square. Most ferry rides take off from here to scenic Marin County. It is very crowded, so you may want to avoid a stay of over a few hours in Fisherman's Wharf if you dislike crowds and "tourist traps". However, Fisherman's Wharf is great for a 1-2 hour (daytime) stop for fresh sourdough, seafood, and souvenirs for your friends back home. address Phone: (415) 626-7070 Toll free: (888) WHARFSF
	Golden Gate Bridge & Golden Gate Park	Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park: One of the most recognizable landmarks in all the world, the Golden Gate Bridge was completed in May 1937. The 1.7-mile, distinctive orange span carries more than 40 million vehicles a year between San Francisco and Marin. Visitors can walk along the eastern side of the bridge from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week. Vista points, with some of the most breathtaking views you'll ever see, are located on the northeast and southeast sides of the span. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, located on both sides of the bridge, has additional viewing areas. Golden Gate Park, located in the northwestern corner of San Francisco, is home to the Asian Art Museum, California Academy of Sciences, De Young Memorial Museum, Strybing Arboretum, the Japanese Tea Garden and Stow Lake.
	Mount Tamalpais	Mount Tamalpais: Miles of hiking and biking trails make for a wide range of difficulty levels, although you can also take in the superb vistas from your car. If you have the motivation, a view from the 2571 ft. summit is bliss. The birthplace of mountain biking, Mt. Tam is also heavily trafficked by mountain bikers who whiz happily down its rocky slopes past struggling hikers. Trail information and general orientation are posted in the parking lot (parking fee $5) and available at the East Peak Summit and the Pan Toll Ranger Station next to the parking lot. Most every local has his or her secret trail and scenic overlook, as well as an opinion on the raging debate between mountain bikers and hikers (a touchy subject). The main trails--mostly fire roads--see a lot of foot and bicycle traffic on weekends, particularly on clear, sunny days when you can see a hundred miles in all directions, from the foothills of the Sierra to the western horizon. It's a great place to escape from the city for a leisurely hike and to soak in breathtaking views of the bay. To get to Mount Tamalpais by car, cross the Golden Gate Bridge heading north on Highway 101, and take the Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit. Follow the shoreline highway about 21/2 miles, turn into Pantoll Road, and continue for about a mile to Ridgecrest Boulevard. Ridgecrest winds to a parking lot below East Peak. From there, it's a 15-minute hike up to the top.
	Muir Woods	Muir Woods National Monument consists of 560 acres of ancient redwood forest nestled inside Redwood Canyon. The trees are gigantic and the shade they offer creates a cool haven to the hot and weary hiker. What is truly amazing is that they exist a mere 6 miles (as the crow flies) from San Francisco - close enough, unfortunately, that tour buses arrive in droves on the weekends. You can avoid the masses by hiking up the Ocean View Trail and returning on the Fern Creek Trail. The moderately challenging hike shows off the woods' best sides and leaves the lazy-butts behind. Learn more about the redwoods and pick up a map at the Visitor's Center near the woods' entrance. To reach Muir Woods from San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate Bridge heading north on Highway 101, take the Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit heading west, and follow the signs. The park is open daily 8am to sunset, and there's an admission fee of $2 per person over 16. There's also a small gift shop, educational displays, and docent-led tours that you're welcome to stand in on. For more information, call the Muir Woods information line at (415) 388 2595.
	Old St. Mary's Church	Old St. Mary's Church, built in 1854, is the first Catholic cathedral in San Francisco and the site of the Chinese community's first English-language school, St. Mary's was built primarily by Chinese laborers. Inside you will find a written history of the church and turn-of-the-century photos of San Francisco. Stop in on a Tuesday or Thursday at 12:30 pm for a free half-hour classical music performance.
	Palace of Legion of Honour	Palace of Legion of Honour The Legion of Honor displays an impressive collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. address: 34th Ave. and Clement St. phone: (415) 863-3330 hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-5:00pm admission: Adult-$8.00 Get Your CityPass for 1/2 Off Admission
	Pier 39	Pier 39, two blocks east of Fisherman’s Wharf, is a two-level festival marketplace offers UnderWater World® aquarium, “The Great San Francisco Adventure” at Cinemax, Blue and Gold Fleet Bay Cruises, and Turbo Ride action simulation films. Visit the world-famous sea lions at K-Dock. Bayview restaurants, specialty shops, family activities, and postcard views add to the experience. And you can visit novelty attractions like the Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum.
	Portsmouth Square	Portsmouth Square, San Francisco's birthplace, is the sight where the American flag was first raised her on July 9, 1846 when California was claimed as American territory. The Marines who landed here and raised the flag, named the square after their ship USS Portsmouth. A bronze plaque commemorates the spot where they raised the American flag. You will find a monument to Robert Louis Stevenson at the corner of the square, where he spent many hours enjoying the park. Today the park is the scene of solemn tai chi rituals in the early morning.
	San Francisco Museum of Modern Art	San Francisco Museum of Modern Art One of the world's most innovative museums of modern and contemporary art. International in scope, SFMOMA's permanent collection consists of over 18,000 works, including 5,600 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper; approximately 9,800 photographs; 3,200 architectural drawings, models and design objects; and a growing collection of works related to the media arts. The painting and sculpture collection is distinguished by major works by artists associated with the American Abstract Expressionist school, notably Clyfford Still, Jackson Pollock, Philip Guston, and Richard Diebenkorn. Today its exceptional collection of twentieth-century photography includes especially fine holdings of works by Alfred Stieglitz, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, the German avant-garde artists of the 1920s and the European Surrealists of the 1930s. address: 151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard Streets) phone: 415.357.4000 hours: Sunday-Tuesday, Friday, Saturday,11am-6pm, Thursday 11am-9pm, closed Wednesdays and public holidays Admissions: Adults-$8, Seniors (62 years and older)-$4, Students (with current ID)-$3, SFMOMA members and children twelve and under* are admitted free. The last admission is sold thirty minutes before closing hour. Thursday evenings, 6 - 9 p.m., the Museum offers half-price admission, sponsored by Banana Republic. Reduced admission for seniors is sponsored by Pacific Bell. The first Tuesday of every month is free to all. Children twelve and under must be accompanied by an adult. Visit the SFMOMA website for more information. Get Your CityPass for 1/2 Off Admission
	Sony Metreon Center	Sony Metreon Center Four floors and 350,000 square feet jam-packed with ways to entertain and escape into a whole new reality. You have to see it to believe it. Metreon combines the best of Sony with the original efforts of artists, technologists, writers, chefs, architects, animators, and digital masterminds. Get ready for Unbelievable movie experiences with 15 theatres and a SONY•IMAX®. Delectable restaurants featuring the best of the Bay Area. Unbelievable attractions that push you into a whole new reality. One-of-a-kind shopping in a collection of stores found only in Metreon.
	St. Mary's Square	St. Mary's Square: A tree shaded plot presided over by Beniamino Bufano's huge metal-and-granite statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China. A native of Guandong (Canton) Province, Sun Yat-sen led the rebellion that ended the reign of the Qing Dynasty. Note also the second monument in the square, which honors Chinese-American victims of both world wars. You will find a pay toilet here too.
	Tin How Temple	Tin How Temple: You can enter the temple through a narrow stairway four floors up. This temple is decorated in traditional black, red, and gold lacquered wood is a house of worship. Chinese Buddhists come here to pray, meditate, and send offerings to their ancestors and to Tin How, the Queen of the Heavens and Goddess of the Seven Seas. When you visit, be as quiet as possible and to give a donation or buy a bundle of incense during your visit.
	Union Square	Union Square is located in the heart of the city, bordered by Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton Streets, and centers around a manicured park. Union Square got its name because demonstrations were held here in support of Union’s troops during the Civil War. It was named by the city’s first American mayor, John Geary. Today the block-square park is surrounded by major department stores including Nordstrom, Macy's, and Emporium. Luxury stores such as Shreve, Tiffany's and Chanel provide elegance. New to the area are superstores such as Nike Town, Border's Books, Urban Outfitter's, Warner Brother's, and J. Crew. Other than shopping, the area features an active theater district and many higher end hotels. Union Square is the best shopping in the City. However, you should be particularly careful in this area, as it is notorious for extensive panhandling and also close to surrounding less desirable neighborhoods. The Financial District and Chinatown are within walking distance and public transportation will take you anywhere in the city. Cable cars run from Market Street to Fisherman’s Wharf. The Tenderloin, adjacent to Union Square, is a culturally diverse neighborhood.

	LINKS	If classical music turns you on, get tickets for the San Francisco Symphony or the San Francisco Opera. Or if you like the theater, see what's playing at the Bay Insider - you can buy ticket online there too! Find out the hottest restaurants, nightclubs, nude beaches and lots more in the Bay Area at BestoftheBay.com San Francisco FAQs, Insider Tips and Links Great Travel Tips Our Favorite Travel Links
		If you have any questions, comments or if you have any full or half day trips you would like to add, we would be very happy to share them with the world! Send all the details to karen@destinationcoupons.com