There is no shortage of attractions in San Francisco. In fact, there’s a wealth of activities that would almost seem impossible to pack into such a small space (it only covers about 50 square miles). From restaurants to museums, residents can choose from several hot spots to keep them entertained. When eating and having fun becomes overwhelming, there’s always the beautiful beaches to help you relax and top off the day. No matter what it is that gets you going, you will find it here.
Restaurants and Dining Out
With the diversity of culture in San Francisco, you would easily expect the restaurants to represent that diversity in the cuisine, and that’s exactly what you’ll find. If you want a fine dining experience complete with the fine dining bill, then a visit to Sierra Mar would tickle your fancy. This restaurant offers unparalleled views of the scenic bay, and serves up a range of fine dishes and tasty, expensive wines. Other fantastic restaurants on the pricey side include the Greek restaurant Evvia, and one of the most popular spots in Japantown, Kiss Seafood, which is famous for serving up fresh sushi.
If you love Italian food, then SPQR on Fillmore Street is the place to go. If you want tons of food options, Mission Chinese Food is your one stop shop. It’s considered one of the best Chinese eateries in town. Thai food lovers can eat their hearts out at Lers Ros Thai. Be sure to try their frog and venison dishes.
Sightseeing in San Francisco, CA
San Francisco is packed with beautiful scenery and venues to keep residents with short attention spans very happy. For truly stunning views of the city, head on over to the iconic Coit Tower. Close to Coit Tower lies Telegraph Hill, a famous location for its numerous stairs (400 of them, to be exact). You can also enjoy picturesque landscapes at Pacific Heights at the north of the city, where you’ll be treated to scenery that includes the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you’d rather soak up the local history and culture, then hop onto one of the historic trolley cars and travel around the city. San Francisco is also home to the infamous prison, Alcatraz. If violence isn’t your thing, then head on over to Haight, home of American counter-culture and the famous hippy movement of the ‘60s.
Then, of course, there’s the ocean and the wonderful tree-lined streets and beaches, littered with local joggers, skaters, and surfers.
Museums and Educational facilities in San Francisco
San Francisco is not all about playing in the sun. The city houses an impressive array of museums and educational facilities. You could learn all about The Beats movement of the 1950s, involving the collective of thinkers, artists, and writers that moved to the area by visiting The Beat Museum.
Soak up more art and culture by visiting the vast galleries of the Museum of Modern Art, or the Asian Art Museum, the home of over 17,000 Asian art pieces. If you want to do something fun and educational with the kids, then a trip to the famous science museum, The Exploratorium, in the Palace of Fine Arts should keep you entertained.
Parks and Nature
If there is one thing that San Francisco definitely has, it’s wonderful landscapes and scenery. Capturing the finest of this is Golden Gate Park. This park, one of the largest man-made parks in the world, is about three miles long and around a half mile wide. It’s jam packed with many attractions including the Conservatory of Flowers, and the Japanese Tea Garden. There’s also the famous Hippy Hill and even a Bison Paddock on the western edge of the park.
Residents are crazy about San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The bay area is a local hot spot, and could be best explored from the Presidio, a former military base which is now a haven of plush lawns, wooded areas, and hills overlooking the bay. You can also easily walk to the Golden Gate Bridge from this location.
There are plenty of activities and things to keep you entertained in San Francisco. The above list barely scratches the surface. Living here would be perfect for anyone that enjoys spending time outdoors and learning about different cultures. It’s not the largest city, but it has all the attractions and activities that would make it a great place to call home.
Images Sources: Flickr users www.bluewaikiki.com & Dougtone
