Travel Spotlight: San Francisco
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Okay, we all know that Tony Bennett left his heart there, we’ve seen Burt Lancaster with his birds on Alcatraz, heard Dirty Harry ask “if we felt lucky” and we know it’s the “city by the bay.”
Now that we have all the cliche’s out of our system let’s move on…and just begin with.. you’re going to love San Francisco!
The airport is a vacation destination in itself. It is serviced by over 40 domestic and international carriers, making your arrival in this lovely city rather simple. The San Francisco International airport has 3 terminals containing over 60 eating choices and more than 30 stores, including Brookstone, Swatch, Coach and the San Francisco Wine Gourmet. There is a Christian Science Reading Room, a spa, hair salon and the Airport Museum and Aviation Library!
Once you tear yourself away from the airport you’re entering a city with history. San Francisco began its life as a Spanish garrison town called Presidio San Francisco. It boomed in the 1840’s as the Gold Rush swelled its population by 40,000 and in 1906 suffered the earthquake and fire that took 450 lives. In 1958 Alfred Hitchcock used the York Hotel to film part of Vertigo and in the 1960’s the city saw the birth of “flower power” in Haight-Ashbury.
Despite its reputation as an upscale cosmopolitan city San Francisco is really just a collection of neighborhoods- each with their own unique flavor and style. Visiting many of these singular areas allows you to see most of the city’s highlights. A city of only 750,000 people it is a surprisingly compact city, made for walking- except for those 43 hills! So take a ride first to get your bearings.
Start by purchasing a Go San Francisco Card. This credit card sized card includes free admission and/or discounts to some of the cities major attractions. You buy the card for 1, 2, 5 or 7 days at www.gosanfranciscocard.com and it is activated the first time you use it.
Your Go card will allow you to try one of the Gray Line hop on/hop off trolley tours. This one hour narrated tour will introduce you to North Beach, home of Little Italy and Telegraph Hill; Nob Hill, home of the Civic Center, City Hall and the Opera House; Union Square, with its wide selection of retail stores and great theater; Chinatown, one of the largest in North America; and south of Market Street, known as SoMa where you will find the Yerba Buena Gardens and the Museum of Modern Art.
While one hour isn’t enough time to see it all it will give you an orientation to the city and help you decide what areas you want to return to.
One of those areas should be back toward the Bay. Use the card to take a ride on one of the historic cable cars. This incredible fleet of cars has been gathered from all over the world and is an open air treat with great views around every corner. Take the Powell-Hyde car to Fisherman’s Wharf. Visit Pier 39 with its incredible views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. While you’re there you can use your card for a visit to the Aquarium of the Bay- walk through 300 feet of crystal clear tunnels replicating an underwater dive.
Now take a short walk to Pier 41 for the ferry to Alcatraz Island. Known mostly for the federal penitentiary the island also houses the first lighthouse and US Fort on the West Coast.
From the island you’ll have a wonderful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Long the symbol of San Francisco it has been opened since 1937. When you return from the island you can visit Golden Gate Park to see the San Francisco Botanical Garden and Conservatory of Flowers.
Take some time to see the Embarcadero and the Financial District, where Market Street travels down to the Bay.
San Francisco is the city with the million dollar views- every turn seems to bring you another one. Travel back to the top of Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower. This is a 212 foot monument to the cities fireman- some say built to resemble a fire hose nozzle! Even if your hotel choice didn’t run to the Mark Hopkins take some time to visit the legendary Top Of The Mark. Located on the 19th floor of the hotel, the sky-bar has a nearly 360 degree view of San Francisco including views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alcatraz. Adding to the history of this one of a kind place, during WWII, servicemen would buy and leave a bottle in the care of the bartender so that the next soldier from their squadron could enjoy a free drink; the only requirement being whoever had the last sip would buy the next bottle.
If you’re looking for something a bit more unusual during your trip visit the Cartoon Art Museum. It is devoted to the art of cartooning! Staying with the carton theme, travel a bit outside the city, 55 miles north to Santa Rosa, and see the Charles M Schulz Museum.
For American history fans, you can visit the SS Jeremiah O’Brien; a WWII vessel, that was part of the Normandy invasion and was the only ship to return to Europe for the 50th anniversary celebration.
You can also step aboard the USS Hornet; this legendary aircraft carrier participated in both WWII and Apollo 11 space mission.
For the child in us all you can take a spin on the Golden Gate Park Carousel - celebrating it 92nd birthday.
For an up close and personal look you can take a 2 ½ hour guided waterfront tour on an eco friendly Segway scooter.
Or perhaps enjoy some premium wine tasting along with a gourmet meal while cruising the Bay aboard the Presidential yacht of Franklin Roosevelt, the USS Potomac on a Foggy Bridge Wine Cruise.
Speaking of eating – San Francisco is a place where diversity rules and trends are set. Every wave of immigrants to this city introduced their own cuisine. Today San Francisco remains a culinary crossroads, with nearly every ethnic cuisine represented - from Afghan to Indian to Vietnamese. And although locals have long headed to the Mission District for Latin food, to Chinatown for Asian food, and to North Beach for Italian food, they also know that every part of the city offers dining experiences beyond the neighborhood tradition.
San Francisco is the birthplace of sourdough bread, and you find it everywhere, particularly along Fisherman’s Wharf. You also find well priced California wines just about everywhere — thanks to the proximity of the Napa and Sonoma valleys, to the north.
Maybe they’re not cliché’s- San Francisco is a place to leave your heart. It has been called the country’s most romantic European style city. Just remember, it’s always a party there; and everyone’s invited.
(Photo credit cc flickr)
(photo credit cc flickr)
(photo credit cc flickr)