San Francisco Things to Do Tips by Bernd_L

A harbour and a tourist spot Fisherman's Wharf Review

Fisherman's Wharf is a harbour for fishing boats - at least it used to be, and you can still watch some fishermen bringing home their haul if you stand up early in the morning.

But over the years Fisherman's Wharf also became one of the most touristic sites of San Francisco. You'll find a lot of restaurants, shopping centers, entertainment places and shop where you can buy every kind of kitsch.

A lot of boats start their tours onto the Bay from the piers at Fisherman's Wharf (including the ferry to Alcatraz).

Near one pier there's a platform where seals take a sunbath. So if you go there with kids they will enjoy it.

Address: Shoreline near Jefferson between Powell and Hyde

Website: http://www.fishermanswharf.org/

A red bridge with a golden name Golden Gate Bridge Review

Golden Gate Bridge is the most famous landmark of San Francisco. It connects the city with Sausalito and the Marin County and therefore crosses the entrance of the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean.

The bridge is part of the famous highway nr. 1 which runs along the californian coast and offers a lot of landscape highlights. Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most spectacular.

Sometimes people are surprised to see that it's painted red while they expected a golden bridge. The explanation is simple. The waterway from the Pacific to the Bay is called the Golden Gate.

The bridge has a very scenic setting. Go there on a weekend and enjoy already your walk towards the bridge. You meet lots of joggers, sunbathers on the beach, people who picnic and you can watch the sailing boats on the water.

Address: Northwestern Tip of San Francisco Peninsula

Phone: (415) 921-5858

Website: http://www.goldengatebridge.org

The long and sometimes winding road Lombard Street Review

Streets in San Francisco can be very steep. Lombardstreet which goes paralell to the Golden Gate Waterfront a few blocks south of it is one of it. At one spot they had to build serpentines where traffic only can pass very slowly.

This short part of Lombardstreet is very well decorated which flower-beds and is surrounded by nice houses. So it's worth to go there.

Address: Lombard Street. Descent begins at Hyde Street.

A calm oasis in a lively city Golden Gate Park Review

Golden Gate Park is a green oasis where locals as well as tourists have a rest from the daily chores or the sightseeing stress.

The park is huge - even larger than New Yorks Central Park. When we visited on a Saturday a lot of people enjoyed the various recreational possibilities. So we had the occasion to listen to a free concert of a brass orchestra while lying on the lawn and enjoying the sun.

If you are interested in gardening visit the Japanese Tea Garden. You have to pay entrance fee there but it's a nice spot.

Address: Area bounded by Lincoln, Fulton, Stanyan.

Website: http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/neighborhoods/ggpark.shtml

Al Capone's former home Alcatraz Review

The island of Alcatraz in the Bay of San Francisco has been a federal prison until the sixties of the last century. Here the most dangerous guys who did not well in other prisons got a temporary home - for example Al Capone.

From the island there's a splendid view on the skyline of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. The inmates could see this when they were in the dining room. But I guess they didn't enjoy it like the tourist today.

Located on an island this prison was very safe. Only a handful of prisoners succeeded in escaping - but were never again heard about. Nobody knows if they made it to the coast.

Nowadays the prison is a museum. You can visit the cellhouse and get an impression of the depressing and violent atmosphere inside by listening to the descriptions on a tape they hand you out.

Address: In the middle of San Francisco Bay

Directions: Alcatraz is reached by ferries of the Blue and Gold fleet from Pier 41 near Fisherman's Wharf

Phone: (415) 705-5555

Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz

Impressive building Palace of Fine Arts Exploratorium Review

The Palace of Fine Arts was build for the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915 and it's the only building that mad it until today. It's a masterpiece of architecture which is home of an interactive science museum - The Exploratorium.

When I visited San Francisco I was reading a novel and the showdown of this thriller happened to be beneath the big dome of this building. What a coincidence!!

Address: 3601 Lyon Street

Directions: Near the Waterfront between Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge

Phone: (415) 561-0360

Website: http://www.exploratorium.edu/