San Francisco Things to Do Tips by SFHulaGIrl

Originally created for the World's Fair, this is a cool way to spend the afternoon -- visiting the Exploratorium inside and the surrounding Marina area. Concerts are also frequently held here.

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Phone: (415) 561-0360
Address: 3601 Lyon Street
Directions: (415) 561-0360
Website: http://www.exploratorium.edu/

Chinatown is a great place for shopping (inexpensively) -- chopsticks, Chinese shoes, incense, linens, etc.

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Address: Bordered by Broadway, Bush, Kearny, Stockton sts.
Directions: Ornamental gate at Grant and Bush intersection.
Website: http://www.sfchinatown.com/

The Japanese Tea Garden is located in Golden Gate Park. You can actually have tea there, too -- for a nominal fee, of course, in addition to the other nominal entrance fee!!

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Phone: 415-752-4227
Address: Located in Golden Gate Park
Directions: Golden Gate Park

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Phone: 415-752-4227
Address: Located in Golden Gate Park

Though Pier 39 is full of touristy shops and restaurants, the sea lions are also a big draw!!

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Phone: (415) 705-5500
Address: The Embarcadero at Beach Street
Directions: Fishermens Wharf
Website: http://www.pier39.com/home.cfm

Japantown, bordered by Fillmore Street, Geary Boulevard, Laguna Street, and Bush Street, is home to approximately 12,000 residents. Its Peace Plaza is dominated by a three-story white pagoda. The AMC Kabuki 8 theater complex hosts the Asian-American Film Festival, as well as the San Francisco International Film Festival. If you're hungry, Mifune is famous for their noodles, Kushi Tsuru has excellent bento box lunches, and Denny's serves a Hawaiian breakfast! Of course, Japantown wouldn't be complete without the quintessential Benihana! Soko Hardware Store has great Japanese lanterns and housewares, and Kinokuniya is a phenomenal bookstore.

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Directions: Just north of Geary and south of Sutter, between Laguna and Fillmore.
Website: www.japantown.ws

Coit Tower is a memorial to San Francisco's volunteer firefighters. This 180-foot cylindrical tower, named after Lillian Hitchcock-Coit (philanthropist & admirer of San Francisco's firefighters), was completed in 1933. Its design is reminiscent of a fire hose nozzle.

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Phone: (415) 362- 0808
Address: 1 Telegraph Hill Blvd
Website: http://www.coittower.org/

For a truly unique and inspirational experience, attend the Gospel Mass at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church. You can't help but be moved by the sheer joy of the congregation and the choirs. Throughout the service, you will hold hands and embrace other members of the congregation. The choir and its soloists are truly amazing! Masses are held every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and again from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It's recommended that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the service, as it's generally filled to capacity. Everyone is welcome. Cameras and videos are allowed.

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Phone: (415) 674-6000
Address: 330 Ellis Street (@ Taylor); San Francisco, CA
Directions: Tenderloin
Website: www.glide.org

The relatively new Ferry Building houses a decent selection of restaurants (Slanted Door, Marketbar, Taylor's Refresher), deli-type places (Mastrelli's, Le Mistral) and specialty stores (Sur La Table, Cowgirl Creamery, Acme Bread Company, Hog Island Oyster Company, Recchiuti Confections, Tsar Nicolai Caviar, etc.) to satisfy anyone's culinary cravings.

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Phone: (415) 693-0996
Address: Ferry Building Marketplace; One Ferry Building; SF
Directions: On the Embarcadero
Website: www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com