5 Things to Do in San Francisco

San Francisco is located in Northern California, 381 miles north of Los Angeles. This “City by the Bay” with less than 50 square miles houses the world’s most iconic crimson bridge known as the Golden Gate Bridge and the crookedest street in the world.

The city’s world-class dining options, exciting nightlife and proximity to California wine country made it one of the top destinations in America. Where do you start and what should you visit when in San Francisco?

Here are Travelmath’s 5 things to do in San Francisco:

One: Walking tour
Discover Walks San Francisco offers three walking tours led by natives.

The Chinatown Tour includes
•   Tin How Buddhist Temple
•   Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
•   The famous Mandarin Theatre
•   Chinese Gambling Park
•   Live Poultry Market
•   Chinese six companies
•   Chinese funeral store
•   And much more

The Fisherman’s Wharf/Big Four Tour includes
•   The two ‘fisherman’s wharfs’ – the touristy and the authentic
•   Photo angles on Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower and Alcatraz Island
•   Hyde Street Cable Car and turntable
•   The Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory
•   The birthplace of Irish Coffee
•   And much more

Barbary Coast Unique Tour includes
•   Portsmouth Square
•   Godfather territory
•   Pre-earthquake buildings and the old San Francisco
•   Gold Street, the great Gold Rush and the very old San Francisco
•   And much more

You will have knowledgeable guides who tell stories and bring you to hidden gems of San Francisco including places to eat like a local.

Information: Discover Walks San Francisco

Two: Lombard Street “Crookedest Street in the World”
Forget roller coaster rides when in San Francisco. Instead take a ride in a cab or drive your rented car through the Lombard Street. It is a one way curvy and eight turns road between Hyde and Jones Street.

You can take the Powell-Mason cable car and stop at Lombard and Columbus streets which is at the bottom of the crookedest street. The Hyde Street cable car will stop at Lombard Street at the top of the street.

Three: View the Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco Travel listed 10 great spots to view the Golden Gate Bridge and some with obstructed view. They are-

1.   Crissy Field – In the Presidio, this is a former military airfield located south of the Golden Gate Bridge.
2.   Fort Point - For a closer view of the bridge visit this Civil War-era brick fort.
3.   Baker Beach – Located along the Presidio’s western shoreline.
4.   China Beach – Located at the Seacliff neighborhood.
5.   Lands End – Near Lincoln Park, walk along a paved sidewalk near the 17th hole of the Lincoln Park Municipal Golf Course.
6.   Lover’s Lane – The oldest foot trail in Presidio.
7.   De Young Museum – Located at the east end of the Golden Gate Park especially at the Hamon Education Tower Observation Deck. Museum requires admission fee.
8.   Library at the University California, San Francisco – In the Inner Sunset.
9.   Coit Tower, Telegraph Hill – View of the Golden Gate Bridge and a 360-degree views of the city and bay.
10. Golden Gate Bridge through the Waldo Tunnel – Enjoy the view if you are driving through US-101 (Waldo Tunnel) between Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito.

For more information please read Great Spots to View the Golden Gate Bridge.

Four: The Cable Car
The trip to San Francisco is not complete if you do not take the cable car. There are only three cable car routes in San Francisco.

Information: San Francisco Cable Car

Cable car enthusiasts should check out the Cable Car Museum at 1201 Mason Street to learn more about cable car heritage and more.

Five: Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour
Sausalito is about 10 miles from San Francisco city center. Take a unique Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour with Sausalito artist and author, Victoria Colella. This tour will bring you the houseboat communities, check out the wooden boats and historic vessels, visit art studios and more.

You will have the opportunity to cross the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

Information: Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour

For help with planning your trip to San Francisco, please use the following:
1.   Airlines flying to San Francisco
2.   Major airports near San Francisco
3.   Mileage Chart