San Francisco: Beauty By The Bay
Sometimes when you live close to a big city, you forget to take the time to enjoy her beautiful qualities. San Francisco is full of gems, some hidden. Listed here are a few lovely places to go when you visit San Francisco.
I'll start off with three places and add more as I get a chance.
11/02/07 - added: Pier 39
12/24/07 - added: Fisherman's Wharf
The Cliff House
After coming across a vintage black & white photo of The Cliff House from 1958, I decided that I wanted to make a trip there to compare 1958 to 2007. The Cliff House has been in existence since the 1800s, but there seems to be a discrepancy as to whether it has been rebuilt three or four times depending which historical account you read.
No, my camera isn't broken, the sky was in fact gray. It was just a typical San Francisco summer day in July with a thick marine layer present. Some of us think of it as "natural air conditioning." (Hey, it is much more fuel efficient than electric powered air conditioning systems! Plus it doesn't harm the environment. You just need to put on a jacket. And a beanie. And a scarf. And a pair of gloves. And some thick socks. Well, you get the picture!)
If you visit the Cliff House, be sure to dine at one of the restaurants. They are fabulous! You may want to take a little peek at the menu from The Bistro.
Sites to check out before your visit
The Musee Mecanique
The Musee Mecanique used to be located at the beach, near The Cliff House, but was relocated about ten or so years ago. This museum houses many photographs from the Sutro Baths and Playland at the Beach as well as many mechanical toys, some are even made piece by piece from hand! The top photo is Laughing Sal from Playland. She now has a home right inside the front door of the museum. Put a couple of coins in her and she'll laugh just like she used to!
Admission to this museum is free, but plan on spending a lot of coins on the mechanical attractions! There is something for all ages to enjoy, from pressed pennies, to pinball machines, to photo booths. Personally, I just enjoy looking at all of the old pictures.
AT & T Park (Home of the Giants)
Growing up, I didn't know what a nice ballpark was. My family and I used to freeze at ugly Candlestick Park (now Monster Park).
When AT&T Park was built, San Franciscans nearly died of shock. The worse your seat, the better the view. If the game is lousy, you can enjoy the scenic view of the Bay Bridge or watch the boats in McCovey Cove. This ballpark is the ultimate gem!!
Pier 39
Pier 39 is definitely a tourist favorite. There are many unique shops and restaurants to enjoy as well as scenic views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the boats in The Bay. And, of course, who can resist watching the seals sunbathe in the pier?
Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf is the place to go if you want to enjoy a fresh shrimp or crab cocktail. There are so many fine seafood restaurants in the area it is hard to decide which one to pick! Some of the popular ones are: Alioto's, Scoma's, and Fisherman's Grotto No. 9.
Reader Feedback
Feel free to share a San Francisco gem.
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eccles1
If you're going to San Francisco Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair'..I love San Francisco Posted June 13, 2008 |
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d-artist
oh wow! I love this lens, I lived in SF many years and the photos brought back memories..laughing lady from Play Land, the Cliff House etc. 5*s Posted November 24, 2007 |
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ebizsalez
this is a cool lens about an awesome city! Posted November 02, 2007 |
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Coppertop
Thank you for stopping by my lens and rating it. This is a nice informative lens for those of us who don't get to travel, 5 stars plus! Posted November 01, 2007 |
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bisybee77
Great stuff! Thank you for your informative 5 stars lens! Adding it to my lensroll. If you are a collector, check out my eBay store lens Bisybee Collectibles! especially if you like to shop online! Posted October 27, 2007 |
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The Kaiser Permanente San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival at Treasure Island is a free event featuring dragon boat racing, food, entertainment and children's activities.
Address: 268 Bush Street, Suite 888
City: San Francisco 94104
Phone: 415-378-8858
Fax:
Email: linda.cheu@gmail.com
Website: www.sfdragonboat.com
Cherry Blossom Festival of Northern California - Japantown
One of California's largest ethnic celebrations to welcome spring, showcasing Japanese culture, dance, martial arts, calligraphy, flower arranging and tea ceremony. During the month of April and festival on weekends.
Address: 1759 Sutter Street
City: San Francisco 94115
Phone: 415-563-2313
Fax:
Email: info@nccbf.org
Website: www.nccbf.org
Fleet Week San Francisco - Embarcadero
Fleet Week is the Bay Area's opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women of our armed forces. Tour Navy ships and watch air shows in October, 10am-4pm. Free to the public. Reserved seats at Municipal Pier $25. Flight Deck Club Access, Marina Green $125.
Address: 1110 Eugenia Place, Suite 300
City: Carpinteria 93013-2923
Phone: 650-599-5057
Fax:
Email: sffleetweek@airshownetwork.com
Website: www.fleetweek.us
