San Francisco is a popular vacation destination for many reasons. It has some of the best and most respected restaurants in the country, is close to some of the most flavorful wine in the country, and is home to some of the most technologically-savvy minds in the country. Here's 5 San Francisco attractions you don't want to miss.
Visiting San Francisco
Needless to say, when you are visiting San Francisco, you expect nothing short of the best. Despite its small size, stretching a mere seven miles, San Francisco offers up so many different cuisines and stunning attractions that it can be difficult to narrow things down for your upcoming vacation. To make things easier, here are 5 San Francisco attractions that you do not want to miss.
1. The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist attractions. Sometimes, tourist attractions are not worth the crowds; this is not one of those tourist attractions.
Whether you are spending your Royal Holiday vacation at the Nob Hill Inn, Powell Place, or Sir Francis Drake, the Golden Gate Bridge is a must-see. Accessible every day, the Golden Gate Bridge can be accessed by bicycle, car, bus, or foot. The Northeast Side Parking is free and the Southeast Side Visitor Parking charge $1 an hour.
2. Alcatraz
San Francisco enthusiasts have similar arguments for Alcatraz like they do the Golden Gate Bridge. There is no way around it: you have to go. Because of its rich history, Alcatraz is an experience.
Situated on a tiny island in the middle of the Bay, Alcatraz was a federal prison known for holding some of our society’s biggest criminals, including mob boss Al Capone.
Prior to its time as a federal prison, Alcatraz was a military prison that took in prisoners from the Civil and Spanish-American War. While its prisoners are long gone, Alcatraz still plays host to one million visitors each year. Entrance is free of charge, but it is only accessible by ferry, which does require a ticket purchase.
3. Chinatown
If culture is what you are seeking, then Chinatown is a must-visit. Outside of Asia, Chinatown is home to one of the largest Asian communities in the world and is now one of San Francisco’s most-visited neighbourhoods.
Open 24-hours per day, Chinatown is rich with things to do. The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, for example, shows visitors how fortune cookies are made. Chinatown also holds Waverly Place, which houses the oldest Chinese temple in the United States.
Attractions aside, Chinatown is also home to some of the most delicious and authentic Chinese cuisine in the country.
4. The Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is not just another museum. It dubs itself as a “learning laboratory” and features around 600 exhibits that are hands-on and cover subjects ranging from engineering and psychology to geography and biology.
While its light shows and 10,000-toothpick sculpture may seem, to some, to cater only to children, the Exploratorium is a museum that is truly designed for all ages.
In fact, on Thursday evenings after 6:00 p.m., the museum is strictly 18+. Located on Pier 15, the Exploratorium is a great way to spend an afternoon in San Francisco.
5. Ferry Building Marketplace
Chances are, if you are visiting San Francisco, you expect to eat some great food. The Ferry Building Marketplace can fulfil these expectations.
Acting as a public food market, the Ferry Building Marketplace is open daily and has everything from seafood and burgers to Mexican food, coffee, nut shops, and a cheese and dairy bar.
It is a foodie favourite and experts recommend getting your food to go and eating along the waterfront for a true San-Franciscan experience.
Remember that there are over 180 destinations from Royal Holiday that you can visit and explore that all have 5 star reviews from happy travellers. So if San Francisco isn’t your top choice see some of the other popular options that popular travel blogger One Step 4ward covered here in a recent piece.
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