Sitting on 43 hills, and surrounded on three sides by water, San Francisco is ideally located so that almost every one of its streets ends or begins with a panoramic sea view.  Some call it The City By the Bay, but to most of its residents, it is known simply as The City.  Seldom has there been such a passion for preserving the past with its colorful legends and architecture as there is in San Francisco.  Seven times, it has been rebuilt after fires and earthquakes; and seven times, it has been carefully and lovingly restored.

Today San Francisco is an important industrial, tourist and financial center.  Its financial district is often called “Wall Street West.”  The city port handles huge amounts of cargo annually and ranks among the top ten ports in the world for passenger traffic.

San Francisco has a world-class symphony orchestra, opera, and ballet.  Other not to be missed attractions are the San Francisco Maritime Museum, the California Academy of Science, the Natural History Museum and the Japanese Tea Garden.  Restaurants and nightspots span the entire spectrum of fine cuisine and the best in live music and dance.  Sports are at the top of the charts with everything from golf, surfing, fishing, skiing, basketball and swimming to the unforgettable San Francisco 49ers and San Francisco Giants.  

In recent years, San Francisco has consistently received the highest score of any city in the United States in Conde Nast Traveler Magazine's Readers' Choice Awards. San Francisco also scored highest in the world in the Restaurant category and highest in the United States in the Environment Ambiance. The year 2000 marked the twelfth of thirteen years that San Francisco has been designated Best City in the United States and the third year as the leader in the Restaurants category.

A prominent feature of San Francisco is that beautifully fluffy, chilly, wet, heavy, material called  “fog” which makes the city's weather so mysterious, exciting,  and unpredictable. A rare combination of water, wind, and topography creates Northern California's summer fog bank. It lies off the coast, and rising air currents pull it in when the land heats up. Held back by coastal mountains along a 600-mile front, the low clouds seek out any passage they can find. The easiest access happens to be the slot where the Pacific Ocean penetrates the continental wall:  otherwise known as the Golden Gate!

While in San Francisco, be sure to save time to visit Fisherman’s Wharf.  The wharf once bustled with Sicilian and Genoese fishermen unloading their catches to sell.  There is still a fishing fleet, but the wharf is lined with more than a hundred seafood restaurants and steaming crab pots as well as marine gear suppliers, and sidewalk performers.  From there it’s a short walk to Chinatown with its pagoda roofs; colorful lampposts, and fascinating shops.  The 853-foot Transamerica pyramid marks the heart of the Financial District, as does Embarcadero Center.  Nearby is the home of the new San Francisco Giants baseball stadium, Pac Bell Park.

The main shopping, hotel, and theater district is at Union Square.  A few blocks farther on, the formerly run down factory district has been reborn as a cultural center with the Museum of Modern Art as its centerpiece.  Major galleries, museums and restaurants have opened there, as well as Sony’s  Metreon theater complex.  Yerba Buena Gardens provides constant family entertainment year round with its ice rinks, parks and children’s play areas.

It is wise to plan to spend a day of relaxation in Golden Gate Park and to save another day for a quiet stroll along Ocean Beach.  A leisurely pace leaves time to enjoy exploring the city and opens space for the unexpected, such as that park that looked to be five minutes away on the map, but is actually at the top of a steep hill!  

San Francisco is a city of beauty and dignity.  It presents to the visitor a banquet of sights, sounds, tastes and aromas to sample, to savor, and to remember forever.

Population: 740,000 in the city and 6.5 million if the surrounding Bay area is included.
Time Zone:  Pacific Standard Time
Language:  English

Average Temperatures:

How to get around

By Train

Amtrak: 800-872-7245 trains-the Zephyr, from Chicago via Denver, and the Coast Starlight, traveling between Los Angeles and Seattle-stop in Emeryville 5885 Landregan St. and Oakland 245 2nd St. in Jack London Sq.. Shuttle buses connect the Emeryville station and San Francisco's Ferry Building 30 Embarcadero at the foot of Market St.

Driving a Car in the City:
Driving in San Francisco can be a challenge because of the hills, the one-way streets, and the traffic. Remember to curb your wheels when parking on hills. Exploring the city involves navigating a maze of one-way streets and restricted parking zones. Cable cars, buses, and trolleys can take you to or near most attractions. If you plan to visit distant outlying areas which are not accessible by subway, it is best to rent a car for the length of such trips, and plan to walk or use public transportation in the city of San Francisco and environs.

Buses-Trolley Buses:
Muni's buses and trolley buses run all over The City in frequent intervals usually every five to 20 minutes. Each route has a number and a name, i.e. 5-Fulton, 24-Divisadero, 42-Downtown Loop, which are prominently displayed on the front and side of the bus, along with the route's destination. Some routes, such as 38L-Geary Limited or 14L-Mission Limited, make only limited stops along their routes. Others, such as 9X-San Bruno Express or 31AX-Balboa "A" Express, operate nonstop from downtown to the outer regions of The City. For more clarity on Muni service, purchase a Muni map.

Historic Streetcars Trams:
You can travel back in time on the distinctive collection of historic streetcars.. Each car is painted in its original colors designating its origin in Boston, Chicago, Milan, or some other city in the world. These beautiful streetcars run along the center of Market Street from the Transbay Terminal in downtown to the Castro District. They are collectively known as line F-Market.

Metro:
Beginning downtown at Embarcadero Station, the Muni Metro's five underground streetcar lines J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Ocean View and N-Judah take you under Market Street to various points of interest in the western and southwestern regions of The City. The J and N lines branch off after Van Ness station and operate on the surface, and the K, L and M continue underground to West Portal Station before splitting into their own separate surface lines. In the subway section of the system, J and N cars are often coupled together, as are K, L and M cars. Call for current fare schedule. Please have the exact fare ready when you board; Metro fare gates do not accept any dollar bills.

Transfers:
A two-part transfer slip is provided when you pay your fare on buses, streetcars and Metro lines. This transfer allows you to transfer two more times to any bus, streetcar or Metro line. No transfers are given or accepted on cable cars; single fares must be paid each time you board.

Hours Of Operation:Monday-Friday 5:30 am-12:30 am, Saturday 6 am-12:30 am, Sunday 7:30 am-12:30 am. Limited late night service is also offered on some lines.

Muni offers three discount transit passes, subject to availability. All can be purchased at the Visitor Information Center at 900 Market Street, downstairs from the Powell-Market cable car terminal. The Muni Passports include the cable cars, Muni buses, Muni Metro and the F-Market streetcars. You can travel anywhere within San Francisco with the Passport. In addition, you will receive savings on your entrance fees at most city museums and many city attractions when you show the Muni Passport. One, three and seven day passports are available.

Subway:
BART, or Bay Area Rapid Transit ( 650-992-2278) provides efficient transportation to Oakland, Berkeley, Concord, Richmond, Fremont, Colma, and Martinez and other points. Trains also travel south from San Francisco as far as Daly City and Colma. Fares are low.

Taxi
Whenever possible, avoid using taxis. Rates are high, and it is almost impossible to hail a passing cab, especially on weekends. If you must use one, either phone or use the nearest hotel taxi stand.

Cable Cars:
There are three cable car routes in San Francisco. Two of these routes, the Powell-Hyde and the Powell-Mason, begin at the corner of Powell and Market Streets, and run north-south to and from Nob Hill and Fisherman's Wharf. At Fisherman's Wharf, you can board the Powell-Hyde line at Hyde and Beach Streets and the Powell-Mason line at Bay and Taylor Streets. The third line is the California line running east-west on California Street between Market Street and Van Ness Avenue, serving the Financial District, Chinatown and Nob Hill. This line tends to be the least crowded. The transfer point for all three lines is at Powell and California Streets. Cable cars can be boarded at any designated stop along the route. However, during the busy summer months, it is a good idea to wait at the terminal, as the cable cars usually fill up at the beginning of the line. There may be a 45- to 60-minute wait during the summer.

Theater and the Arts

The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Herbst Theater, Van Ness Avenue and McAllister Street.For more information and to purchase tickets, call 392-4400  

San Francisco Ballet
455 Franklin Street, 861-5600, 865-2000, The San Francisco Opera.

War Memorial Opera House
301 Van Ness Avenue.For more information and to purchase tickets, call 864-3330

The San Francisco Symphony

Davies Symphony Hall - Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street.

The Smuin Ballet
710 Mission Street. 978-2787

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
For tickets, call 978-ARTS. 710 Mission Street. For information, call 978-2700

Annual  Events

January

Grand National Roadster Show - San Mateo County Exposition Center, 503 236-0632. The show contains one of the biggest gatherings of roadsters anywhere, complemented by a NASCAR virtual reality ride and vintage hot rods.

Berlin and Beyond Festival - Castro Theater, 263-8760. This unique German language film festival provides highlights of recent European cinema.

Chinese New Year Festival & Parade - Chinatown, 391-9680. San Francisco's largest festival, highlighted by the New Year Flower Market on January 20 and 21, a fantastic parade on February 3, at 5:30 p.m. from Market and Second Streets to Columbus Avenue and a community street fair on February 3 and 4.

The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival - Yerba Buena Center For The Arts, 923-0222. A film festival representing personal points of view on threats against political and individual freedom.

January-April

Whale-watching can be enjoyed throughout the winter, when hundreds of gray whales migrate along the Pacific coast. Contact the California Office of Tourism 801 K St., Suite 1600, Sacramento 95814, tel. 800-862-2543.

February

San Francisco Tribal, Folk & Textile Arts Show

Fort Mason - 310 455-2886. Over 80 folk and ethnic art dealers sell North American pottery, basketry, textiles and jewelry.

Pacific Orchid Exposition - Fort Mason Center, 546-9608. The  annual edition of the San Francisco Orchid Society's show dazzles with dozens of breathtaking floral collections.

Tulip Mania - PIER 39, 705-5500, www.pier39.com. More than 39,000 brilliantly colored tulips from all over the world coupled with free guided tours.

March

San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival

AMC Kabuki Theaters, 863-0814. The biggest event in North America dedicated to the exhibition of Asian American and Asian cinema.

St. Patrick's Day Parade
Second and Market to the Civic Center, 731-0924.One of San Francisco's largest annual parades and one of the longest-running parades in the U.S. Begins at 12:45 p.m. at Second and Market Streets and concludes at City Hall.  

San Francisco Flower and Garden Show
Cow Palace, 800 829-9751, www.gardenshow.com. Cutting-edge landscape design and high-quality exhibits of plants and superior gardening products.

Opening Day - San Francisco Giants
Pacific Bell Ball Park, 800 5GIANTS 800-544-2687

April

Street Performers Festival
PIER 39, 705-5500, www.pier39.com. Comedians, jugglers, unicyclists, slack ropewalkers and many more perform on two stages.

Cherry Blossom Festival
Contact the Japan Center 1520 Webster St., 94115, tel. 415-922-6776. An elaborate presentation of Japanese culture and customs, winds up with a colorful parade through San Francisco's Japantown.

San Francisco International Film Festival
AMC Kabuki, Castro Theater and other venues, 931-FILM. More than 100 films and videos from 30 countries will be showcased during this annual festival.

Cinco de Mayo
Parade on Mission Street, Festival in Civic Center Plaza, 826-1401. A parade and festival featuring Mexican and Central American art and entertainment. Also included is a classic low rider and bomb car show with over 80 cars on display. There will also be a children's area. 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

San Francisco Youth Arts Festival
Golden Gate Park, 759-2916. An annual exhibition and celebration showcasing the visual and performing arts by San Francisco students in grades K-12.

Carnaval
Harrison Street, between 16th and 22nd, 826-1401. San Francisco's version of Mardi Gras, and one of its largest annual public events, featuring exotic carnaval dancers with a mixture of Latino, jazz, samba Caribbean,and more.

June

Haight Street Fair
Haight Street, 661-8025. One of San Francisco's most famous neighborhoods celebrates its creative roots with arts, crafts and entertainment.

San Francisco Black Film Festival
346-0199, Showcases films that celebrate black independent film and filmmakers.

Juneteenth Celebration
Kimball Park, located at Geary and Steiner Streets, 229-1220. A celebration of African American culture.

San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
Castro Theatre and other venues, 703-8663. More than 250 films from around the globe are showcased in this 25th annual flick festival, the largest and oldest event of its kind in the world.

San Francisco Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Pride Celebration Parade
Embarcadero to Civic Center, 864-FREE. San Francisco's annual celebration of lesbian and gay pride culminates with a festive parade from the Embarcadero to the Civic Center.

Jewish Film Festival
Castro Theater and other venues around the Bay Area, 621-0556. Films from American and international filmmakers showcase the diversity and vitality of the Jewish culture.

July

Fourth of July Waterfront Festival
Fisherman's Wharf, 705-5500. A day long event featuring the West Coast's largest display of fireworks, live entertainment, food, arts and crafts at this annual waterfront party. Fireworks begin around 9:00 p.m.

Cable Car Bell-Ringing Competition
Union Square, 923-6217. Muni cable car operators clang out melodies on a cable car bell during this annual competition for top bell-ringer.

August

Afro Solo Arts Festival 2001
Yerba Center of the Arts & other locations, 771-AFRO. The Afro Solo Arts Festival features celebrity and emerging African American artists in various performances such as theater, dance, music, spoken word and visual arts. Most shows begin at 8:00 p.m.

Nihonmachi Street Fair
Japantown and Japan Center, 771-9861. This Japanese festival features lion dancers, taiko drummers, Japanese arts and crafts, musical entertainment, food and children's events.

ACC Craft Fair
Fort Mason Center,800 836-3470. This is the largest juried craft fair on the West Coast featuring necklaces, stoneware bowls and silk goods.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire
Nut Tree, Vacaville, 800 523-2473. Journey back to 16th century England with 1,500 brilliantly costumed performers, jousting knights, rare handmade crafts, theater, dance, food and drink. 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Weekends only.

September

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
Golden Gate Park, 422-2222. Relax in a tranquil environment and enjoy Shakespeare's classics, beginning on Labor Day and running every Saturday and Sunday through September 30. Shows begin at 1:30 p.m. but locals arrive by noon for a seat. Free.

San Francisco Fringe Festival
Exit Theater and other downtown venues, for information call 931-1094, for tickets call 673-3847. A non-juried, non-censored marathon of 260 performances by 50 local, national and international theater companies in several locations in downtown San Francisco, with a broad spectrum of classic theater, performance art and outrageous comedy.

Festival of the Sea
Hyde Street Pier, 561-6662. Re-live San Francisco's seafaring past with a tugboat rodeo, free boat rides. hands-on activities, a boat-building contest, hands-on crafts demonstrations and much more.

Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival
Ghirardelli Square, 775-5500. A chocolate lover's dream. Attendees sample various chocolate treats including chocolate covered strawberries, brownies, chocolate cheesecake and more. Proceeds benefit Project Open Hand.

Vivas Las Americas!
Pier 39, 705-5500. Hispanic Heritage is the focus of this event, featuring music and dance performances commemorating the artistry of Mexico and Central and South America.

San Francisco International Art Exposition
Fort Mason Center, Herbst and Festival Pavilion, 312 587-3300. 100 fine art galleries will exhibit, representing the work of 1500 artists, ranging from painting to drawing to sculpture to prints and video art.

San Francisco Blues Festival
Great Meadow at Fort Mason, 979-5588. The oldest blues festival in America presents some of the best blues musicians in the world.

Wells Fargo Fall Cup Regatta
Pier 39, 705-5500, www.pier39.com. Watch America's Cup participants, Olympic veterans and former World Champions in two days of fleet-style racing on the San Francisco Bay. The public is invited to watch from noon to 5:00 p.m.

October

Italian Heritage Parade and Festival

Tentative Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach, 989-2220.The City celebrates its Italian heritage with a lively parade through North Beach, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

San Francisco Jazz Festival
Various locations, 788-7353. One of San Francisco's biggest and best musical festivals features local, national and international jazz artist performances at locations throughout San Francisco. The line-up includes many renowned musicians such as Abbey Lincoln, Jimmy Scott, John McLaughlin, and Zakir Jussain in Remember Shakti.

October/November

Grand National Rodeo, Hose and Stock Show
Cow Palace, 469-6057, for tickets, 469-6065. Enjoy concerts, art, food, livestock and rodeo competitions at the annual Grand National.

San Francisco Fall Antiques Show
Fort Mason Center, 546-6661. Over 65 distinguished antique dealers from America and Europe sell a broad range of antique merchandise.

Film Arts Festival of Independent Cinema
Castro and Roxie Theaters, 552-8760. More than 300 films by local artists showcase the richness and diversity of San Francisco and Northern California as a major hub in the independent film world.

American Indian Film Festival
Palace of Fine Arts Theater, 554-0525. Presenting documentaries and dramas by new and emerging Native American artists.

San Francisco International Automobile Show
Moscone Center, 331-4406. The latest and greatest automobiles in the world at this annual show.

December

Christmas at Sea
Hyde Street Pier, 561-6662. Climb aboard a historic ship and enjoy caroling, storytelling, hot cider, cookies, kids' crafts and a visit from St. Nick.

San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Avenue, 865-2000. America's oldest ballet company,regarded as one of its finest, presents Tchaikovsky's beloved family classic every December.

The New Pickle Circus
tel. 415-544-9344, a particularly joyous group that started as a band of street performers during the early 1970s, performs annually during the holiday season at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in the Marina District or at nearby Fort Mason.

San Francisco is divided into six zones:  Downtown, Midtown, Northeast, Northwest, and Southwest. Many of San Francisco's famous attractions, including North Beach, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, and Union Square, are in its northeast quadrant. Golden Gate Park is in the city's northwestern section.

Bus:
If you do not want to wait in line for a cable car, you may wish to consider taking a Muni bus. You may board lines 15-Third or 30-Stockton at the corner of Kearny and Market Streets. Lines 15 and 30 travel through Chinatown and North Beach, two of San Francisco's most colorful neighborhoods. Line 15 terminates at Bay and Kearny Streets near PIER 39; line 30 operates on North Point Street from Columbus Avenue west to Van Ness Avenue and serves The Anchorage, The Cannery and Ghirardelli Square.

Alcatraz Island (Northeast)
the notorious former federal prison in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, is accessible to the public through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Blue and Gold Fleet. To reach Alcatraz Island, you travel by ferry from Pier 41 at Fisherman's Wharf. The ferry ride will take you approximately 20 to 25 minutes. The ferry is easily reached from the Union Square by bus lines 15-Third or 30-Stockton or by cable car Powell-Mason line. Once you arrive at Alcatraz Island you must walk up a steep hill. There are no elevators. There is an accessible, interactive computer program of the island's history available for those unable to make the walk uphill. 415-705-5555 or visit the ticket booth at Pier 41, Fisherman's Wharf. The ticket booth is open Monday through Sunday, 8:30 am to 5 pm. Call 415-705-5555 for an update on extended summer hours.

Golden Gate Park. (Southwest)
John F. Kennedy Dr. west of Stanyan St. 415-263-0991 for walking tour info. Open 24 hours. Free guided tours:  Sat. at 11 and Sun. at 11 and 2. Bordered by the Great Highway on the west, Lincoln Way on the south, Stanyan Street on the east, Fulton St. on the north. The 1, 017 acre park contains a dozen artificial lakes; a world renowned collection of trees and other plants; miles of roads, bridle paths and foot trails.  The park extends three miles from Fell and Stanyan Streets to the ocean. The Visitor Center is located in a Beach Chalet on Great Highway and features murals with scenes of the city during the Great Depression, as well as mosaics and wood carvings. (Daily:  10-dusk).

Palace Of Fine Arts (Northwest)
3601 Lyon Street (Adjacent to the Exploratorium), 415-567-6642. San Francisco's rococo Palace of Fine Arts is at the western end of the Marina. The palace is the sole survivor of the many tinted plaster, lath and chicken wire buildings built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the world's fair that celebrated San Francisco's recovery from the 1906 earthquake and fire. The Palace of Fine Arts was recast in concrete and reopened in 1967. The massive columns, great rotunda dedicated to the glory of Greek culture, and swan-filled lagoon have been used in countless fashion layouts and films.

Exploratorium (Northwest)
Inside the Palace of Fine Arts is the city's science museum. Baker and Beach Sts. 415-561-0364 for palace tours; 415-561-0360 for Exploratorium info.

The Exploratorium has a camera on top of their roof that brings live images from the Marina, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Palace of Fine Arts and many more attractions. Viewers have the ability to control the camera in order to view particular attractions. For information on upcoming exhibits, call 415 EXP-LORE.

San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art ( Southeast)
151 3rd St. 415-357-4000. Admission charged,  but free 1st Tues. of each month and  1⁄2-price entry Thurs. 6-9. Memorial Day-Labor Day, Fri.-Tues. 10-6, Thurs. 10-9; Labor Day-Memorial Day, Fri.-Tues. 11-6, Thurs. 11-9. The architect Mario Botta designed the striking facility, completed in early 1995, which consists of a sienna brick facade and a central tower of alternating bands of black and white stone. Inside, natural light from the tower floods the central atrium and some of the museum's galleries. Works by Matisse, Picasso, O'Keeffe, Kahlo, Pollock, Warhol, and other 20th-century artists form the heart of the diverse permanent collection. Programming includes traveling exhibits and multimedia installations. 

Yerba Buena Gardens (Southeast)
Between 3rd, 4th, Mission, and Folsom Sts Sunrise-10 PM. The two block heart of the South of Market Street redevelopment area includes the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Sony Metreon entertainment complex,  and the Moscone Center convention facilities. 

Rooftop at Yerba Buena Gardens
contains a Looff carousel, a high-tech, interactive arts and technology center for children, gardens, a playground, an ice-skating rink, and a bowling alley.  The waterfall memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr. is the focal point of the East Garden in the block between Mission and Howard streets. Water surges over large, jagged stone columns, mirroring the force of King's words that are carved on the stone walls and on glass blocks behind the waterfall. Above the memorial are two restaurants and an overhead walkway to the rooftop area.

Asian Art Museum (Southwest)
Tea Garden Dr. off John F. Kennedy Dr., near 10th Ave. and Fulton St., 415-668-8921 or 415-379-8801. $s off with Muni transfer, good also for same-day admission to the M. H. de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor Museum in Lincoln Park; free 1st Wed. of month. Tues.-Sun. 9:30-4:45, 1st Wed. of month until 8:45. The museum's collection includes more than 12,000 sculptures, paintings, and ceramics from 40 countries, illustrating major periods of Asian art. On the first floor are special exhibitions as well as galleries dedicated to works from Korea and China. On the second floor are treasures from Iran, Turkey, Syria, India, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Japan, Afghanistan, and Southeast Asia.

California Palace Of The Legion Of Honor (Northwest)
34th Ave. at Clement St. 415-863-3330 for 24-hr information. $s off with Muni transfer, good also for same-day admission to Asian Art and M. H. de Young museums.   Free 2nd Wed. of month. Tues.-Sun. 9:30-5. Spectacularly situated on cliffs overlooking the ocean and the Marin Headlands, this landmark building is a fine repository of European art. The lower-level galleries exhibit prints and drawings, English and European porcelain, and ancient Assyrian, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian art. The 20-plus galleries on the upper level are devoted to European art from the 14th century to the present. Two galleries are devoted to the  Rodin collection, and a third with works by him and other 19th-century sculptors. An original cast of Rodin's The Thinker welcomes the visitor in  the courtyard.

Chinatown (covers about 16 square blocks)
Delicious smells waft out of restaurants, fish markets, and produce stands. Good-luck banners of crimson and gold hang beside dragon-entwined lampposts, pagoda roofs, and street signs with Chinese calligraphy. Grant Avenue and Stockton Street are the main thoroughfares and are lined with tearooms, shops and temples, Christian missions, Chinese schools, theaters, and grocery stores. Be sure to visit  the district's narrow side streets also.  At No. 56 Ross Alley west of and parallel to Grant Avenue between Washington and Jackson Streets visitors are welcome to  watch fortune-cookie bakers in action. Three flights of stairs lead up to Tin How Temple, at No. 125 Waverly Place, where elderly ladies can often be seen preparing "money" to be burned as offerings to various Buddhist gods or as funds for ancestors to use in the afterlife.   Visit Chinatown as you would like people to visit your home neighborhood.  Be open to learning from those who welcome your presence, and  leave an impression of warmth and good will behind.

Chinese Historical Society of America  (Midtown)
644 Broadway, Suite 401, 415-391-1188, Mon 1-4   Tues-Fri 10:30-4  Sat hours vary. Donations.Documents the role of the Chinese in the settlement of San Francisco and the West through a series of exhibits.

Cannery (Northeast)
415-771-3112, East side of the block bordered by Jefferson, Leavenworth, Beach and Hyde Streets Formerly a Del Monte fruit cannery; it houses specialty shops, art galleries and restaurants, linked by arcades, bridges and balconies.

Ghiardelli Square (Northeast)
415-775-5500. Between Beach, Polk, Northpoint and Larkin Streets within walking distance of the Cannery and Fisherman’s Wharf, this 2.5 acre site houses the former Ghiardelli Chocolate factory, a woolen mill, apartments, and other buildings that have been refurbished to house specialty shops, bakeries and international restaurants.  Many mimes and “human statues” perform next to the square. 415-369-6000,Daily 10-10., SONY entertainment center at Fourth and Mission Streets in Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.  The center features an interactive play space called: “Where the Wild Things Are”; an Adventure zone called Airtight Garage; and “The Way things Work in Mammoth 3-D”. 

Coit Tower (Northeast)
Telegraph Hill Blvd., at Greenwich St. or Lombard St., 415-362-0808. Admission charged.  Daily 10-6:30. Among San Francisco's most distinctive skyline sights, the 210-ft-tall Coit Tower stands as a monument to the city's volunteer firefighters. From the Tower there is a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the East Bay, and surrounding areas.

Inside the tower, Depression era murals depict economic and political life in California.  The government commissioned the murals and paid 25 artists $38 a week each to paint them.  The radical Mexican painter, Diego Rivera inspired the theme of the murals:  the exploitation of workers.  At the time they were painted, there was widespread friction between management and labor along the waterfront and elsewhere in San Francisco.

Golden Gate Bridge  (Northwest)
Lincoln Blvd. near Doyle Dr. and Fort Point  415-921-5858. Daily, 24 hrs for cars and bikes, 5 AM-9 PM for pedestrians. Muni Buses 28 and 29 to San Francisco side. The suspension bridge that connects San Francisco with Marin County impresses visitors and locals alike with its  750-ft towers, and simple but powerful Art Deco design. Nearly 2 mi, long,  the Golden Gate was completed in 1937 after four years of construction, and was built to withstand winds of more than 100 mph. This landmark is a symbol of San Francisco and the Bay Area. The Bridge is an architectural marvel, and is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. The two towers are purposely out of alignment in order to compensate for the curvature of the earth. Because it is frequently gusty and misty , walkers should wear warm clothing.   The bridge offers unparalleled views of the Bay Area.  

Bay Area Discovery Museum (Northwest)
Off US101 at 557 McReynolds Road (In  Golden Gate National Recreation Area at the north end of Golden Gate bridge.)  415-487-4398. Tues-Sun. 10-5  (6/15-9/15)   Tues-Thurs 9-4; Fri-Sun 110-5, (rest of the year) Call for holiday schedule. Admission charged.  Children must be accompanied by an adult. This museum features hands-on exhibits for children. Children can climb on a fishing boat and fish;  learn to ride a unicycle;  create clay animation movies; crawl through an underwater tunnel; decorate a doll house,  to name a few of the choices.  There is a Tot Spot storybook environment for children 1-3. 

Cable Car Barn & Museum (Downtown)
1201 Mason St. at Washington St. 415 474-1887, Daily 10-6 Apr-Sept.  10-5 rest of year Donations.Contains models, photographs and memorabilia ch\ronicling  the history of San Francisco’s early transit system, including the first cable car built in 1873.  Underground viewing room shows mechanics of the system.

California Academy of Sciences (Southeast)
in Golden Gate Park. 415-750-7145, Daily 9-6  (Memorial Day weekend - Labor Day) 10-5 rest of the year. Admission charged.  Free to all first Wed. of the month. Consists of:

1)  Morrison Planetarium
415 750-7141, Admission charged. Houses a 5,000 pound star projector, built specially for the planetarium.  Under a 65 foot dome star shows are given Sat, Sun. first Wed. of the month and holidays on the hour 11-4.  Mon-Fri. at 2:00.  Call for program titles and to confirm hours. The Planetarium also features Laserium, a laser light and music show.
 2)  Natural History Museum
Includes Wild California Hall; Simson African Hall; Hall of Gems  and Minerals.  There are also Far Side of Science Gallery  and Earth and Space Hall in which  visitors can safely experience a simulated California earthquake on a “shake table.”  Life Through Time and the Age of the Dinosaurs are also popular exhibits.
3)  Steinhart Aquarium
Houses some 14,000 aquatic animals including octopuses, alligators, turtles, reptiles, sharks, sea anemones and sea horses.  Sharks of the Tropics are housed in a re-created tropical reef habitat.  Sharks are fed daily every two hours 10:30-4:30.  Penguins are fed at 11:30 and 4:00.

Embarcadero Center (Downtown)
between Clay & Sacramento Sts. on Drum Street, 800-733-6318, The Embarcadero Center is one of the most vital urban centers in San Francisco. It is a city in itself  with five high rise towers and the Old Federal Reserve Bank building connected by elevated walks, escalators and stairways.  More than 140 shops and restaurants  are available to residents and office workers and to the numerous visitors.  A five screen movie theater, luxury hotels, and the observation SkyDeck  complete the picture.  Live music and festivals are frequently found at the Center. In late November, 17,000 white lights are turned on to outline the towers. 

Nob Hill (Downtown)
between Clay, California, Jones and Powell Streets,415-391-2000. A century ago the railroad erected mansions, and today the wealthy live there in penthouses.  Among the famous landmarks are the Fairmont and Mark Hopkins Hotels and the newer Renaissance Stanford Court:  three of the most luxurious hotels in the world.  Nearby Grace Cathedral is modeled after Notre Dame in Paris and Huntington Park contains a replica of the Tartarughe Fountain in Rome.  Classical and art nouveau apartment buildings line the downtown side of the steep hill. 

Pier 39  (Northeast)
The Embarcadero at Jefferson Street, 415 981-7437, Cable car transport to Union Square every 20 minutes. San Francisco's version of the old-fashioned boardwalk, this two level marketplace designed to look like a village by the sea,  features over 100 specialty shops and   restaurants. Children enjoy the Venetian Carousel.  Teens hang out at the Cyber Station Family Games Arcade.  The Bungee Trampoline and the big screen multimedia Turbo Ride in hydraulic seats are other prime attractions.  A giant screen with surround sound shows two films:  The Great San Francisco Adventure and the Living Sea.  The famous California 1000 pound sea lions perform on K Dock.  Musicians, mimes, actors, and jugglers entertain on outdoor stages. 

Underwater World ( Northeast)
Pier 39  at the Embacadero and Beach Street. 415 623-5300.  Daily 9-8. Admission charged. Discount for public transit riders. Clear acrylic tunnels give visitors  the same close look a diver would have at such marine life as sharks, jellyfish, rays and eels.  Guided tours last an hour.

USS Pampanito (Northeast)
at the end of Taylor Street and Pier 45. 415-775-1943, Daily 9-8 (mid-May-mid Oct.)  Sun-Thurs 9-6 rest of the year).  Admission charged. A World War II submarine that saw action in the Pacific theater.  Self guided tours.  Stooping through low bulkheads is required to tour the sub. 

San Francisco Maritime Park (Northeast)
Hyde Street Pier, 415 556-3002.America's only floating national park features the world's largest collection of historic ships from the annals of  San Francisco's history. Programs, exhibits and events focus on living history at this floating museum. For more information, call 561-6662.

Fisherman's Wharf  (Northeast)
At the end of Taylor Street, Ripley’s Believe it or Not; and the Wax Museum  are two attractions in this area.  Millions visit this part of San Francisco each year to gaze across the piers, take in the local scene, and enjoy the numerous  fine restaurants.

San Francisco Zoo  (Southeast)
Sloat-Great Hwy. 415 753-7080 ,This world-renowned zoo is home to over 1,000 exotic, wild and domestic animals housed on dozens of acres. Be sure to visit the primate center, penguin island and the children's petting zoo.

Japanese Tea Garden (Southwest)
8^th Avenue and Kennedy Drive, 415-752-1171 Daily 9-6:30   (Mar-Sept)  9-5 (rest of the year). Admission charged. Landscaped with bridges, walks, ponds, miniature waterfalls, statues, and pagodas.  The garden is spectacular when the cherry blossoms bloom in the Spring.

Strybing Arboretum (Southwest)
9^th Avenue and Lincoln Way, 415-661-1316. Mon-Fri. 8:30-4:30 Sat, Sun 10-5  Free guided tours daily at 1:30  Sat, Sun. 10:30.  Donations More than 7,000 species of plants from around the world are displayed.   Within the 70 acres are demonstration gardens, a Mediterranean collection, a New World cloud forest collection, the Garden of Fragrance for the visually impaired, and the Moonviewing Pavilion and waterfall. 

Mount Tamalpais State Park
Mill Valley, California, 415-388-2070 ,Daily dawn-dusk.  Parking fee. The park covers 6,300 acres of picturesque coastal hill country.  Triple peaked Mount Tamalpais rises above it.  Hiking and bicycling trails and a winding road lead to the summit.  The view is unparalleled.  There is a visitor center at the summit.