Blessed with a viable fog-cooled and sun-kissed climate and a dramatic landscape, the Bay Area is a visual feast where neither water nor hills are ever too far away. Add to this the cultural medley: Within every neighborhood, from Santa Cruz to Oakland to Mill Valley, a diversity of tastes and interest is thriving. You see it in the cuisine, the bookstores, the arts, and the recreational opportunities.
To embrace all San Francisco has to offer you must get out and explore. Walk the streets , drive across the Bay Bridge, go south down the peninsula to Silicon Valley and cruise along the San Mateo coast. You will find great sights, museums, art, culture, and family fun attractions. When you come to the San Francisco Bay you will find a plethora of attractions and activities to satisfy the desires of every one who visits.
Whether you’re on budget or not, you should be able to find affordable accommodations in San Francisco anytime of the year. All About San Francisco’s online reservations system offers tons of hotels & resorts to choose from with discounted rates. You can view individual hotel web pages with pictures and information. Check rates, availability and make secure online reservations. All About San Francisco also offers the guaranteed lowest rates on car rentals anywhere in the city from major companies like Enterprise & Thrifty. Our online services are easy to use and very secure. We provide quality service to all of our customers.
While visiting San Francisco you’ll never go hungry for quality food or shopping. San Francisco offers lots of great restaurants that will please anyone’s appetite ranging from Seafood to Steak to Oriental and everything in between. And the shopping is unlimited. There are lots of great places to shop Downtown or by the Bay. You’ll find malls, outlets, collector’s shops, specialty shops, antique shops, boutiques, high-end shops, low-end shops and the list keeps going.
What to See & Do in San Francisco:
While you are in San Francisco you will not look around without finding something to do. If you are here with the family you will have plenty of activities to choose from. There is everything from game rooms to children’s museums and amusement park rides. If something a little more relaxing is what you are looking for you have aquariums, museums, and historical sites to browse through. Whether you are here for a day or a week you will find enough to make your visit plentiful.
FEATURED TRAVEL GUIDE LISTINGS
While you are in San Francisco you will not look around without finding something to do. If you are here with the family you will have plenty of activities to choose from. There is everything from game rooms to children’s museums and amusement park rides. If something a little more relaxing is what you are looking for you have aquariums, museums, and historical sites to browse through. Whether you are here for a day or a week you will find enough to make your visit plentiful.
San Francisco Tours: Coming to San Francisco! Book your next tour online. Includes: helicopter tours, plane tours, bus tours, jeep tours and more. Start saving today!
Go San Francisco Card: Unlimited admission to 32 of San Francisco’s top attractions and tours. One low price include a Historic Cable Car ride, Red and White Bay Cruise, museums, historic sites, wine tastings and more. Free 124 page full color guidebook and savings of up to 20% on shopping and dining throughout the city. Boston, MA 02109 / Phone: 617-742-5950
Where to Eat in San Francisco
San Francisco is close to the Pacific Ocean so you will surely have the freshest seafood waiting at many restaurants. You will also find much more than seafood. There are restaurants serving the finest beef, oriental cuisines and yes the all American favorites are here for you as well. Whatever you are craving you will surely find a restaurant to please your taste buds. Below we have highlighted some of the more popular places to eat to help you plan a dining adventure. Bon Appetite!
| American | ||
| Fog City Diner 1300 Battery St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/982-2000 |
MacArthur Park 607 Front St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/398-5700 |
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| Harry Denton’s 161 Steuart St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/882-1333 |
Garden Court Market and New Montgomery Sts. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/546-5011 |
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| Chinese | ||
| Great Eastern 649 Jackson St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/986-2550 |
R&G Lounge 631 Kearny St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/982-7877 |
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| San Tung No. 2 1031 Irving St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/242-0828 |
Ton Kiang 5821 Geary Blvd. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/387-8273 |
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| Italian | ||
| Vivande Ristorante 670 Golden Gate Ave. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/673-9245 |
Splendido Embarcadero 4 San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/986-3222 |
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| Vineria 3228 16th St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/552-3889 |
Antica Trattoria 2400 Polk St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/928-5797 |
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| French | ||
| Bistro Aix 3340 Steiner St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/202-0100 |
Pastis 1015 Battery St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/391-2555 |
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| Cassis Bistro 2120 Greenwich St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/292-0770 |
Le Central 453 Bush St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/391-2233 |
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| Spanish | ||
| Zarzuela 2000 Hyde St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/346-0800 |
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| Mexican | ||
| Caf� Marimba 2317 Chestnut St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/776-1506 |
La Taqueria 2889 Mission St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/285-7117 |
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| Steak | ||
| Izzy’s Steak & Chop House 3345 Steiner St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/563-0487 |
Harris’ 2100 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/673-1888 |
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| Seafood | ||
| Aqua 252 California St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/956-9662 |
Waterfront Restaurant Pier 7 San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/391-2696 |
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| Tadich Grill 240 California St. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/391-2373 |
McCormick & Kuleto’s Ghirardelli Sq. at Beach and Larkin Sts. San Francisco, CA Phone: 415/929-1730 |
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Where to Stay in San Francisco
San Francisco offers every accommodation imaginable. If you are looking for a modern sophisticated hotel or resort to entertain business clients or just comfortable accommodations for the family you will find them by the bay or downtown in San Francisco. Accommodations are available in a variety of flavors. Resorts with all the comforts of home, comfortable inns, luxurious condos and business class hotels are all here to fit any of your needs. By clicking on the link below, you can view a variety of accommodations in different areas of San Francisco. View individual hotel web pages with pictures and information. Check rates, availability and make secure online reservations and save. You can also find great savings on car rentals and airfare by clicking on the links to the left.
The Nightlife in San Francisco
San Francisco doesn’t go to sleep when the sun goes down. There are plenty of activities no matter what age group or interest. If you are looking to relax in a jazz club or dance to the latest dance music you are in luck. You will also find live entertainment, special events, theatre, movies and performing art are all on the menu. Choose a few of your favorite nighttime activities from the list below and enjoy.
| Blues & Jazz Clubs | ||
| Jazz Bistro Les Joulins 44 Ellis/Powell San Francisco, CA (415) 397-5397 |
Lou’s 300 Jefferson San Francisco, CA (415) 771-5687 |
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| Dance Clubs | ||
| Bohemia 1624 California/Polk San Francisco, CA (415) 474-6968 |
Holy Cow 1535 Folsom/12th St. San Francisco, CA (415) 621-6087 |
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| Polly Esther’s & Culture Club 181 Eddy/Taylor San Francisco, CA (415) 885-1977 |
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| Live Music | ||
| Bottom of the Hill 1233 17th St./Texas San Francisco, CA (415) 626-4455 |
Club Boomerang 1840 Haight/Stanyan San Francisco, CA (415) 387-2996 |
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| DNA Lounge 375 11th St./Harrison San Francisco, CA (415) (415) 626-1409 |
Eleven Ristorante & Bar 374 11th St./Harrison San Francisco, CA (415) 431-3337 |
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| Comedy Clubs | ||
| Cobb�s Comedy Club The Cannery, Beach/Leavenworth San Francisco, CA (415) 928-4320 |
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| Theater | ||
| Cowell Theater Fort Mason Center San Francisco, CA (415) 441-3400 |
Golden Gate Theatre 1 Taylor/Market San Francisco, CA (415) 551-2000 |
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| Magic Theatre Fort Mason San Francisco, CA (415) 441-8822 |
Stage Door Theatre 420 Mason/Geary San Francisco, CA (415) 788-9453 |
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| Performing Arts | ||
| San Francisco Ballet Van Ness/McAllister San Francisco, CA (415) 703-9400 |
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre 3301 Lyon/Beach San Francisco, CA (415) 392-4400 |
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| Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater 701 Mission/Third San Francisco, CA (415) 978-ARTS |
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Sports in San Francisco:
| San Francisco has sports for those who want to participate as well as those who just like to watch. Professional teams like the Oakland A’s and college teams are both on the menu. You will also find hiking, biking, and walking tours here waiting for you. Below we have highlighted some of the teams and recreational activities that may interest you while visiting San Francisco. |
| Spectator Sports |
| Golden State Warriors – Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum (510) 569-2121 |
| Oakland A�s – Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum (510) 569-2121 |
| San Francisco Giants – Pac Bell Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza (800) 5GIANTS |
| Stanford University Cardinals – Palo Alto (650) 723-1021 |
| University of California Golden Bears – Berkeley (800) GO BEARS |
| Sporting Activities |
| San Francisco Hang Gliding Center – Specializing in tandem hang gliding flights. See some of California’s most beautiful and rugged terrain. Call Bodhi at (510) 528-2300 |
| Bay Bicycle Tours – Spectacular easy-going 8-mile tour over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. Includes lunch, ferry ride back to SF. Rentals also available. 2801 Leavenworth/Beach 436-0633 |
| Away From Crowds Tom’s Tours – An easy three-hour walk through the redwoods led by trained guides and naturalists. Hotel pick-up, lunch, stop at the beach included. (800) 909-9255 |
| Angel Island – A California State Park and wildlife preserve with miles of scenic hiking and mountain bike trails. Blue & Gold Fleet, Pier 41, 773-1188 |
| Incredible Adventures – Magnificent sights unfold during a one-day Yosemite tour. Travel in small groups. Hotel pick-up. Three-day Yosemite camping trip (seasonal). 642-7378 |
Golf Courses in San Francisco:
There are several golf courses with different skill levels and price ranges in the San Francisco area. If you are looking to get out side and enjoy the weather a game of golf is just what you are looking for. Below we have displayed the golf courses surrounding the San Francisco area. We hope the information we provide will assist you in planning a great vacation.
| Golf Courses |
| Name | City | Holes | Green Fees |
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Las Positas Golf Course (510) 443-3122 |
Livermore, CA | 18 | $22. – $43. |
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Napa Municipal Golf Course (707) 255-4333 |
Napa, CA | 18 | $9. – $48. |
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Paradise Valley Golf Course (707) 426-1600 |
Fairfield, CA | 18 | $28. – $52. |
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Pasatiempo Golf Club (408) 459-9155 |
Santa Cruz,, CA | 18 | $63. – $228. |
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Silverado Country Club (707) 257-0200 |
Napa, CA | 18 | $115. – $135. |
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Sonoma Golf Club (707) 996-0300 |
Sonoma, CA | 18 | $45. – $70. |
Shopping in San Francisco:
| San Francisco has plenty to offer to the shopping enthusiast. You will find shops, malls, boutiques, retail outlets, high end and low end shopping while you are here. Whether you prefer designer emporiums, eclectic neighborhoods specialty shops or discount outlets, San Francisco will challenge even the most experienced shopper. Below we have provided some of the San Francisco area shopping spots. We hope the information we provide will help you plan a great shopping experience. |
| Places to Shop |
| 24th Street – Stroll the main street in cozy Noe Valley and find cafes, bakeries and boutiques. Easily accessible by public transportation. (Between Castro & Church streets) |
| Chestnut Street – The center of the Marina District is known for a great selection of retail stores, restaurants, cafes and bars. (Between Fillmore & Divisadero streets) |
| Chinatown – Chinese specialty shops, produce and fish markets, herb pharmacies, book and art stores line the busy streets. Restaurants are also a big draw for visitors. (Grant Avenue) |
| Clement Street – Restaurants, book and record stores, Irish pubs, coffee houses and Chinese produce markets make this colorful neighborhood popular with locals & newcomers alike. |
| Fillmore Street – Running through the heart of Pacific Heights is Fillmore Street, lined with boutiques, upscale eateries and popular bars. (Between Jackson and O’Farrell Streets) |
| Fisherman’s Wharf – The best selection of souvenirs is available at the Wharf’s many specialty shops. (Jefferson Street, PIER 39 to Hyde Street) |
| Hayes Street – A budding neighborhood shopping district. Galleries, furniture stores and urban clothing boutiques. Cafes and restaurants. Near the Civic Center. |
| Jackson Square – With its narrow lanes, Victorian architecture and brick buildings, this historic area is an excellent area for antique shopping. |
| Polk Street – This “gulch” between Pacific Heights and Nob and Russian Hills is a diverse neighborhood with many specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants and antique stores. |
| South of Market – Great bargains can be found at the many factory discount outlets and hip clothing stores spread out throughout the district. Galleries, cafes, nightclubs. |
| Union Square – Within a 1/2 mile radius of the square is every major department store and specialty store imaginable. Shop ’til’ you drop! |
| Upper Sacramento Street – A quaint shopping area with a French country ambiance. Antique stores, boutiques and cozy dining spots. (Divisadero to Spruce streets) |
Sightseeing in San Francisco:
San Francisco is home to several of the most famous sites in the world. Alcatraz is the most famous prison in the world. There have been movies made about this historic place where no one is said to have escaped. You will also find the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Cable Cars. These are sights that almost everyone has seen photographs of however, no photo is a substitute for the real thing.
| Sights |
| Alcatraz – Spanish for pelican, was named Isla de los Alcatraces after the birds that were the island’s only inhabitants. The island served as a military fortification in the 1850s and an incarceration facility for war prisoners during the Spanish-American War. In 1934 Alcatraz became the infamous maximum-security prison for Mafia criminals and high-risk convicts. Famous island residents have included “Machine Gun” Kelly, Al Capone and Robert “Birdman” Stroud. |
| Bay Bridge – The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened in 1936 and links San Francisco with Contra Costa and Alameda counties by way of an 8.5-mile suspension / cantilever structure. Views of the City’s skyline are spectacular from the bridge, however no pedestrians are allowed on the structure. A $2 toll is collected westbound. |
| Cable cars – operate seven days a week from 6:30 am until 12:30 am. The fare is $2 (no transfers issued or accepted) or use your MUNI Passport. Purchase your ticket from the conductor on board where exact change is required. The cable car was introduced to San Francisco on August 2, 1873. Wire-cable manufacturer Andrew Hallidie conceived the idea after witnessing an accident in which a horse-drawn carriage faltered and rolled backward downhill dragging the horses behind it. The first cable car to descend down Clay Street on Nob Hill was an immediate success. Besides creating a vital link in San Francisco’s public transportation system, the cable car opened the door for building on steep hills which until this time was thought to be impossible. Throughout the 1890s, eight transit companies operated 600 cars which covered 21 cable car routes and a total of 52.8 miles. Cable cars remained the primary mode of transportation until the 1906 earthquake. |
| The Golden Gate Bridge – (Highway 101 North) links San Francisco with Marin County. Before its completion in 1937, the bridge was considered unbuildable because of foggy weather, 60-mile-per-hour winds and strong ocean currents sweeping through a deep rugged canyon below. At a cost of $35 million, the 1.2-mile bridge took more than four years to build. Eleven men lost their lives during construction. Often shrouded in thick fog, the bridge sways 27 feet to withstand winds of up to 100 miles per hour. The color of the bridge, known as International Orange, was chosen because it blends well with the bridge’s natural surroundings. The two great cables contain enough strands of steel wire (80,000 miles) to encircle the equator three times. The concrete poured into its piers and anchorages would pave a five-foot wide sidewalk from New York to San Francisco. |
| The Marina District – was built on lagoon and marshland filled for use during the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition which celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal. Remaining from the Exhibition is the Palace of Fine Arts designed by Berkeley architect Bernard Maybeck. Today, the Palace houses the Exploratorium, a hands-on museum containing 650 interactive exhibits. A flat, grassy park favored by sunbathers, picnickers, kite flyers and people watchers, the Marina Green is a great spot to exercise while enjoying a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. |
| PIER 39 – the second most-visited attraction in California, is located at Beach Street and the Embarcadero just two blocks east of Fisherman’s Wharf. This renovated cargo pier hosts over 10.5 million visitors annually. PIER 39 is home port to the Blue & Gold Fleet and offers two-levels of waterfront restaurants and specialty shops, a 350-berth marina, the Venetian Carousel, Turbo Ride (a simulation theatre) and the Secret of San Francisco |
| Union Square – a shopper’s paradise of designer boutiques and large department stores, is bounded by Stockton, Powell, Post and Geary streets. Located around the square are Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, FAO Schwarz, Tiffany, Niketown, Gucci and many more. Also located nearby (closer to Market Street) are Planet Hollywood, Virgin Megastore and the San Francisco Shopping Center (home to Nordstrom). |
Scenic & Guided Tours in San Francisco:
San Francisco offers tours for all people. If you like to fly take an air tour of the San Francisco area. If heights are not you thing you can also take cruises, walking tours, bike tours, and even a limo tour. San Francisco is definitely worth touring just to see all it has to offer. Below we have highlighted some of the tours available to you while you visit this great city. If you need a hotel or car rental please use the links to the left which will guide you through our easy, secure reservations service and save up to 40%.
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San Francisco offers tours for all people. If you like to fly take an air tour of the San Francisco area. If heights are not you thing you can also take cruises, walking tours, bike tours, and even a limo tour. San Francisco is definitely worth touring just to see all it has to offer. Below we have highlighted some of the tours available to you while you visit this great city. If you need a hotel or car rental please use the links to the left which will guide you through our easy, secure reservations service and save up to 40%.
Galleries & Museums in San Francisco:
San Francisco is full of educational and historical museums and galleries. The information provided in the museums will help you discover San Francisco as well as art, culture and history. Interactive exhibits will entertain adults and children alike. Below we have highlighted some of the more popular museums in the San Francisco area. We hope you will find a few to visit while you are here. To make you hotel and car rental reservations use the links to the left and be guided through our easy, secure reservations system and save up to 40%.
| Museums |
| Bay Area Discovery Museum – Hands-on interactive exhibits for children. Ongoing classes, performances and special programs. 557 East Fort Baker, Sausalito (415) 487-4398 |
| Cable Car Barn & Museum – Learn the history of San Francisco’s cable cars and see the underground cables that pull the cars along the tracks. 1201 Mason/Washington (415) 474-1887 |
| Coyote Point Museum – Colorful environmental exhibits, computer games, an aquarium and wildlife habitats of the Bay Area. San Mateo (415) 342-7755 |
| Exploratorium – An interactive science museum housed in the Palace of Fine Arts. Reservations are required for the Tactile Dome. 3601 Lyon/Marina Blvd. (415) 561-0360 |
| Lawrence Hall of Science – This children’s user-friendly museum features interactive experimentation in geology, animal behavior and plant life. UC Berkeley (510) 642-5134 |
| Randall Museum – Designed just for children, this museum offers ongoing classes in art, science, computers and a petting zoo. Museum Way/Roosevelt (E, 11) (415) 554-9600 |
| Maritime Museum – History of West Coast steam navigation. View figureheads, ship models, art and photos. Polk/Beach (415) 556-3002 |
| Mexican Museum – This museum is devoted to the fine art, folk art, culture and history of Mexican and Mexican-American/Chicano people. Fort Mason, Bldg. D (415) 441-0404 |
| Museum of the City of San Francisco – Explore the City’s history through photographs, maps, paintings, antiques, artifacts. The Cannery, 2801 Leavenworth/Beach (415) 928-0289 |
| Galleries |
| Thomas Kinkade Gallery – The authentic source for current releases and vintage originals from the Painter of Light (TM). 781 Beach/Hyde (415) 440-0270 |
| Lahaina Galleries – Featuring sculptures, paintings and prints by John Cosby, Adolf Sehring, Jan Parker, Gary Swanson, Kudo, Andrea Smith and more. 645 Beach/Hyde (415) 749-1000 |
| Wyland Gallery – One of the world�s premier environmental marine life artists. Original oils, sculpture and watercolors, gifts from the sea. PIER 39 (415) 398-1922 |
