Best Things to Do: San Francisco Activities

san francisco alcatraz

Alcatraz Island Tours

Lombard Street - One of America's Crookedest Streets! Lombard Street is so crooked, it must be seen to be believed. Plan to park and see it, as traffic jams are frequent to drive it...
Fisherman's Wharf - A Vicious Tourist Trap Everybody who visits wants to come to this San Francisco landmark gone sour. Not worth more than 30 minutes of your time -- major tourist trap featuring the Pier 39 shopping mall. Watch out for the clam chowder (we review every vendor).
Golden Gate Bridge A beautiful bridge to walk, roller-blade, bike, or just view from your car. Don't miss the natural beauty of the Presidio at the San Francisco end of the bridge for windsurfing, jogging, sunning, and more...
Muir Woods Muir Woods Enjoy the enchanting beauty of Muir Woods ancient Redwoods... One of the best, must-do San Francisco activities.
Twin Peaks Amazing 360 degree San Francisco views from the highest hilltop...
Walk through Chinatown & North Beach Some of San Francisco's best neighborhoods to walk around in, although "touristy". Get the feel of both Italy and Asia in a whirlwind day around San Francisco...
Golden Gate Park This beautiful, large & safe park, located in the more remote western area of the city includes a new deYoung Art Museum and miles of paths. Check out our features on the Conservatory of Flowers and Japanese Tea Garden.
Alcatraz Island Alcatraz Island prison is one of San Francisco's best experiences which can be reached and viewed by Alcatraz boat tours, ferries,and sailing charters.
Napa Valley Vineyards san francisco things to do The world's premier wine growing region is a great way to enjoy sunshine on the best Napa winery tours or ride the Napa Valley Wine Train.
Union Square Shopping and our San Francisco Shopping Guide If you really must shop, go here -- but you may want to avoid the hordes of pushy crowds. The 2nd biggest tourist trap in the City with the San Francisco shopping center.
Cable Car Rides San Francisco's world famous cable cars are the "funnest" form of public transit!
San Francisco's Best Beaches San Francisco doesn't have the warmest beaches - but we've found five of the most beautiful ones...
Museums San Francisco has some of the top science and art museums anywhere for activities -- including the Exploratorium and San Francisco Aquarium.
Neighborhood Guide Brutally honest dirt on every major San Francisco neighborhood including Haight Street's 1960's hippie history.
Getaways Spectacular destinations ranging from 2-4 hours drive from San Francisco are great California experiences for the day or romantic overnight trips...

san francisco things to do

Napa Valley Wine Country

Ghiradelli Square - Chocolate Factory San Francisco's best chocolate at the site of historic factory - Ghiradelli Square. Try the Jelly Belly Factory a nearby drive from San Francisco too...
Marina Green and Presidio Park A long flat strip along the bay with a view of Alcatraz teems with joggers, rollerbladers, and bikers and a beautiful palace at the end. Enjoy a beach walk along restored Crissy Field; a historic San Francisco activities tour; or sunny Baker Beach...
Pacific Heights - Union Street Neighborhood Pac-Heights has steep hills to make you sweat to see those beautiful Victorian homes - including Danielle Steele's with great cafe's, shops, and restaurants too.
Cliff House and Sutro Baths Explore a park trail of waterfront ruins with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Cap it off with a snack or drink at the historic Cliff House overlooking it all.
Theaters San Francisco's top five theaters with amazing historic architecture hosting gripping dramas, opera, and Broadway's best musicals.
Moving Guide Make your San Francisco vacation permanent or go to college.
Giants Baseball See a Giants baseball game at Pac Bell Park!
San Francisco Zoo Great family activity with reasonable temperatures, lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, a petting zoo and more....
Japantown The tastes and specialities of Japan in the scenic heart of San Francisco
Castro District - Gay Village Celebrate one of America's largest gay communities in the sunny Castro district.
Best San Francisco Runs and Jogs Stay fit during your San Francisco trip with these runs and jogs that feature amazing views.
Painted Ladies - Victorian Homes World famous architecture and historic charm of San Francisco's beautiful homes near Alamo Square. One of the top things to see in San Francisco.
49 Mile Scenic Drive If you like to sit in your car, in traffic -- for 4+ hours, this is the activity for you. Every San Francisco site in an excruciatingly slow drive around the square of the 7 x 7 mile city.
Sausalito Sausalito is a charming Bay-front town with shops, restaurants, and sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay. Accessible easily via commuter ferries.

From our readers... "We call San Francisco our "adopted" home. We have been 12 times and we were married there May 12th, on the lawn of the chapel at The Presidio! We have taken many people out there with us to visit "our" city and we never tire of it. We do, however, skip Chinatown! Just junk in the stores and shabby living conditions. We don't even bother taking our friends there. We don't really care for Fisherman's Wharf, but if we are taking friends, we will take them because it's just the "thing to do" for first timers! We always take them through The Presidio, Muir Woods and we insist they walk the Golden Gate bridge ! We particularly enjoy showing them S.F. at night from Twin Peaks! We really recommend The Alcatraz Tour and if not that, at least take a Bay Cruise! For seafood, Scoma's at The Wharf wins heads above all others! Our visitors get a kick out of driving down the "crookedest street in the world"....Lombard Street, then we take them on over to Coit Tower. We still enjoy exploring new neighborhoods whenever we visit and I never tire of the wonderful hilly streets! I wish we could live there!"