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From Alcatraz to the Golden Gate: Everything you can enjoy in San Francisco
This beautiful city located on the San Francisco peninsula, on the west coast of the state of California, is a destination with a diversity of tourist attractions.
It is suggested to have several days to be able to enjoy its charms, since the places of interest are distant.
The city offers you a variety of interesting places, such as beautiful wooden houses each one of a different color, a park bigger than Central Park in New York and a curious pier where a community of sea lions lives, among other attractions.
Essential places to see in San Francisco
If you come to San Francisco and don't know where to start your tour, this travel guide will help you have a perfect trip.
Golden gate
The icon of the city is undoubtedly the Golden Gate, it is the most representative symbol of San Francisco.
The bridge was built around 1933, in order to help reduce the number of vehicles that the San Francisco Bay ferry carried on a daily basis, which until then was the only way to cross the bay.
With a length of 2.7 km, it was known as the longest and highest bridge in the world from its construction until 1964. For the best view, go to the Fort Point lookout.
Alcatraz Prison
Known as one of the most feared and famous prisons in the world, today it is converted into a museum and preserves that load of legend.
The prison has been featured in famous movies, such as The Rock, and its history includes hosting as the most famous prisoner Al Capone, who was there for five years.
The visit can take a minimum of 3 hours, but reservations in high season require up to 3 months in advance.
It is essential to board at the time established in the reservation, but for the return it can be done on any of the ferries that depart from the prison.
Painted Ladies
If you remember the famous 80s series "Tres por Tres", you can recall the beautiful houses that appeared in the credits. They are known as the Painted Ladies or Painted Ladies, located in Alamo Square.
Golden Gate Park
This renowned park is 20% larger than Central Park. You will be delighted with its meadows, forests and lakes.
The park is known as the emerald heart of San Francisco and is an urban park that features gardens, open spaces, and tranquil lakes.
At the end of the park you will find the immense beach of Ocean Beach and on your way you will come across many places of interest such as the Botanical Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Young Museum and the Huntington Falls.
The best suggestion to fully enjoy the ride is to rent a bicycle. If the tour includes children or the elderly, they offer electric bicycles for rent that minimize the effort on the climbs that you will find on the ground.
Chinatown neighborhood
If you go to San Francisco you should visit it, since it is the oldest Chinatown that you will find in the United States and outside the Asian continent it is the largest.
To get there, we recommend you go through the Dragon Gate that welcomes the neighborhood and from there walk through it enjoying side by side, the Great Avenue with its picturesque bazaars, the typical red lanterns and restaurants where you will enjoy its famous dumplings.
Remember to visit the Chinese Telephone and the Sing Chong and Sing Fat buildings, Exchange, Tin How temple, Ross Alley, Portsmouth Square or the Six Companies building.
Pier 39
Pier 39 juts out into the sea and offers a variety of attractions such as restaurants, galleries, street performers and the Aquarium.
However, its main charm is provided by the colony of sea lions, which have been there for more than 30 years. These lions have inhabited the San Francisco Bay since ancient times, around 1989 they settled permanently on the dock.
It can be seen a few meters from a bleacher installed on the pier and always find a volunteer guide who will provide valuable information on these interesting animals.
Cable cars San Francisco
Another symbol of the city is the San Francisco trams. These cable cars began to circulate in 1873 and have continued to do so ever since.
As other means of transport such as street cars appeared, they lost importance, until they almost disappeared.
However, by popular request of its residents, it is currently protected as a Historic Place.
There are only 3 lines running, with more than 60 stops and about 40 trams with 10 different models and its use is mainly tourist, although some locals continue to use it for their daily trips.
Napa Wine Country
This excursion takes a full day. During the guided tours you will learn about the wine-making process and its history thanks to its expert guides. In addition, you can enjoy the gourmet culture of the area with a stop for lunch at Sonoma Plaza.
The guided tour includes the most popular wineries with all tastings included and during the tour you will admire the beautiful hills and vineyards that make up the main wine region in the United States.
Best Hotels to Stay in San Francisco
Holiday Inn San Francisco-Golden Gateway
In the Nob Hill neighborhood, very close to the Golden Gate Bridge and Union Square, is the Holiday Inn. From your rooms you can enjoy a view of the city or the bay.
This cute hotel is just steps from the famous San Francisco cable car and very close to Union Square and Chinatown.
Staypineapple Hotel
A hotel located in the center of the city with a decoration that preserves the Victorian elegance of the 1930s, with the comforts of the 21st century. From there you are one kilometer from Chinatown.
Hotel Spero
4-star hotel, built in a restored building with excellent proximity to the metro. From there you can walk to various places of interest.
The visit to this city will take you several days to explore it and enjoy all its charms, but it will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience.
