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About San Francisco SF Attractions SF History www.sanfrancisco.travel |
As there is much to see in San Francisco, below are highlights of some of the Bay Area's most famous attractions. Historical Attractions Alcatraz Island From 1933 to 1963, the rocky island in the middle of San Francisco Bay was home to some of the most notorious convicts in the US, including Al Capone, "Machine Gun" Kelly and Robert Stroud, otherwise known as the "birdman of Alcatraz." The twelve-acre Alcatraz was not altogether escape-proof, but while several inmates got themselves off the island, none is know to have reached land alive! A ferry ride is required to get to Alcatraz Island and reservations can be made on the Alcatraz Cruises' website: www.alcatrazcruises.com 
Fisherman's WharfFisherman's Wharf gets its name and neighborhood characteristics from the city's early days during the Gold Rush when Italian immigrant fishermen settled in the area and fished for the Dungeness crab. From then until the present day it remained the home base of San Francisco's fishing fleet. Despite its redevelopment into a tourist attraction during the 1970s and 1980s, the area is still home to many active fishermen and their fleets. One of the busiest and well known tourist attractions in the western United States, Fisherman's Wharf is best known for being the location of Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the Cannery Shopping Center, Ghirardelli Square, a Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, the Musée Mécanique, the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, The floating Forbes Island restaurant and restaurants and stands that serve fresh seafood, most notably Dungeness crab and clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl. Other attractions in Fisherman's Wharf area are the Hyde Street Pier which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the USS Pampanito, a decommissioned World War II era submarine, and the Balclutha, a 19th century cargo ship. Cultural Attractions Exploratorium The Exploratorium was the brainchild of Frank Oppenheimer. At various times, Frank was a professor, a high school teacher, a cattle rancher, and an experimental physicist. While teaching at a university, Frank developed a "library of experiments" that enabled his students to explore scientific phenomena at their own pace, following their own curiosity. Alarmed by the public's lack of understanding of science and technology, Frank used this model to create the Exploratorium, believing that visitors could learn about natural phenomena and also gain confidence in their ability to understand science, and the world. This was a groundbreaking idea for a science museum in 1969 when the Exploratorium opened. And the rest is history. The Exploratorium is a museum in San Francisco with over 475 participatory exhibits, all of them made onsite, that mix science and art. It also aims to promote museums as informal education centers. Hours: Tuesdays - Sundays 10:00 - 17:00 Admission: Adults 18 - 64: $25; Youth: $19; Children under 5 are Free Golden Gate Park & California Academy of Sciences Golden Gate Park, located in San Francisco, California, is a large urban park consisting of 1,017 acres of public grounds. Configured as a rectangle, it is similar in shape but 20% larger than Central Park in New York, to which it is often compared. It is over three miles long east to west, and about half a mile north to south. With 13 million visitors annually, Golden Gate is the third most visited city park in the United States after Central Park in New York City and Lincoln Park in Chicago. Although there are many features to Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences (www.calacademy.org) stands out as a favorite. As one of the largest natural history museums in the world, it also houses the Steinhart Aquarium and the Morrison Planetarium. The Academy of Sciences carries exhibits of reptiles and amphibians, astronomy, prehistoric life, various gems and minerals, earthquakes and aquatic life. Hours: Mondays - Saturdays 9:30 - 17:00; Sundays 11:00 - 17:00. Admission: Adults (18+): $29.95; Youth (12 - 17): $24.95; Child (4 - 11): $19.95; Students (18+) and Seniors (65+): $24.95. |
