Choose from 126 Fun Things to Do in San Francisco
Madame Tussauds San Francisco
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Marin Headlands
- The Marin Headlands are ideal for nature lovers and history buffs.
- The visitor center is located at Fort Barry, on the way to Rodeo Beach.
- Bring your own water and food; there are a few picnic sites, including at Battery Wallace.
- Accessible restrooms can be found near Rodeo Beach and at the visitor center.
Madonna Estates
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Merced River
The Merced River and its tributaries are home to some of the most popular recreational activities in Yosemite National Park, including boating, fishing, whitewater rafting and swimming off of its sandy beaches. One-day intermediate to advanced rafting trips are available to challenge Class III and IV rapids in the spring; during the rest of the season, the river becomes friendly to rafters of all abilities. There are also wonderful hiking trails that wander through the river shed; perhaps the most famous is the John Muir Trail, which starts near Happy Isles and climbs the Giant Staircase, past Vernal and Nevada Falls, into Little Yosemite Valley and north along Sunrise Creek to join the Pacific Crest Trail near Tuolumne Meadows.
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Macondray Lane
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Raymond Vineyards
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Pacific Heights
- Pacific Heights is mainly residential, with Fillmore Street its main commercial strip.
- The neighborhood is a draw for history and architecture buffs.
- There is street parking in Pacific Heights, but pay attention to parking restrictions.
Marina District
- Chestnut Street is the main commercial strip, with trendy bars, eateries, and shops concentrated between Divisadero and Fillmore streets.
- There is metered and free street parking available, but pay attention to posted signs about prohibited parking during street cleaning or other times.
- Bring a jacket or other warm layers; when the fog rolls in from the Pacific, it gets chilly fast.
Nob Hill
- There is a lot of metered and free street parking available, but pay attention to posted signs about parking limits during street cleaning, rush hour, construction, or special events.
- Bring a jacket; the fog and wind can roll in quickly and it gets chilly on top of the hill.
- Wear shoes appropriate for walking down steep grades.
Palace of Fine Arts
Like a fossilized party favor, this romantic, Greco-Roman ruin is the memento San Francisco decided to keep from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Indeed, the Palace is a favorite wedding photo location for many couples in the San Francisco Bay area. But many come just to simply gaze up at the rotunda relief and glimpse "Art Under Attack by Materialists, with Idealists Leaping to her Rescue".
The exhibition hall, which originally housed Impressionist paintings during the exposition, was once home to the Exploratorium, a state of the art interactive science museum that moved in Spring 2013 to Pier 15 on the Embarcadero. Now the venue hosts occasional concerts and events but is not generally open to the public. The inside is not the main attraction after all.
The nearby lagoon, fringed with Australian eucalyptus trees, was intended to echo those found in classical settings in Europe, where water serves as a mirror to reflect the grand buildings. The tranquil lagoon is also home to ducks, swans, sea gulls, and geese, who put on graceful displays for passersby.
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In the Marina District, The Palace of Fine Arts stands alongside Palace Drive. It’s easily accessible by car and public transportation, and close to the Presido and the Golden Gate Bridge. With views of San Francisco Bay, the park is a perfect spot for an afternoon picnic.
Majestic Yosemite Hotel (Ahwahnee Hotel)
- The Majestic Yosemite Hotel is a must-see for history buffs and first-time visitors to the park.
- Tour and dining room reservations fill up early, so be sure to book well in advance.
- Bring your camera, as the interior and exterior views are shot-worthy.
- The hotel is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Japantown
- There is a lot of metered and free street parking available around Japantown, but pay attention to posted signs about prohibited parking during street cleaning or other times.
- Japan Center has a parking garage.
- If you plan to visit Kabuki Springs and Spa, make sure to check the schedule for the communal baths, as some days are male- or female-only.
Painted Ladies
- The Painted Ladies are private homes where San Francisco residents live, so be respectful of their property by not posing for photos on the front steps or near the front doors.
- Street parking can be hard to find in this residential neighborhood, so give yourself time to circle the block if you’re driving; there are time limits, so check all signs carefully.
- Bring a jacket for the potential wind or fog that can roll across the city at any minute.
- Coaches and other large tour buses are not allowed to stop on the streets closest to the Painted Ladies, so be ready to do a little walking if you’re taking a big-bus tour.
North Beach
- North Beach is essential for history buffs, literature lovers, and club-goers visiting San Francisco.
- Columbus Avenue is the main thoroughfare, which runs diagonally across the grid of other streets.
- Bars and restaurants are mostly concentrated between Powell Street, Filbert Street, Green Street, and Pacific Avenue.
- If you’re visiting North Beach with children, note that a small section of Broadway is home to strip clubs.
Marin County
Known locally as the Bay Area’s park, nearly 85 percent of Marin County is protected from development, much of that space occupied by Point Reyes National Seashore and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The county’s abundant organic farms supply food to some of the nation’s best restaurants. To sample the goods for yourself, head to the Marin Farmers Market on Sunday, the third largest in California.
Market Street
- Being a main artery of San Francisco, Market Street is a virtually unavoidable experience for all visitors to the city.
- Market is flat and walkable from the Embarcadero through the downtown area; it starts to get hilly as you near the Castro and Twin Peaks.
- With heavy pedestrian traffic, bus lanes, and streetcar tracks, Market Street is busy and can be a stressful driving experience for first-timers.
- Market’s sidewalks are well maintained and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Mission District
- Mission Street and Valencia Street are the main thoroughfares, running north-south from Duboce Avenue to Cesar Chavez.
- Bars and restaurants are mostly concentrated between 16th and 22nd streets.
- There is a lot of metered and free street parking available, but pay attention to posted signs about prohibited parking during street cleaning or other times.
Pier 39
- Cruises to Alcatraz Island leave from Pier 39 and tend to sell out far in advance. Be sure to buy tickets ahead of time.
- The California Welcome Center offers luggage storage during the day for a fee.
- Pets are allowed at Pier 39 outdoors in the common areas.
- Ramps and elevators are located throughout Pier 39, and wheelchairs are available for rent at the California Welcome Center.
Mirror Lake
If photographs are what you're looking to capture, be sure to visit in the spring and early summer; birders will enjoy catching glimpses of white-headed woodpeckers and martens. If you’d prefer a circumferential view of the lake, there’s a five-mile (eight kilometer) loop hike that is sure to satisfy.
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Ocean Beach San Francisco
- Bring layers, as the wind and fog can appear suddenly on the coast, even if it’s warm and sunny when you arrive.
- Beach fires are permitted only in the fire rings and only from March through October.
- Glass and alcohol are not allowed on the beach.
- Surfing at Ocean Beach is not for beginners, as the waves are large and the current is very strong.