San Francisco Travel Information
Like most great cities, a major part
of San Francisco is on the waterfront.
The Pacific Ocean to the
west and the stunning San Francisco Bay to the east are joined in
spectacular fashion by the Golden Gate Bridge - the city's most famous
landmark.
Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco
USA
Founded in 1776 by the
Spaniards, it is today one of the most well known cities thanks to the
many movies that have delighted us with street scenes encompassing cable
cars and vehicles flying over the cities many hills.
A visit to
San Francisco is a must when on holiday on the west coast of the US.
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San Francisco Travel Information
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Getting There
Scheduled flights to San Francisco can
be booked with direct flights from the UK here at Hessle Travel.
Escorted tours and holidays are also available. The flight time to San
Francisco is approx 10 1/2 hours.
Getting Around
San Francisco's most famous form of transport, the cable car, is also
one of the best ways to travel between the two main tourist areas -
Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf.
One of many cable cars in San Francisco
Almost all the major
attractions can be visited on foot from the many boarding points. All
day and multi-day public transport passes are available and offer
unlimited use, not only of the cable cars, but also the extensive bus
and mini-metro.
Shopping
The best area for
shopping is the Union Square area and the large San Francisco shopping
centre. Other notable areas are Ghiradelli Square, Pier 39 and the
Cannery.
Dining and Entertainment
Close to
Union Square is a lively theatre district and also a wide variety of
restaurants. For a unique dinner visit Chinatown.
Fishermans Wharf
also boasts a selection of restaurants, many not surprisingly,
specialising in seafood.
Lively nightlife can be found amid the neon
signs of North Beach.
Weather
Daily average
temperatures (Approx) 'C
JAN 10 FEB 12 MAR 13 APR 13 MAY
14 JUN 15 JUL 15 AUG 15 SEP 17 OCT 16 NOV 14 DEC 11
Main Attractions in San Francisco
Fisherman's Wharf
The centre for the citys commercial
fish industry is California's second most visited tourist attraction
(after Disneyland). Here you can walk through open air fish markets and
purchase a wide variety of fish and seafood.
The Wharf is also home
to numerous seafood restaurants, souvenir and craft shops and novelty
museums such as Ripley's Believe It or Not and the Wax Museum. At Pier
45 the U.S.S. Pampanito, a World War II submarine can be toured.
Fisherman's Wharf
Pier 39
A wide variety of
craft and speciality shops, restaurants and street performers make this
one of the citys most enjoyable areas. Also located here is the Aquarium
of the Bay.
Alcatraz Island
'The Rock' can be
visited by catching a 15 minute ferry across the one and a half miles of
water from Pier 41. A fascinating and unique opportunity to follow in
the footsteps of Al Capone and the famous birdman.
Escape from Alcatraz Island!
Golden Gate Bridge
No visit to San Francisco is complete without a photograph or two of the
city's most famous landmark. The bridge opened in 1937, is almost two
miles long and links the city to Marin County and the Redwoods.
Lombard Street
Famed as the worlds most crooked
street, take the time to view the interesting facades and colourful
flowers.
Golden Gate Park
a 1,000 acre area
that includes bike parks, hiking trails, numerous sports fields and
three lakes offering boating opportunities.
A very popular place with
the locals at the weekend. Attractions inside the park include a
Japanese Tea Garden, conservatory of flowers, children's playground,
Asian Art Museum, de Young Museum, the Californian Academy of Sciences,
an aquarium and a planetarium.
Union Square
Since 1850 Union Square has been the heart of San Francisco's downtown
and is now home to some of its finest department stores and most
exclusive boutiques.
Chinatown
Home to one of
the largest Chinese communities outside Asia, this 14 block area boasts
some of the best Chinese cuisine in the US. Also home to curio shops,
temples and bazaars.
Nob Hill
An elegant
hilltop area of hotels and residences, home to the Gothic Grace
Cathedral and Huntington Park.
San Francisco - Highlights
> If you want to go to Alcatraz (and you should!) pre-book or get
there early in the summer
> Take the ferry over to Sansalito, or
hire a bike, cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge and catch the Blue and
Gold ferry home
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