San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco Overview

The San Francisco Bay Area region is a refreshing mix of culture and environment. Big city connects to open grasslands and forest. Chinatown, the Mission District and the Haight all offer glimpses into other cultures. This was the heart of the hippy movement in the '60's as well as the Gold Rush of 1849. Known best for the Golden Gate Bridge, Cable Cars and earthquakes, the San Francisco region also includes Napa Valley Wine Country, miles of pristine shoreline and thousands of acres of National Park lands. San Francisco weather can be somewhat unpredictable, especially the fog. We've found Fall to be the best season for visiting California's Central Coast region. It takes approximately one hour to fly or 6 hours to drive from LA to San Francisco. Whether you're looking for a day of shopping and dining in the city or a peaceful hike in the woods, San Francisco is sure to please.

 Check our BART to San Francisco blog for details on the Bay Area Rapid Transit.
 See our San Francisco photo album on Flickr.

San Francisco National Parks
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Point Reyes National Seashore offers a wide variety of landscape including forest, marsh lands, rocky coast and grassy plateaus filled with wildflowers. MORE DETAILS

Muir Woods National Monument offers astounding coastal views. Stinson Beach is a large sandy beach and is popular with surfers. Olema Valley is a hikers paradise with trails through forest, grassy meadows, and steep ridges. MORE DETAILS

Golden Gate National Recreation Area offers 59 miles of pristine shoreline. Fort Mason, Fort Point, Nike Missile Site, the Presidio and Alcatraz are some of its historic sites. MORE DETAILS

Fort Point National Historic Site is a large brick structure built at the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers back in 1853. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco State Parks
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Samuel P. Taylor State Park is situated within coastal redwoods and has a rich history in the logging industry. Activities include camping, picnicking, biking, hiking and horseback riding. MORE DETAILS

Mt. Tamalpais State Park offers vistas of the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea, the Marin County hills, the San Francisco Bay and on rare occasions, the Sierra Nevada mountains. MORE DETAILS

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park offers hiking destinations like a 25-foot waterfall, Bald Mountain for panoramic views and the Robert Ferguson Observatory. Hiking trails follow Sonoma Creek through lush forest and meadow. Activities at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park include camping, picnicking, hiking, astronomy and horseback riding. MORE DETAILS

Mt. Diablo State Park is known for its unobstructed views of the Farallon Islands to Mount Lassen and Yosemite from the top of Mount Diablo. Telescopes are mounted on the observation deck for visitor use. Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, biking, horseback riding and stargazing. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Theme Parks
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California's Great America rides include Demon, Invertigo and Top Gun. MORE DETAILS

Santa Cruz Boardwalk is a classic boardwalk amusement park and possibly the oldest one in continual use in California. MORE DETAILS

Antioch Water Park is a smaller water park featuring a southwest theme with boulder landscape and slides like Rattler's Run. MORE DETAILS

Boomerang Bay water park features an Australian theme with rides like The Screamin' Wombat and Kookaburra Cay. MORE DETAILS

Raging Waters San Jose water park features rides like Great White Shark, Dragon's Den and Pirates Cove. MORE DETAILS

Waterworld water park features a Hawaiian theme with rides like Honolulu Halfpipe and The Big Kahuna. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Zoos & Aquariums
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Marine World is a combination wildlife park, aquarium and theme park. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Zoo is a large city zoo with over 250 animal species displayed in a comfortable climate along the Pacific Ocean. MORE DETAILS

Oakland Zoo is a large city zoo with more than 400 animals on display. MORE DETAILS

Steinhart Aquarium is a large-scale aquarium with mostly local species. Located in Golden Gate Park. MORE DETAILS

Aquarium by the Bay is a moderate-scale aquarium located at the ever-popular Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf east of the Golden Gate Bridge. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Entertainment
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Fisherman's Wharf is a 10 block stretch of San Francisco harbor. Pier 39 is the center point of the wharf with two stories of more than 100 stores and attractions. Other attractions include an aquarium, Wax Museum, Maritime Museum and astounding views of the bay. MORE DETAILS

The Cannery is an outdoor mall that was previously Del Monte Plant #1. It is now home to specialty shops, galleries, restaurants, bars and live entertainment. MORE DETAILS

Harbor Cruises aboard one of the ferrys leaving Fisherman's Wharf several times daily, or a dinner cruise with Hornblower Cruises. Travel in comfort to Alcatraz Prison, Sausalito, Tiburon, or under the Golden Gate Bridge to name just a few of the offered destinations. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Opera is located in the Civic Center complex and hosts top opera events throughout the year. MORE DETAILS

Cow Palace hosts concerts, ice skating events, expos, rodeo, the circus, boxing and more. MORE DETAILS

Palace of Fine Arts is one of San Francisco's most picturesque structures and hosts plays, music events, film and dance. The Exploratorium can also be found at the same location. MORE DETAILS

Seaplane sightseeing adventures fly over major attractions like Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Prison and Muir Woods National Park. Flights last from 30 to 40 minutes and provide rare photo opportunities. Have you ever heard of seaplane accessible wineries? MORE DETAILS

Cable Car rides are available along Powell, Hyde, Mason and California Streets. Hop on a Cable Car for the true San Francisco experience. MORE DETAILS

Harry Denton's Starlight Room is situated on the 21st floor of the historic Sir Frances Drake Hotel and is one of San Francisco's most popular lounges. MORE DETAILS

Hot Air Ballooning over the Napa Valley region. Get a birds-eye view of some of California's most popular vineyards and chateaus. MORE DETAILS

Tour Companies in San Francisco range from walking tours of historic Victorian neighborhoods or Chinatown to fully narrated tours aboard double-decker buses, fire engines, vintage automobiles, zebra-striped safari vehicles or bay boat cruises. MORE DETAILS

Wine Tasting is less than an hour away from Geyserville in the north to Los Gatos in the south. French-style chateaus to family operated wineries offer some of the best varietals in the world. Visit wineries such as Rubicon, Andretti, Beaulieu Vineyards and many more. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Beaches
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Stinson Beach is located on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge within Muir Woods National Monument. Stinson offers long stretches of sand, great surf and nearby state and national parks make this a popular locals hangout. MORE DETAILS

Aquatic Park is located at the western end of Fisherman's Wharf in front of the San Francisco Maritime Museum. This park features a small sandy beach and a large protected harbor that's popular with swimmers. MORE DETAILS

Golden Gate Promenade is located between the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf. It offers a huge sandy beach with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Tiburon and Alcatraz Prison. MORE DETAILS

Baker Beach is without a doubt, San Francisco's most scenic beach with its unobstructed view of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a favorite of the locals and offers a sandy beach and grass-covered sand dunes. MORE DETAILS

China Beach is one San Francisco's more popular beaches for swimming and lifeguards are on duty during the summer months. There are conveniences such as changing rooms, barbeque pits and and sun protected areas. MORE DETAILS

Ocean Beach is San Francisco's largest beach offering four miles of sandy beach. The paved Ocean Beach Esplanade parallels the entire length of the beach offering a comfortable place to walk, bike or stroll. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Shopping
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Petaluma Village Outlets is a collection of over 60 outlets for stores like Bose, Saks Fifth Avenue, Vans, Mikasa and more. MORE DETAILS

The Cannery has over 30 shops and restaurants located in the old Del Monte Plant No. 1. MORE DETAILS

Ghirardelli Square has nearly 30 shops and restaurants located in the old Ghirardelli Chocolate factory. Ghirardelli is no longer made here but a chocolate shop, cafe and souvenir shop remain. The Ghirardelli sign is a popular photo op for many tourists. MORE DETAILS

Fillmore Street is a neighborhood shopping venue comprising 7-blocks of boutiques, cafes and lounges in the heart of San Francisco.  MORE DETAILS

Union Square is the créme de la créme experience for the avid shopper. Here you will find major department stores Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue Neiman Marcus as well as small boutiques. Union Square comprises several square blocks of shopping bliss. MORE DETAILS

Crocker Galleria is a traditional shopping mall featuring shops like Polo Ralph Lauren, Gianni Versace, Johnny Walker & Co. Wine & Spirits and more. MORE DETAILS

Miscellaneous Recommendations
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Professional Sports in the Bay Area include the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's Baseball, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders Football, Oakland Warriors Basketball and San Jose Sharks Hockey. MORE DETAILS

Alcatraz Prison was once the home of notorious criminals like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly and is now closed except to tourists. MORE DETAILS

Coit Tower is located on San Francisco's east side atop Telegraph Hill. Enjoy 360-degree views of the city from the top of a 210-foot tower. Coit Tower was built as a tribute to San Francisco Firefighters, specifically those who fought the flames after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Situated within Pioneer Park, this historic tower also features depression-era murals and a gift shop. MORE DETAILS

Museums in the Bay Area include the Cartoon Art Museum, Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Maritime Museum to name a few. MORE DETAILS

Zeppelin Airship Tours offers vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz and more from the quiet cabin of a Zeppelin Airship. MORE DETAILS

Bike Rentals are available from several vendors and locations around the city. Rent an electric bike and the hills around San Francisco will be easy to climb. MORE DETAILS

Chinatown is the largest chinese community on the west coast. Visit Chinatown for souvenirs and authentic chinese food. MORE DETAILS

Anchor Steam Brewery is an award winning brewery offering tours and a tasting room. MORE DETAILS

Exploratorium is a collection of exhibits and hands-on demonstrations of modern science, biology and physics. This is a great place for both children and adults to expand their minds. The immensely picturesque Palace of Fine Arts is also at the Exploratorium and makes for an awe-inspiring visit. MORE DETAILS

Haight Ashbury was the heart of the 1960's hippy movement and is now an eclectic assortment of head shops, drag boutiques, aroma therapy salons and free-spirited people. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco City Hall is an exquisite example of American Renaissance architecture with its columns and dome lavishly adorned with gold leaf and intricate carvings and grand staircase on the interior. City Hall was completed in 1915 and replaced the old structure after it was destoyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that leveled much of the city. MORE DETAILS

Golden Gate Bridge is San Francisco's most recognizable landmark. Choose to drive across, join a tour, walk it or bike it. MORE DETAILS

Napa Valley is the heart of California's wine success. Hundreds of world-renowned wineries blanket the Napa and Sonoma Valley region. This is where you'll find the big names like Niebaum-Coppola, Robert Mondavi, Kendall-Jackson and Beaulieu Vineyards to name a few. MORE DETAILS

Spanish Missions were built by the Spanish all along the California coast between 1769 and 1823. Their purpose was to convert the indigenous peoples to Christianity and as strongholds for their newly claimed territories. Four of these missions can be found in the San Francisco region. Mission Dolores barely survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and stands today as San Francisco's oldest structure. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Maritime Museum is not only a museum but several piers offering historic tallships, military ships, a ferry boat and WWII submarine. Tours are available. MORE DETAILS

Golden Gate Park stretches over 1000 acres through the city and features a plethora of sites and activities including museums, lakes, recreational areas, a historic lodge & carousel, horseback riding, a microbrewery restaurant and too much more to name. MORE DETAILS

Horseback Riding is available through multiple stables and ranches in the San Francisco region. Traverse the trails of wine country, along the coastal bluffs of Bodega Bay, through Golden Gate Park or along the sands of Ocean Beach. MORE DETAILS

Palace of Fine Arts was built 1915 and is the only remaining structure from the Panama-America International Exposition. Photography of the Romanesque portico, colonades and reflecting pool is best in the morning hours. MORE DETAILS

Japanese Tea Gardens are situated within Golden Gate Park. Stop in for tea and enjoy koi ponds, a hedge shaped like Mt. Fuji, Zen garden and more. MORE DETAILS

Twin Peaks is an area of higher elevation on the south side of San Francisco that offers panoramic views of the entire Bay Area. This is considered a 'must see' by many Bay Area tour operators. MORE DETAILS

Pacific Heights is the area of San Francisco offering the most beautiful collection of Victorian homes in the entire city. Turrets, gables and gingerbread adorn these colorful mansions that span several square blocks and offer outstanding views of the San Francisco Bay. MORE DETAILS

Painted Ladies are a row of six, similar and brightly colored Victorian mansions, stacked side-by-side and are the most photographed Victorians in San Francisco. Many of the original Victorian homes in San Francisco were destroyed by fire following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. MORE DETAILS

Tiled Steps is a long, 163-step staircase that is covered in a colorful display of mosaic tiles. The staircase leads from the community below to Grand View Park where spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean can be found. MORE DETAILS

Sausalito is an upscale harbor town located across the bay from San Francisco. Visitors enjoy shopping, walking, kayaking the harbor, fishing and boating. A seaplane offers views of the entire bay, or catch a ferry from Fisherman's Wharf. MORE DETAILS

Tiburon is a small peninsula near Sausalito that features a few hotels, restaurants and boutique shops. Tiburon is known best for its open space for hiking and biking and expansive views of San Francisco Bay. MORE DETAILS

Lombard Street is a one block stretch proclaimed as "the crookedest street in San Francisco", that tourists wait in line to drive down. MORE DETAILS

Nike Missile Sites are decommissioned anti-aircraft missile command centers from the Cold War Era that are located throughout the Bay Area. One site has been restored and offers tours to the public. MORE DETAILS

Train Rides are offered through the lush Santa Cruz Mountains with Roaring Camp Railroads, along a historic route in the East Bay region with Niles Canyon Railway or through wine country on the Napa Valley Wine Train. MORE DETAILS

Winchester Mystery House is a Victorian home constructed by the heiress of the notorious Winchester Rifle founder. Sarah Winchester believed she was haunted by the people that Winchester rifles had killed over the years and she needed to continue building on the home in order to avoid being harmed by these ghosts. The result is a 160 room Victorian mansion bordering on bizarre with doors in the floor, staircases that lead to dead ends, and unfinished room additions throughout the property. MORE DETAILS

Whale Watching Cruises depart from several locations in the San Francisco region from Sausalito to Half Moon Bay. Whales that are found off California's coast include the Gray Whale, Humpback Whale, Blue Whale, Minke Whale, Fin Whale, Sperm Whale and Killer Whale (Orca). MORE DETAILS

Great White Shark Viewing is offered by several charter boat companies in San Francisco. Head out to the Farallon Islands for a glimpse of these mysterious monsters of the deep. Choose to view them from a shark cage or from the deck of a large, safe vessel. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Hotels
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San Francisco Hotels With so many great hotels, inns, resorts and bed & breakfasts we can't see making this page any longer than it already is. Visit our Hotels page for San Francisco Bay Area hotels we personally recommend or that receive overwhelmingly high ratings from former guests. These recommendations were determined according to price, cleanliness, location, service and proximity to local attractions. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants
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San Francisco Restaurants With so many great restaurants, we can't see making this page any longer than it already is. Visit our Restaurants page for restaurants we personally recommend or that receive overwhelmingly high ratings from former patrons. Dine at the places that locals frequent for a reason. These recommendations were determined according to price, ambiance, portions, outstanding views and/or one-of-a-kind flavors. MORE DETAILS

San Francisco Major Airports
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San Francisco International airport offers convenient access to the city of San Francisco and coastal regions. It takes approximately one hour to fly from LA to San Francisco. MORE DETAILS

Oakland International airport offers convenient access to all 'East Bay' regions and inland. MORE DETAILS

San Jose International airport offers convenient access to all of the southern Bay Area Regions inland and coastal. MORE DETAILS

Another option to consider would be Sacramento airport.

San Francisco Traffic & Transportation
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Rush Hour Traffic is a problem between the hours of 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm weekdays. The freeways can be especially conjested going toward San Francisco in the mornings and out in the evenings. Try to avoid the 80, 580, and 880 freeways during these hours. The 80 near the Bay Bridge has the worst traffic conjestion of any San Francisco freeway.

Toll Bridges connect San Francisco to the rest of the Bay Area. All eight bridges require tolls. Further information can be obtained on the FasTrack website. Most bridges only collect tolls for traffic going in one direction.

Public Transportation is superb in the San Francisco Bay Area region with rail connections directly from major airports.

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is a metro-train system that transports commuters to and from the East and West Bay regions.

Golden Gate Transit offers bus and ferry service throughout the entire San Francisco Bay Area region.

MUNI (San Francisco Municiple Railway includes the famous San Francisco trolleys and other rail transportation throughout the region.

Caltrain offers quick transportation between San Francisco and San Jose.

Check out our Resources page for links to rental car, Amtrak and Greyhound bus information.

San Francisco Weather
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Winter brings average lows in the 50's and highs in the 60's. Mostly rain and rare hail storms occur. Days can be misty throughout and fog is VERY common.

Spring brings average lows in the 60's and highs in the upper 70's. Rain showers are still common but decreasing. A marine layer often burns off in the afternoon. Fog is common.

Summer brings average lows in the 70's and highs in the upper 80's. Marine layer burning off by the afternoon and/or fog is likely.

Fall brings average lows in the 60's and highs in the 70's. Thunderstorms can occur. Fall is our favorite season to visit the coastal regions due to lessened chance of fog.

Ocean water temperature ranges from the lower 40's in winter to the 60's in summer.

San Francisco Local Events
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Feb 11, 2012 - Chinese New Year Parade serpentines through Chinatown. This cultural tradition began just after the Gold Rush era in the 1860's. Attractions include a world-famous Dragon Parade with floats, lion dancers, stilt walkers, bands, fireworks and a 201-foot Golden Dragon that requires over 100 men and women to operate. WEBSITE

Feb 2012 - San Francisco Crab Festival occurs at both Fisherman's Wharf and The Cannery at Del Monte Square. This month long event features culinary creations with Dungeness Crab, car shows, Tulipmania, special aquarium exhibits and more. WEBSITE

May 19, 2012 - Uncorked! Wine Festival at Ghirardelli Square offers wine tasting, gourmet foods and entertainment. Hosted by the American Center for Wine, Food & Arts located in Napa Valley. WEBSITE

Sep 10-11, 2011 - Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival offers an overload of chocolate treats from Ghirardelli as well as other Bay Area chocolatiers. If that isn't enough, be sure to watch the ice cream sundae-eating contest. WEBSITE

Oct 9, 2011 - Italian Heritage Day Parade is the oldest event of its kind in the United States. Events take place on Columbus Day and feature a parade, floats, live music, food & wine and dancing. WEBSITE

Oct 6-11, 2011 - Fleet Week takes place in the bay near Pier 39 and honors America's service men and women fighting for our freedom. Festivities include an entire week of military air and sea shows, tallship parades, live music and much more. WEBSITE