Take A San Francisco Vacation And Explore A Cosmopolitan City

Visit One Of The Great United States Cities On A San Francisco Vacation

One of the most interesting cities in the United States, for its history, culture and entertainment, is San Francisco. There are many reasons to visit there and potential tourists have probably been inspired by countless images of the city on television and in movies. A San Francisco vacation is an opportunity to explore a very individual, cosmopolitan city with some fine, Victorian buildings, national landmarks and superb dining. The city's distinctive cable cars are a great way of moving around the city

The Golden Gate Bridge is familiar to everyone as the most iconic symbol on the West Coast. The six-lane bridge is the second longest suspension bridge in the country and a golden sunset makes the perfect backdrop. It may be enveloped in fog sometimes, a weather condition that does affect the city. The Golden Gate Park is a great boon for residents and tourists. This city park is very large and has lots of interesting features. There is a large collection of non-native trees and plants throughout the park. One of the most popular sections on a San Francisco vacation is the Japanese Tea Garden, a delightful space to wander in, with ponds, a teahouse, sculptures and little bridges.

The city is famous for its former, federal prison on Alcatraz Island. Known as The Rock, it housed some of the most dangerous and infamous criminals in the land from 1934. It was a formidable place, a kind of fortress in the Bay, until it was closed in 1969. The public is welcome to visit during a San Francisco vacation and can reach there by catching a ferry from Fisherman's Wharf. Former prisoners there include the racketeer, Al Capone and Robert Stroud, more familiar as the Birdman of Alcatraz. It's an interesting tour and shows how tough conditions were. There is also a chance to see the lighthouse, which is the oldest one still working in the USA.

Chinatown is a popular area to browse round, for shopping at the fish market and eating at some great restaurants. It's the oldest Chinatown in the country, dating back to the 1850s. It has a distinctive Dragon's Gate as an entrance into the community. Fisherman's Wharf is another must see landmark on a San Francisco vacation, especially the famous Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National historical Park. Historic ships are anchored there, including a ferryboat, steam tug and a square rigged sailing ship. There is also a very interesting maritime museum.