THINGS TO DO IN
SAN FRANCISCO
Alcatraz
Easily the number one thing to do when visiting SF. Alcatraz Island is
an experience from the moment you board the ferry ride to take you to
this tiny island just off the mainland. One of the highlights of touring the
island is the audio tour of the jail cells. It allows you to have your own
personal guided tour, set at your own pace and many of the narrators are
original staff or prisoners. The history and details are fascinating from
witnessing the actual cell from “Escape From Alcatraz” to visualising
up close what it was like to live on the island during its days as one of
America's most infamous prisons. To visit Alcatraz, it’s a short 15-minute
ferry ride from Pier 33 on the Embarcadero. It costs around US$40 per
person. It’s best to book early, firstly to utilise the early bird prices but
also it gets very busy and particularly during peak times, you must book in
advance or risk missing out.
The Painted Ladies
Not only are the painted ladies the quintessential architecture of SF
buildings, with their cute row of townhouses on the hill at Alamo Square
and the SF skyline in the background, they have featured on many TV and
film productions including of course, Full House, so it’s likely you will
know this street well. The surrounding area is filled with beautifully kept
Victorian style homes and it’s a short stroll to the Haight district which is
renowned for its vintage clothing stores, hippy vibe and eclectic bars and
restaurants.
Golden Gate Bridge
Of course you cannot visit SF without driving across, riding across
or viewing the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. It would be like visiting
Sydney and not going to the Opera House. One of the things that makes
it so unique, photogenic and recognisable is the orange colour of the
bridge. Originally, the colour was a temporary primer to protect from
corrosion, but the consulting architect decided it was not only more visible
in fog but was more aesthetically pleasing to its surroundings, so the
colour remained. Lucky because seeing this bridge makes you wonder
why more cities didn’t follow the trend. One of the most idyllic vantage
points for views back to San Francisco is Fort Baker, but easily the best
way to experience the bridge and the incredible views is to hire a bike and
cycle over. It’s fairly inexpensive, around US$24 per person for 3 hours
and a great way to see the bridge from every viewpoint. It’s such a fun
experience and there’s so many spots to stop on the way for a picture or to
take in the view. Fort Rock Point and Vista Point are other great places to
view not only the bridge but the views of the surrounding area.
Pier 39 Fisherman’s Wharf and the Sea Lions
The whole area of Fisherman’s Wharf is a colourful, noisy, exciting
place to visit with a diverse mix of people. Everywhere you look, there
was something entertaining to see or do. With lots of quirky stores selling
everything from local souvenirs to one of the best sweet stores ever, as
well as the many market style food stalls. One thing you must try whilst
visiting the wharf is the SF famous clam chowder in a whole sourdough
loaf. You can pick up one of these for under US$10 from a market store
and eat sitting on the wharf, or if you prefer a dining style experience,
most of the restaurants in the area sell this famous delight.
72 | Pindara Magazine ISSUE 13 | 2018