San Francisco Attractions

People have recognized Alcatraz Island as a place for lawbreakers ever since the arrival of its native inhabitants. While it is believed that ostracized Indians were sent there for breaking tribal customs, the island didn't become world-renown until it became a federal penitentiary used to detain the most infamous thugs (gangster and crime czar Al Capone was among them). It operated as a maximum-security prison for 34 years, but now “The Rock” is a popular tourist attraction. Hollywood has even made movies about the inescapable Alcatraz. The national landmark, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, attracts historians and curious tourists from miles around. Alcatraz Island is only accessible by ferry. Operation hours vary depending on the season. Visit the National Park Service Web site for more information about park hours.

Aquarium of the Bay is basically a window to San Francisco Bay. Visitors who peruse this 707,000-gallon tank get to see how the other world lives. The attraction gives visitors a close look at what swarms beneath the surface of the bay. Spectators stare in awe at the Pacific Ocean's bounteous marine life as they walk a 300-foot-long translucent tunnel. Aquarium of the Bay is located on Pier 39, next to Fisherman's Wharf. Admission is $12.95 for adults, $6.50 for children ages 3 to 11 and senior citizens, or $29.95 for two adults and two children. Special rates are available for groups of 10 people or more. Call (415) 623-5376 for more information. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Cable Cars are a trademark of San Francisco. The Cable Car Museum is dedicated to teaching the public about this valuable aspect of San Francisco's public transportation system. The museum, located at 1201 Mason St. (at Washington Street, Nob Hill), features murals, exhibits, and photos that take visitors back to Aug. 2, 1873 – when manufacturer Andre Hallidie first introduced the wire-cable vehicle to San Francisco. Cable Car, which is free to the public, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; it closes at 5 p.m. from October through March.

Cartoon lovers may see how their favorite characters come to life by touring this specialty art museum, located at 655 Mission St. in San Francisco. The Cartoon Art Museum, which is dedicated to preserving this unique art form, showcases the popular creations of world-renown cartoonists. The museum has produced more than 90 exhibitions and 20 publications highlighting cartoon art during its 15-plus years in business. Visitors may view character sketches of some of the most fun-loving animations, including comic book superheroes and Charles Schultz's beloved “Peanuts” cartoon. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. It is closed on Mondays and on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter, and July 4. Visit the museum's Web site for information about admission

Visitors to Chinatown spend most of their time either sampling its cuisine, scouring its markets for bargains, or taking photos while meandering through its streets. They usually pace Stockton Street, which is packed with traditional herb pharmacies, temples, fortune cookie factories, garment factories, fresh produce markets, seafood and poultry shops, and restaurants. Visitors eventually gravitate toward Portsmouth Square, where San Francisco's first Chinese immigrants settled in the 1850s. Chinatown, one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco, has more than 10,000 Chinese residents. It is best to tour the neighborhood by cable car because the streets are narrow.

About 9 million travelers visit this 2-mile-long bridge annually, according to the San Francisco Convention and Visitor Bureau. The orange Golden Gate Bridge, which links Frisco to Martin County, is a world wonder. Southbound visitors must pay a $5 toll to cross the bridge.

San Francisco's largest park intrigues visitors with spectacular attractions and beautiful scenes of peaceful ponds, colorful gardens, and Japanese architecture. The 1,013-acre, 3-mile-long park is particularly known for two of its attractions: the Japanese Tea Garden and the Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. Visitors enjoy learning about 7,000 species of plants at the Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, which consumes 55 acres of Golden Gate Park. Visitors can enter the arboretum free of charge. It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Another 5 acres of the park is dedicated to the Japanese Tea Garden – a “wet walking” garden adorned with Buddha statues, bronze and porcelain lanterns, bonsai trees, pretty ponds and waterfalls, and Shinto shrines. The Tea Garden is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; its tea house is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Admission is $3.50 per person.

Science has never been this fun. The Exploratorium, which has more than 650 hands-on exhibits, offers children an exciting approach to learning science. Youths can even build a telescope on site. The Exploratorium, located at 3601 Lyon Street in San Francisco, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Crab, shrimp, salmon, sea bass, and squid are just some of the deep-sea delicacies that visitors can collect from Fisherman's Wharf. Visitors of all kinds stream in and out of waterfront restaurants, markets, and specialty shops in this busy area of town.

Sort through photos and artifacts to learn the history of North Beach as you browse this museum, which is located inside a mezzanine above Bay View Bank at 1435 Stockton St. The North Beach Historical Museum educates the public about notable events in San Francisco's past, including the devastating earthquake of 1906, by displaying photos from 1850 to 1950. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays.

Visitors may hop aboard a ferry and hitch a ride to Alcatraz from Pier 39, provided that they can resist all the distractions of this dockside area. Not many tourists can bypass the music, sidewalk entertainers, restaurants, souvenir shops, and other glamour of Pier 39. It is one of the city's most popular attractions, along with Fisherman's Wharf just two blocks away.

Vacationers who can't afford a trip to Japan will appreciate this area of San Francisco. Japantown, which features a 5-acre center with hotels, shops, and sushi bars and restaurants, is about as close as some will come to the real thing. This imitation of the East Asian country, affectionately called “J-Town,” entertains its guests with its village scenery and versatile shopping outlets. Thousands of residents of Japanese descent live in Japantown, which extends from Fillmore to Laguna streets, near Fisherman's Wharf.

Historic vessels from the early 19th and 20th centuries are on display at this national park, which includes the stainless steel Maritime Museum. The museum, a 250-foot-long streamline structure, features interactive exhibits and the talented works of muralist Hilaire Hiler. The park is located at the west end of bustling Fisherman's Wharf.

The Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) displays eccentric artworks from the Expressionism, Postimpressionism, and Pop Art periods. Exhibits range from abstract to contemporary art. The museum is located at 151 Third St., between Mission and Howard streets. Visit the museum's Web site for information about admission and its business hours.

Visitors might want to swing through this jungle of 250 species of exotic, wild and domestic animals while visiting San Francisco. Children have the opportunity to experience many fun adventures at the San Francisco Zoo, such as interacting with the wild at a petting zoo. Zebras, lemurs, and ostriches are among animals that roam the forests of the San Francisco Zoo, which is located on Sloat Boulevard. Visit the zoo's Web site for directions and information about its operation hours and admission.

The heart of San Francisco – Union Square – pumps shoppers through a variety of designer department stores. Union Square, an idea conceived two years before the Gold Rush, has been a premier shopping district since 1906. Cookware, shoes, apparel, art, and jewelry are just a few items that visitors can find while perusing this popular shopping district. The recently remodeled square added new fixtures, including light sculptures, in honor of its distinctive history and San Francisco's beauty.