Alcatraz : In its days as a federal prison, there was no escaping this bleak rock in the middle of San Francisco Bay, today 1.2 million visitors annually can't wait to see this top attraction. On-island activities include trail walks and audio cassette tours of the main cell block narrated by former inmates and guards.
Cable Cars : San Francisco is one of the few places in the world where people can ride on a national historic landmark. The cable cars operate daily, much the same as they did upon their initial run in 1873. The California Street cable car line is found just outside the Hyatt Regency's front doors.
China Town : Its entrance on the city's oldest street, Grant Street, opens the gateway to a 24-block labyrinth of exotic shops, renowned restaurants, food and herb markets, temples and small museums all best explored on foot.
Embarcadero Waterfront : From South Beach in the shadow of the Bay Bridge where outdoor cafes are plentiful, down the palm-lined Embarcadero to Herb Caen Way..., the Ferry Building, Steuart Street's Restaurant Row, Hyatt Regency and Embarcadero Center's 125 shops and restaurants the waterfront reflects the richness of its Barbary Coast heritage and is the focus of a vibrant renaissance.
Fisherman's Wharf : Fishing boats, seafood stalls, steaming crab cauldrons and restaurants market this world-famous area. Be sure to try local delicacy - Dungeness crab. Waterfront marketplaces include the Anchorage, The Cannery, Ghirardelli Square and Pier 39.
Golden Gate Bridge : Completed in 1937 this instantly recognizable landmark links San Francisco to Marin County. Not only do people enjoy driving across this 1.7 mile span, but pedestrians and bicyclists are also welcomed, toll-free.
North Beach : San Francisco's "Little Italy" is an enticing mosaic of cappuccino houses and collectibles stores. Its nightlife is vibrant with cabarets, jazz clubs, gelato parlors, traditional delicatessens and top-notch restaurants.
South of Market/City Front District : Also known as "SoMa" this continuously revitalized area just south of Market Street blends two square miles of hot nightclubs, fashionable restaurants, experimental theaters, discount shopping outlets and art galleries. Yerba Buena Gardens can be found in this area where museums are plentiful in addition to a new Sony Metron Center and Zeum, a new interactive children's center. This area is also home to Moscone Center.
Union Square : Within a four-block radius shoppers can purchase designer sheets or sheet music. Elegant stores and richly appointed shops cater to every taste. A recently renovated Macy's graces both sides of Stockton Street while San Francisco's own Gump's can be found nearby. Adjacent Maiden Lane and Post Street are not to be missed.
Other Interesting Neighborhoods/Attractions : * Haight-Ashbury - The "Summer of Love" lives on, mainly in stores throughout this charming Victorian sector found along the panhandle of Golden Gate Park. - * Japantown - The heart of Japantown is Japan Center, a five-acre complex of hotels, shops, theaters, sushi bars and restaurants crowned with a five-tiered pagoda. - * Marina - Originally the site of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the Marina is now home to the city's trendy set. Visitors can enjoy an assortment of inviting stores, restaurants and watering holes from locally owned boutiques and restaurants to national chains. Nearby Marina Green, a grassy waterfront playground offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay. - * Mission District - The heart of San Francisco's predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, the Mission District boasts a colorful collection of restaurants, taquerias, Mexican bakeries, fresh produce markets, specialty shops and the largest concentration of murals in the City. - * Pacific Heights - If you live in Pacific Heights, your last name is likely to be Getty, or your employer is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, here stately Victorians crown hills blessed with glorious views in San Francisco's most-prestigious neighborhood. Of historical and architectural significance are the Spreckels Mansion and the Whittier Mansion. - * Presidio of San Francisco - Formerly one of the oldest military installations in the country, Presidio lands and buildings and spectacular views were turned over to the National Park Service in 1994. Visitors now have access to a wide range of activities, including fishing, golfing, hiking, biking and beachcombing. - * Union Street - The first neighborhood in San Francisco to convert its gingerbread Victorians into popular boutiques, art galleries and restaurants.