| No visit to San Francisco is complete | | | | Stow Lake - where you can rent |
| without visiting some of the most | | | | paddleboats and bicycles. |
| popular San Francisco tourist | | | | Spreckels Lake - where you can watch the |
| destinations. Here is a sampling of | | | | miniature radio-controlled boat races. |
| seven must-see places you have to check | | | | Bison Paddock - Located along John F. |
| out on your next visit: | | | | Kennedy Dr., the Bison Paddock is an |
| 1) California Palace of the Legion of | | | | exhibit of the San Francisco Zoo where |
| Honor | | | | you can see, what else, bison! |
| Located at 34th Avenue & Clement Street, | | | | 5) Union Square |
| The California Palace of the Legion of | | | | Union Square is the place to go for |
| Honor is an art experience you won't | | | | serious shopping. Bound by Stockton, |
| want to miss. First off, there's the | | | | Powell, Post and Geary, several buses |
| building itself. Built in 1924, the | | | | run to the area and it's a short walk |
| Legion of Honor is a three-quarter scale | | | | from many of the most commonly used |
| replica of the Palais de La Légion | | | | hotels. There's also a BART and Muni |
| d'Honneur in Paris, built to honor the | | | | (subway) exit at Market Street. |
| 3,600 Californians who lost their lives | | | | Or, you can stay at the Grand Hyatt on |
| on the battlefields of France during | | | | Union Square and just walk from your |
| World War I. | | | | room. |
| After being wowed by the building, you | | | | Everywhere you walk in the Union Square |
| will probably want to view the | | | | area you'll find store after store after |
| collection of Rodin sculptures, as well | | | | store, such as: Macy's, Saks Fifth |
| as some other notable acquisitions, | | | | Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, |
| including Claude Monet's "The Grand | | | | Giorgiao Armani, H&M, Hermes, Baccarat |
| Canal, Venice," 1908 and El Greco's "St. | | | | and Gianni Versace. |
| John the Baptist," circa 1600. | | | | 6) Haight Ashbury ("The Haight") |
| 2) Alcatraz | | | | Well, it's not Union Square, but it |
| Who knew touring a former prison could | | | | might not be what you'd expect either. |
| become so popular? | | | | While Haight Ashbury was the center of |
| Alcatraz is a an island a few miles off | | | | "hippiedom" in the 1960s, the Haight |
| the coast of San Francisco which had | | | | today is home to exclusive boutiques, |
| been used as a military prison in 1907, | | | | high-end vintage-clothing shops, hip |
| then as a Federal prison in the 1930s, | | | | clubs and cafés. No matter what you're |
| housing the most hardened criminals. | | | | into you'll find something you like in |
| Some of its most famous prisoners | | | | the Haight, whether it's a hemp |
| include: George Kelly, bank robber and | | | | bracelet, collectible kitchenware, punk |
| kidnapper, also known as "Machine Gun | | | | t-shirts, skateboard gear, a Ben and |
| Kelly;" Floyd Hamilton, driver for | | | | Jerry's ice cream or a vintage gown |
| Bonnie and Clyde; and Al Capone, Chicago | | | | costing over $1,000. |
| Mob Boss, known as "Scarface." | | | | While you're in the neighborhood you can |
| In 1973, Alcatraz was incorporated into | | | | walk by former houses of 1960s |
| the National Parks system and became a | | | | musicians, including the former home of |
| tourist attraction. Since then, over 14 | | | | the members of the Grateful Dead at 710 |
| million visitors have taken the | | | | Ashbury, the former home of Janis Joplin |
| 10-minute boat ride from Pier 41 in San | | | | at 112 Lyon, and the former home of the |
| Francisco to see 'The Rock'. Tickets | | | | Jefferson Airplane at 2400 Fulton. |
| generally sell out, sometimes weeks in | | | | 7) Neighborhoods on the Muni Metro and |
| advance. | | | | Bus Lines |
| 3) Chinatown | | | | Of course, San Francisco is more than |
| Chinatown is home to the largest Asian | | | | just popular tourist spots. People |
| population outside China, and is located | | | | actually do live there. Why not go to |
| in an area near North Beach, bound | | | | some not-so-touristy areas located along |
| roughly by Grant Avenue and Bush Street, | | | | the bus and Muni Metro line routes and |
| Broadway and Larkin Street. Here you'll | | | | check out some really fun and unique |
| find shopping and great food, including | | | | neighborhoods, most of which have their |
| Mee Mee Bakery at 1328 Stockton between | | | | own shopping areas? |
| Broadway and Vallejo. Mee Mee's is | | | | Neighborhoods you might want to visit |
| reputed to be the originator of the | | | | and experience include: the Castro, |
| fortune cookie. For great seafood, one | | | | which is the predominately gay |
| of your best bets would be Yuet Lee at | | | | neighborhood with many unique and fun |
| 1300 Stockton Street, near where North | | | | shops along Castro Street; Noe Valley, a |
| Beach and Chinatown merge. | | | | neighborhood of Victorians with a great |
| 4) Golden Gate Park | | | | shopping district along 24th Street; and |
| You can easily spend an entire day at | | | | the Inner Richmond, which many consider |
| Golden Gate Park - and you should. It's | | | | the "New Chinatown," with a great |
| great to just go there and walk, or sit | | | | abundance of good Asian restaurants. |
| and enjoy the day. But, if you're into | | | | You'll also find an old-time Irish pub, |
| exploring, there's certainly enough for | | | | Irelands 32 at 3920 Geary Blvd., where |
| you to explore, such as: | | | | you can enjoy live music any day of the |
| The Strybing Arboretum - 70 acres of | | | | week and live telecasts of sporting |
| gardens with trails, blooming trees and | | | | events from Ireland. |
| redwoods, herbs, flowers and duck ponds. | | | | |