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