San Francisco - California - USA-Travel- WentTrip

Índice

San Francisco – California is really just the tip of a peninsula, which means its city limits are actually very small and much of its acreage includes spectacular views of the water: the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Golden Gate Bridge to the north , and the San Francisco Francisco Bay to the east.

Seriously, this city is only 11 kilometers wide and 11 kilometers deep, so it's easy to explore on foot – although you might need fuel to conquer its 50-plus hills – but it's packed with attractions.

Below we will talk about several attractions to explore in the city 🙂

Golden Gate Bridge

When people think of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is often the first thing that comes to mind, and for good reason.

The iconic suspension bridge, famous for its art deco elements, 227-meter-tall towers and distinctive international orange color, is as impressive when glowing in the sunlight as it is when peeking out of the fog (which is quite common).

There's nothing quite like walking over the bridge, which pedestrians can do between 5am and 6:30pm/9pm, depending on the season.

But it's also impressive when viewed from afar; Crissy Field , Fort Point , Baker Beach, and the Marin Headlands offer excellent vantage points to take pictures and help maintain its status as the most photographed bridge in the world.

Alcatraz Island

One of the most famous prisons in the world, the rocky island of Alcatraz was once home to criminals known as Al Capone, George 'Machine Gun' Kelly, Robert 'The Birdman' Stroud and other convicts deemed violent, dangerous, or at risk of escape.

Converted from a lighthouse station to a military prison and then a federal prison in 1934, nowadays'The Rock' it's one of San Francisco's most popular tourist attractions, with tours often selling out weeks in advance.

It's worth planning ahead so you can make a quick ferry ride to the island, where you can take a self-guided audio tour narrated by former inmates and guards who share stories about escape plans and prison riots, or opt for a professionally guided tour where you'll explore less traveled areas.

Ferry Building Marketplace

A visit to the historic Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street offers something for everyone, especially those looking to taste some of the city's most delicious food.

go to tuesday or thursday from 10 am to 2 pm or at Saturday from 8am to 2pm to experience a huge farmers market where regional farmers and ranchers sell vegetables, flowers, meats and other small batches.

Then enter to buy craft goods from merchants.

Finally, no visit to the Ferry Building is complete without a meal at one of the food stalls or restaurants, such as Charles Phan's favorite Vietnamese restaurant, Slanted Door, the popular Hog Island Oyster Company, or the beloved Gott's Roadside restaurant.

Golden Gate Park

Twenty percent larger than New York's Central Park and just as iconic, Golden Gate Park has more than 400 hectares of rolling hills, groves of trees, gardens and hidden treasures.

Stretching from the “Panhandle” – the long, narrow section of the park that once served as an experimental planting area – to the edge of Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park contains many of San Francisco’s best landmarks, including Japanese Tea. Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers (a Victorian-era glass greenhouse) and the ultra-green, ultra-smart Academy of Sciences.

At leisure options in the park include hiking trails, a disc golf course and bocce courts.

At kids will go crazy with the charming Koret Children's Quarter playground and century-old carousel.

San Francisco Cable Car – USA

In a hill town, cable cars were once one of the most efficient ways to get around.

Invented here a century and a half ago, cable cars are now a national historic landmark still in operation with three remaining lines.

Two of the lines, Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde, connect downtown with Fisherman's Wharf and are therefore the more popular among the tourists lining up at the cable car curve on Powell and Market streets. Of these two, the Powell-Hyde is the more impressive, offering views of the bay and Alcatraz.

The California line goes up and through Nob Hill, which is exciting because of the steep route.

Stop by the Cable Car Museum on Mason Street to learn about the history of this unique mode of transport and get a glimpse of the massive underground works that power the cars.

Fisherman's Wharf – Fisherman's Wharf

Yes, Fisherman's Wharf caters almost entirely to visitors to the city, but there are good reasons for even the most seasoned San Francisco resident to visit - including the charming old gallery museum. Mechanic Museum , the submarine USS pampanito WWII and San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park fleet of restored vintage sailboats.

At the Pier 39, visit the vocal and adorable sea lions, ride the carousel or shop for classic San Francisco gifts, candy and chocolates.

When you get tired of the hustle and bustle of the harbor, feast on clam chowder in a bread bowl or a seafood dinner at one of the historic restaurants just yards from where commercial fishermen bring in their daily catch.

Afterwards, treat yourself to a decadent dessert at Ghirardelli Square, home of the famous chocolatier.

Chinatown – San Francisco

San Francisco is home to a large, historic enclave of Chinese immigrants.

The Chinatown neighborhood centered around Grant Avenue and Stockton Street boasts a thriving array of shops, restaurants and historic buildings rich in life and history.

Follow the ornate Gateway to Chinatown at the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue with its three portals and explore the many colorful alleys, including Ross Alley, home to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory , and Waverly Place, which has some beautiful buildings, including the Tin How Temple.

Afterwards, stop to eat at one of the many fantastic restaurants and bakeries such as Good Mong Kok Bakery , Z & Y Restaurant and Wong Lee Bakery with their glorious egg tarts.

Land's End

When the fog is moving, Land's End can really feel like the edge of the world.

Until it was covered by a landslide in 1925, the line Cliff House Steam Rail transported visitors from the city to the coast to swim in the Sutro Baths or dine in various incarnations of the scenic Cliff House.

Today you will find only railroad ruins and old baths, begging to be exploited. Watch the surfers here at ocean beach, but watch out for treacherous waves, then walk east on the popular Coastal Trail to enjoy some of the best water views in town and find the hidden maze at Eagle Point.

Barbary Coast

the land of no law where gambling, vigilante justice and prostitution reigned, present-day Barbary Coast, while considerably less noisy, still feels reminiscent of its early days.

Overlapping the neighborhoods of Jackson Square, North Beach and Chinatown, a meander along the Barbary Coast Trail puts you at the doorstep of several historic sites, including the Beat City Lights Bookstore and Vesuvio Cafe era hangouts, as well as the Saints Peter and Paul Church where Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were photographed in 1954 after they were married in town hall.

Coit Tower

Built in 1933, this monumental love letter to the city remains a welcome sight for people traveling west across the Bay Bridge.

Named in honor of Lillie HitchcockCoit, a wealthy eccentric whose legacy of US$ 118,000 to the city resulted in the construction of the slender Art Deco tower, it stands 60 meters high on Telegraph Hill.

At the top is the tower's observation deck with incredible 360 degree views of San Francisco and the bay.

An interior rotunda at its base is covered in Depression-era WPA murals that depict not-so-subtle socialist imagery in scenes of California agriculture and industry painted by more than two dozen artists, some of whom were disciples of the famous Mexican muralist Diego. Rivera.

Alamo Square

San Francisco has hundreds of Painted Ladies: Victorian and Edwardian houses with towers and three or more colors of paint.

You'll want to go through a row of seven that are so recognizable they're called 'Seven Sisters' (or sometimes 'Postcard Row').

The houses from 710 to 720 Steiner Street, on the corner of Hayes Street, appeared in many movies, advertisements and television shows, including the 90s giant Full House.

You can't get inside any of the Painted Ladies as real people live in them, but you can get a great view and photo of the windy slope of Alamo Square Park across the street.

Angel Island State Park

While Angel Island is clearly visible from the bay, it remains one of San Francisco's hidden gems, which makes a day there (or even overnight camping) that much more special.

The island (accessible only by ferry) has a fascinating and important history, notably the period from 1910 to 1940, when it was an immigration station where many Chinese immigrants were detained thanks to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

Today you can still see the poems they carved into the walls of the barracks where they were forced to live.

This state park has also housed a base of Nike missiles.

Take an open-air guided tram or hop on a Segway to explore the island.

In addition, Angel Island also offers spectacular hikes, including an 8 km loop from Ayala Cove that takes you to the top of Mount Caroline Livermore, the highest point on the island at 240 meters.

Dolores Mission

The sixth of 21 California missions built over El Camino Real (Rodovia do Rei), the Dolores Mission withstood two major earthquakes (in 1906 and 1989) to claim the title of oldest building in San Francisco.

The former church is all that remains of the original 1776 Catholic complex, but nearly everything inside is original, including beautifully repainted redwood beams and ornate Spanish-style altars.

At the mission, you'll also find historic gardens and a cemetery that houses the remains of some 5,000 Miwok, Ohlone, and other early Californians, including many who built the mission, as well as notable Spanish settlers and the first Mexican governor.

Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze

San Francisco is famous for its Summer of Love psychedelia, and the Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze offers a small sample of that heyday.

Here, on Pier 39's already overwhelming rush, you can climb to the second floor to reach the tranquil maze with your black light mirror maze and a bazillion of reflected arcs.

You can stay as long as you like – well, until it closes – and try to understand your own replicated identity and which shade of neon best represents your soul.

Wear white or fluorescent colored clothes for the best Insta pics! 🇧🇷