Part 2: Travels of San Francisco

My second hub on San Francisco will give some tips on places to see for free, other ways to venture into the City and some favorite spots of mine.

Free Attractions :

Fort Point National Historic Site

Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco Botanical Gardens

A walk along the waterfront

Cable Care Museum

Chinese Culture Center

San Francisco Fire Museum



Free Performances :

Golden Gate Park Band Concerts : Concerts every Sunday April through October.

San Francisco Mine Troupe : Performances in the city parks and indoor venues.

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival : Free performances in area parks, all summer. Footnote: One summer we were eating our lunch in Golden Gate park unaware that the Shakespeare festival had performances there, when all of a sudden cast members arrived and statred their play. It was awesome.

Stern Grove Concerts: Free outdoor concerts on summer Sunday.

Free admission one day per month can add up to some substantial savings:

Many of the city's museums offer free admission one day per month, usually the first Tuesday or Wednesday. They include:

Asian Art Museum

California Academy of Sciences

Exploratorium

Museo Italo Americano

Legion of Honor



Some fun excursions to see at night are :

Alcatraz at Night

Take an evening Bus Tour

Go Ghost-Hunting

Theatre and performing arts

Nightclubs and fine dinning .

My Favorite Things :

A favorite place I love to have my Irish Coffee is at the Buena Vista located on Hyde Street, is a gem of a place and takes me back in time. It’s a real hoot to watch the bartender make the Irish Coffee’s. As the glasses are lined up, in goes the Irish Whiskey, then the coffee and cream, all down the row he pours. Its a fun place and the breakfast is also good. This place just happens to be on the last stop of the Powell Hyde cable car route in Fisherman’s Wharf. So, hop on that cable car and make sure you stop here for some fun entertainment.

Fisherman’s Wharf is always a fun place to just walk along…Great street performers and its always fun to grab a crab or shrimp cocktail with that famous sour dough bread. Yummy, just thinking about it.

Alioto’s on the wharf is one of the oldest restaurants in the City, has good food and one of the best views of the Bay.

If you’re hungry for a good steak BoBo’s on Lombard street is the place for high quality steaks in town. One of my son’s favorite places.

I never miss the opportunity to eat at the Cliff House when I’m in San Francisco. My son and I always sit at the bar, order us a drink: a Bloody Mary or a Ramos Fizz and I usually have breakfast because the fresh popovers are terrific, along with their clam chowder. The ocean views are the best and don’t worry if you have to wait because it is on a first come first served basis….no reservations are accepted. I can say that we have never had to wait that long but I wouldn’t care because its worth it.

Right outside the door of the Cliff House is Ocean Beach…..the Pacific Ocean great fun for us ocean lovers but be prepared because it might be cold and windy but its great fun to find shells on the beach or put your toes in the freezing ocean.

North Beach is host to several fine eateries and cafes. One I enjoy is Calzones on Columbus Avenue. Food is excellent and price is reasonable.

Don’t forget dessert and in North Beach are several wonderful Bakeries. Stella Pastries on Columbus and Stockton or Victoria Pastry Company , both are wonderful places to get an espresso and a cannoli, sit outside at the café and people watch. If your looking for the best focaccia in town try Liguria Bakery on Stockton Street. The best ever.

The San Francisco Zoo: Has 250 species and includes a childrens zoo, miniature train and carousel. Another fun venture.

This ends our tour of San Francisco from Marellen Travels……