San Francisco Major Attractions

Unique San Francisco Attractions

San Francisco is a unique and special city, rich in history, culture, and beauty. During your stay in San Francisco, be sure to see the major attractions that make San Francisco a one-of-a-kind city.

Take a ride on the cable cars, go to Fisherman's Wharf, then take a winding drive down Lombard Street. Visit the Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, and the Golden Gate Bridge, and check out the Aquarium on the Bay and the San Francisco Zoo.

All these attractions, and many more, work together to make your stay at the Alexander Inn in San Francisco an enjoyable one.

The Cable Cars   •  0.2 mi

San Francisco's cable cars are a major attraction here, and riding them is a special treat. They are the only cable cars currently operating in the world, making them a truly unique experience, and they can take you to many of the other attractions San Francisco has to offer. The Alexander Inn is located only about two blocks from the Powell Street cable car route.
Website: http://www.sfcablecar.com/

Chinatown   •  1.1 mi

Established in the 1850s, San Francisco's Chinatown is the Nation's oldest, and is one of North America's largest Chinatowns.Within Chinatown there are two major thoroughfares. One is Grant Avenue, with the famous Dragon gate on the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue; St. Mary's Park that boasts a statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen; a war memorial to Chinese war veterans; and an incredible variety of stores, restaurants and mini-malls that cater mainly to tourists. The other, Stockton Street, is frequented less often by tourists, and it presents an authentic Chinese look and feel, reminiscent of Hong Kong, with its produce and fish markets, stores, and restaurants. Chinatown boasts smaller side streets and alleyways that also provide an authentic character.

Lombard Street   •  1.8 mi

Between Hyde and Leavenworth streets

"The Crookedest Street in the World"
Lombard Street runs east-west through many blocks in San Francisco, but it is famous for one block on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets. This block is steep and hilly, with eight tight hairpin curves. It is paved with bricks, and every curve is lined with beautiful flower gardens. There are beautiful Victorian mansions on either side of the street, making it very picturesque. This one-way section of Lombard street is a must-see for anyone visiting San Francisco.

Victorians on Alamo Square   •  1.9 mi

Hayes and Steiner Streets

San Francisco's Famous "Postcard Row"
Don't miss seeing this row of beautiful Victorian mansions located at Hayes and Steiner Streets in the historic Alamo Square Park district. The park is located across from the picturesque homes and includes a tennis court and playground. It is on a hill which offers a beautiful view of the quaint, pastel homes with the San Francisco skyline behind them. On a clear day, you can see nearly the whole city of San Francisco.

Coit Tower   •   2.1 mi

1 Telegraph Hill Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94133     (415) 362-0808

The Coit Tower is a 210-foot concrete building located at the top of Telegraph Hill. It was built in 1933 as an art deco tower to beautify the city of San Francisco. Visitors can enjoy the history museum located inside and view the many murals painted in 1933 by over 30 artists depicting life during the Great Depression. From the top of the tower, there is a 360° view of San Francisco and the Bay area.

Fisherman's Wharf   •  2.2 mi

The Embarcadero from Van Ness Street east to Kearny Street.

Once a major fishing pier, Fisherman's Wharf has become the most popular tourist attraction in San Francisco, with great views of the ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge and the city of San Francisco. The Wharf offers plenty to do, with seafood restaurants and shopping from one end to the other. Many enjoy watching the hundreds of sea lions, which have taken up residence on the docks near Pier 39. Fisherman's Wharf is also the place to get a tour boat to Alcatraz Island and Marin County.
Website: www.fishermanswharf.org/

Alcatraz   •  2.2 mi (to the ferry)

41 Pier, San Francisco, CA 94133     415-705-5555

Alcatraz Island is located 1.5 miles from Fisherman's Wharf. It is the site of the first lighthouse in the Western U.S., and was a penitentiary from 1934-1963. It is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and offers tours of the prison and views of the lighthouse. It is a good place to view gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and wonderful views of the bay.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz/

Pier 39 •  2.4 mi

West End of Fisherman's Wharf, Embarcadero and Beach Streets

Pier 39 is located on the west end of Fisherman's Wharf and is a very popular place to go for shopping, dining, and watching sea lions. There are great views of the bay, and over 100 stores in which you can purchase almost anything, over a dozen restaurants with Bay views, souvenier shops, street performers and daily live entertainment. Pier 39 has a festival atmosphere and attracts thousands of people every day. A favorite activity of many is watching the hundreds of sea lions who sun themselves in the marina by the mall.

Aquarium of the Bay   •  2.4 mi

The Embarcadero at Beach St, San Francisco     415/623-5333

View the underwater world of the San Francisco Bay at the Aquarium of the Bay. A moving footpath will take you through clear acrylic tunnels, where you can view sharks, stingrays, and varied marine life living in the one-million gallon aquarium.
Website: Web site www.aquariumofthebay.com

Presidio   •  2.6 mi

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Building 201, Fort Mason, San Francisco,CA 94123
(415) 561-4323

The Presidio is a 1,491-acre park located at the north central tip of San Francisco. For 218 years, it was an Army post for three nations. Now it is a park with natural, cultural, and historical elements. The is a visitor center which houses photos and exhibits that represent the different cultures that have occupied the San Francisco area. Also located at the Presidio are a museum, the main post, a historic airfield, and a national cemetery.

The Presidio has 11 miles of trails for hiking and 14 miles of paved roads (and some unpaved roads) for cycling. There are sports facilities, a golf course, bowling alley, tennis courts and athletic fields. Camping facilities are available, along with a fast-food restaurant, a snack bar, and a café. Programs are offered by park rangers, and meeting and event facilities are available. Many enjoy fishing and crabbing from the rocks and pier at the world-class board-sailing area that borders Crissy Field, and photographers love the great scenery with the fabulous views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, and the Bay.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/prsf/

Golden Gate Park   •  3.2 mi

Kezar Drive

The Golden Gate Park is a beautiful man-made park on the west side of San Francisco, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Here pathways and roads will lead you to hundreds of gardens and other attractions, including an arboretum, two museums, a conservatory of flowers, a lake where you can rent paddleboats, and numerous recreational facilities. The 1,017-acre park has tennis courts, baseball, soccer, and polo fields; a golf course; riding stables; and fly-casting pools.

One of the museums, the California Academy of Sciences, which is home to the Steinhart Aquarium, the Natural History Museum, and the Planetarium, is temporarily closed for renovations. The lake, Stow Lake, has an artificial island in the center (Strawberry Hill) that is 430 feet high and offers a great view of San Francisco and the Bay.
Website:

The Golden Gate Bridge   •  5.0 mi

Hwy 101 (Doyle Drive) and Hwy 1 (Park Presidio Blvd)

The Golden Gate Bridge is probably the most recognized bridge in the world, and a well-known symbol of San Francisco. It is the second longest suspension bridge in the United States, connecting the city of San Francisco to Marin County to the north. Millions of people cross the Golden Gate Bridge every year by driving, walking or biking. The graceful bridge, which spans 1-3/4 miles and reaches a height of 746 feet above the water, is one of the major attractions in San Francisco, attracting about nine million people each year.
Website: http://goldengatebridge.org/

San Francisco Zoo   •  8.7 mi

1 Zoo Road, San Francisco, CA. 94132     (415) 753-7080

The San Francisco Zoo is located between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Merced, in the southwest corner of San Francisco. Founded in 1929, the zoo covers over 125 acres and houses 950 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates from all over the world. A new African Savanna exhibit opened in May of 2004, which features giraffes, zebras, antelope, and birds from Africa; and in 2002, the Lipman Family Lemur Forest opened, which features five different species of lemurs from Madagascar. There are many other exhibits, including a Children's zoo, where children and their families see and touch domestic rare breeds of goats, sheep, ponies, and horses in the Family Farm, touch small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians along the Nature Trail, and view the eagles and hawks on Hawk Hill.
Website: http://www.sfzoo.org/