2018-12-07 00:06:39
SAN FRANCISCO PACKS A LOT OF APPEAL INTO 49 SQUARE MILES. The fabled streets of San Francisco offer many exciting sightseeing possibilities. Whether you’re working on an itinerary for fickle foodies, LGBTQ travelers, families or first-time visitors in search of classic San Francisco experiences, here are a few ideas for memorable excursions in the City by the Bay. THREE DAYS OF ARTS & CULTURE MUST-SEE MUSEUMS, WORLD-CLASS PERFORMING ARTS AND MORE DAY ONE MORNING Travelers can enjoy a morning stroll through Golden Gate Park before taking in the de Young Museum and its collections of American painting, sculpture and decorative arts, as well as art from Africa, Oceania and the Americas. The museum’s glass-walled observation tower has an amazing 360-degree view of the city. For more stunning scenery, head to the nearby Conservatory of Flowers to stroll among rare tropical flowers and plants from around the world. AFTERNOON Take the scenic route via the Great Highway and Sutro Heights to enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific. Nearby Lincoln Park offers spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and is home to the Legion of Honor, the de Young’s sister museum. Visitors will enjoy the extensive collection of 18th- and 19th-century French art, European painting, sculpture, ancient art from the Mediterranean basin and the largest collection of works on paper in the American West. DAY TWO MORNING Head to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, where visitors can enjoy the museum’s unrivaled collection of 18,000 treasures and antiquities from more than 6,000 years of Asian history. AFTERNOON Stop at the museum’s popular Sunday at the Museum and explore a menu that includes everything from noodle salad to salmon burgers. Be sure to save room for dessert. Humphry Slocombe has created a custom ice cream blend for them: Adzuki Almond Cookie. Once you’ve recharged, spend some more time exploring the museum’s impressive collection, or stroll around the Civic Center neighborhood to see its Beaux-Arts architecture. EVENING To round out a full day of culture, take in a performance at one of the city’s many theaters. The San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center features opera, symphony classics and ballet. Or, visit one of the SHN theaters, the SHN Orpheum and the SHN Golden Gate, where some of the city’s biggest theater productions are staged. The Curran, which reopened after a major restoration, is becoming known for its innovative stage works, while the New Conservatory Theater Company welcomes West Coast and world premieres of dramas, comedies, musicals and original works. DAY THREE MORNING No trip to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). Visitors will enjoy modern and contemporary artworks, six art-filled terraces, a sculptural staircase and Roman steps. There is free public access to the ground floor galleries, and visitors age 18 and under can explore the whole museum for free. AFTERNOON Throughout the day, guests can refuel with an artisanal coffee at SFMOMA’s café or enjoy Michelin-starred cuisine at In Situ, where the menu is composed of signature dishes by famous chefs from around the world. If time permits, there’s the California Historical Society, Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Museum of the African Diaspora all in close proximity. EVENING Programming at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), located opposite SFMOMA, often includes evening performances. An innovative contemporary art center, YBCA offers an eclectic calendar of exhibitions, performances and films. Or, visitors can stroll past new outdoor art installations at The Moscone Center and the new Salesforce Tower and Salesforce Transit Center. Pieces include: Point Cloud, a colorful 50,000 LED light display on Moscone’s East Bridge designed by Leo Villareal, who also created The Bay Lights; Jim Campbell’s Day for Night, which features 11,000 twinkling lights displaying moving images atop the Salesforce Tower; and Jenny Holzer’s White Light, a large-scale LED piece at the Salesforce Transit Center. FOODIES FEAST FOR A DAY GET A TASTE OF WHY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RATED SAN FRANCISCO THE “#1 BEST FOODIE CITY IN THE USA” MORNING Jump-start a culinary adventure at the Ferry Building Marketplace. The restored historic structure is home to artisan producers, specialty shops, local food and restaurants. For breakfast, visitors can enjoy freshly baked pastries at Mariposa Baking Company, artisanal coffee at Blue Bottle or the renowned brunch at Boulette’s Larder. Or, they can grab some treats for later, including distinct, delicious wines from the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant. AFTERNOON Foodies can dig deeper into San Francisco’s local specialties with the city’s array of food tours. Check out one of the tantalizing trips offered by Avital Food Tours, Local Tastes of the City Tours or SF Adventure Tours Beers & Bites to eat around various neighborhoods. Edible Excursions visits several tempting locations in Japantown, including Benkyodo Confections, one of the neighborhood’s first businesses. To get a taste of Chinatown’s delicacies, try All About Chinatown Walking Tours or Wok Wiz Chinatown Walking Tours. Or, plan a stop at China Live, a new all-in-one marketplace and food emporium dedicated to Chinese cuisine that has received apt comparisons to New York’s Eataly. EVENING For some nighttime revelry, San Francisco offers an abundance of locally produced beer, wine and liquor. Head to 21st Amendment Brewery, Woods Bar & Brewery or the new Anchor Public Taps for an ample variety of craft brews. To sample the hard stuff, Hotaling & Co. on Potrero Hill and Hangar One Vodka headquarters in Alameda are the places to be. 2019’S TOP MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS ART AND CHINA AFTER 1989: THEATER OF THE WORLD This survey of Chinese contemporary art presents works that anticipated, chronicled and agitated for the sweeping social transformation that placed China at the center of the conversation on globalization. SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (SFMOMA) THROUGH FEB. 24, 2019 VIJA CELMINS: TO FIX THE IMAGE IN MEMORY For more than five decades, Vija Celmins has been creating subtle, exquisitely detailed renderings of natural imagery — including oceans, desert floors, galaxies and night skies — and surveying how we perceive these vast visual expanses. See nearly 150 works in this global retrospective. SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (SFMOMA) THROUGH MARCH 31, 2019 GAUGUIN: A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY An exceptional display of more than 50 paintings, wood carvings and ceramics by the French postimpressionist artist Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) from the collections of the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, will be on view for the first time in San Francisco at the de Young Museum. DE YOUNG MUSEUM THROUGH APRIL 7, 2019 MICKEY MOUSE: FROM WALT TO THE WORLD Come to the Walt Disney Family Museum to celebrate Walt’s most famous character, Mickey Mouse, and his worldwide impact on culture, art and entertainment through a special exhibition of original artworks, artifacts and more. WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM MAY 2019–JANUARY 2020 IDENTITY As the Exploratorium celebrates 50 years of innovation and curiosity, a provocative exhibition on identity opens, confronting the timeless question of “Who am I?” with timely urgency and unflinching bravery. EXPLORATORIUM SUMMER 2019 A DAY OF FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES THAT APPEAL TO KIDS AND PARENTS ALIKE MORNING Families can start their day in Golden Gate Park at the California Academy of Sciences. This massive, one-of-a-kind institution houses an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum and four-story tropical rainforest all under one living roof that’s covered by 1.7 million native plants. Their Academy Café and The Terrace restaurant feature plenty of kid-friendly options, so lunch can be enjoyed without leaving the museum. AFTERNOON For some Disney-style fun, the Presidio features a 40,000-square-foot museum celebrating the life, art and imagination of famed animator Walt Disney. Commemorating its 10th anniversary in 2019, The Walt Disney Family Museum includes a 13-foot model of Disneyland and a Fantasia-themed theater that screens Disney classics six days a week. In the late afternoon, families can head to the Exploratorium. Located on Pier 15, this interactive museum blends hands-on activities that will delight younger visitors with thoughtprovoking exhibits that will keep parents engaged, too. EVENING On PIER 39, families will enjoy watching the popular colony of sea lions and stunning waterfront views at sunset. There are also dozens of shops, restaurants and attractions including the Aquarium of the Bay. Older kids will love the nearby San Francisco Dungeon with its thrilling drop ride and interactive storytelling. 24 HOURS OF LGBTQ FUN & CULTURE EXPERIENCE SAN FRANCISCO’S WORLDRENOWNED LGBTQ SCENE MORNING Kick the day off with brunch and a morning stroll through the Castro, which has proudly dubbed itself the “Gayest Place on Earth.” Home to businesses catering to the LGBTQ community, local landmarks include the historic Castro Theatre, Pink Triangle Park and Harvey Milk Plaza. AFTERNOON Visitors can head to the GLBT History Museum. Affectionately known as the “Queer Smithsonian,” this archive is the first of its kind in the United States. Run by the GLBT Historical Society, the museum houses dynamic exhibits and hosts programs exploring a variety of topics. Leave an hour or so to browse the aisles of Cliff’s Variety, a Castro favorite since 1938. EVENING Travelers can catch a performance of the renowned San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. (Be sure to check for upcoming performances.) The world’s first openly gay men’s chorus blends a season of local performances with ongoing social and political activism. Or, head to the historic Castro Theatre, an ornate 1922 picture palace screening vintage films, sing-a-long musicals and a live performance by a Mighty Wurlitzer organist. Afterwards, LGBTQ visitors can discover the vibrant nightlife and popular clubs in the Castro and beyond. A ONE-DAY SHOPPING SPREE DISCOVER SOME OF THE BEST SHOPPING THE NATION HAS TO OFFER MORNING Union Square is a shopper’s paradise and a great place to commence a full day of shopping. It’s home to big-name stores such as Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Uniqlo and Bloomingdale’s, as well as wellknown local stores including Wilkes Bashford and Tourbillon Boutique. Visitors can also enjoy one of the outdoor cafés on Maiden Lane for brunch and people-watching. Or, book a guided luxury shopping excursion with Shop-it-tude Tours, offering both public and customizable private tours. AFTERNOON Travelers looking for one-of-a-kind items will love the unique shops and chic boutiques in North Beach. Browse the aisles of City Lights Booksellers and Publishers, founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin. It is a mecca for booklovers all over the world. A few blocks away on Grant Ave., visit Schein & Schein, which is stocked with map collectibles ranging from $5 to $5,000. Located just three blocks from Coit Tower, they also offer items in the Tower’s gift shop. For unique items made in San Francisco, visit one of San Francisco Travel’s official Visitor Information Centers, which offer a variety of unique gifts and souvenirs. EVENING With more than 200 stores and restaurants — including luxury retailers such as Kate Spade, Tiffany & Co. and Michael Kors — Westfield San Francisco Centre offers something for everyone. After a full day of shopping, travelers can rest their feet and catch a movie at the theater.
©San Francisco. View All Articles.