2017-11-13 03:46:25
WHEN THERE’S A GAP BETWEEN MEETINGS OR A CONFERENCE BREAKS FOR THE EVENING, ATTENDEES WILL BE DELIGHTED WITH THE AMOUNT OF THINGS TO DO IN SAN FRANCISCO. HERE ARE SEVEN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES THAT CAN BE ENJOYED WITH JUST A FEW EXTRA HOURS. BOARD A FERRY BOAT There’s nothing like seeing the iconic San Francisco skyline from the bay and one of the best ways to do that is aboard a boat. Many ferries operate from morning until evening and offer passages to Alameda, Angel Island, Oakland, Sausalito, South San Francisco, Tiburon and Vallejo. Whether hopping off and exploring one of these charming towns or just going along for the ride, a ferry boat gives a stunning perspective of the city. WALK THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE The walk across the Golden Gate Bridge is often called “the walk of walks.” Considered one of the foremost engineering triumphs in the world, the bridge is the seventh longest suspension bridge in the world. Pedestrians have access to the east walkway from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (and as late as 9 p.m. during daylight savings time). While there, visitors can buy gifts at the Bridge Pavilion or eat at the Round House Café, a 1938 art deco diner with postcard-worthy views of the bay. FIND CULTURE AT A MUSEUM From world-class exhibitions to fun nightlife, San Francisco museums provide a wealth of day and evening activities. Many museums are open late on Thursdays: Asian Art Museum, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Exploratorium, California Academy of Sciences and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). During spring and summer, Friday Nights at the de Young Museum feature a variety of programs, including live music, dance and theater performances, films, lectures, artist demonstrations, exhibition tours and hands-on art making for young and old. TAKE A TOUR More than 30 free walking tours are offered by the San Francisco City Guides. They cover every corner of the city from the ever-changing Castro District to Victorians of Alamo Square. Visitors can also choose from a number of paid excursions including historic walks, culinary tours or even see the city in a “magic” VW bus circa 1967. CATCH A SHOW A free evening is the perfect time to enjoy one of the city’s acclaimed performances. After New York, few cities have as vibrant and historic a theater scene as San Francisco. Visitors can see first-run plays and touring Broadway musicals at the SHN theaters, laugh along with the topical Beach Blanket Babylon, revisit the Roaring ‘20s at The Speakeasy, check out San Francisco’s justly famous electronic dance music scene at clubs such as SoMa’s Audio or enjoy jazz legends at the SFJAZZ Center. HIT THE SHOPS From custom Levi’s to vintage treasures, San Francisco offers truly unique shopping experiences. Union Square is a shopper’s paradise with big-name stores like Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, as well as local favorites like Gump’s. The nearby Westfield San Francisco Centre features more than 165 stores and restaurants. More adventurous shoppers can discover chic local shops and interesting finds along Fillmore and Valencia streets. FOLLOW THE BEER TRAIL Something’s always brewing in San Francisco, especially at the Anchor Brewing Company where several unique beers are produced in one of the most photo-worthy breweries in the world. Tours are offered seven days a week. The San Francisco Brewers Guild also sponsors a number of events and has a map of local breweries on their website for customizing a beer trail.
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