WHAT To Do WITH A FEW EXTRA HoURS 19 STOP VIew from the de Young Museum WHAT TO DO WITH A FEW EXTRA HOURS With a free evening or just a few extra hours between meetings, attendees can get a taste of all the exciting things to do in San Francisco. Check out seven great ideas for fun off-the-clock activities. EXPLORE ALCATRAZ ISLAND Home to the infamous former prison, Alcatraz Island is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Guided by an audio tour, attendees can walk through the eerie halls of the former federal penitentiary and step inside one of the constricting nine-foot-by-five-foot cells, if they dare. In addition to housing some of the United States’ most notorious criminals, the island is the site of the first American lighthouse on the West Coast and served as a harbor defense during the Civil War. Tours of the former prison and island are available through Alcatraz Cruises and depart from Pier 33. Alcatraz is one of the city’s most popular attractions, so be sure to book tour tickets in advance. THE FLYER SAN FRANCISCO Located near Aquarium of the Bay on PIER 39, The Flyer San Francisco is the world’s first 3D flying experience. Adventurous attendees can feel the unparalleled sensation of flying and riding through San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks. The Flyer combines motion seats, live-action and computer-generated 3D imagery to simulate flight. Launch over the Golden Gate Bridge, descend Coit Tower and zoom through Lombard St., Chinatown and other local sights in just about 20 minutes! RIDE THE CABLE CARS WANDER THROUGH GOLDEN GATE PARK San Francisco Travel Association With more than 1,000 green acres dotted by lakes and a bevy of cultural institutions, Golden Gate Park packs a lot of must-see attractions into one place. There’s the extraordinary art collection at the de Young Museum, as well as its glass-walled Hamon observation Tower, which offers breathtaking panoramas of San Francisco and the Pacific ocean. Explore an aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum all under one living roof at the California Academy of Sciences. And make time to stop and smell the roses at the landmark, Victorian-era Conservatory of Flowers. Riding the sideboard of a postcard-perfect San Francisco cable car is a must before leaving town. Part of the city’s colorful landscape since the late 1800s, the cable cars coast through town, chugging up and whisking down its hilly streets. The cable cars depart from numerous locations, but the popular Powell-Hyde line (catch it at Powell and Market streets) rides past famously crooked Lombard St. in the scenic Russian Hill neighborhood. DO DIM SUM IN CHINATOWN TAKE A TOUR The best way to see and experience San Francisco is on foot. Attendees looking for a breath of fresh air and an opportunity to stretch their legs need look no further than San Francisco’s award-winning walking tours. Foodies can explore the San Francisco food scene with Local Tastes of the City while sports fans can enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour at oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. After the sun sets, attendees can take a walk on the spooky side with Wild SF Walking Tours’ Haunted San Francisco Ghost Tour. Free for lunch? Attendees can head to the country’s oldest Chinatown to indulge in authentic dim sum, passing through the ornate Dragon’s Gate on Grant Ave., Chinatown’s main thoroughfare. They can also stop in at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory to watch workers fold fortune cookies by hand, or check out Tin How Temple, the oldest operating Chinese temple in America. GO SOUVENIR HUNTING AT FISHERMAN’S WHARF This popular waterfront neighborhood is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs. Attendees can sample fresh-baked sourdough loaves from Boudin, San Francisco’s oldest bakery, or head to Ghirardelli Square and snag a bag of delectable chocolates from the namesake company that was founded here. Many quaint shops sell everything from mini cable cars to Golden Gate Bridge keychains, and the barking sea lions sunning themselves on the docks at PIER 39 provide an irresistible photo op. sftravel.com
San Francisco Meeting Planner's Guide 2020 MPG: Page 19
