ATTRACTIONS EVENTS BEYOND GETTING AROUND CASTRO DISTRICT Market and Castro streets. Steep streets and brightly painted Victorian houses give this “Gay Mecca” that distinct, San Francisco look. Landmarks include the Castro Theatre built in 1922; Harvey Milk Plaza, dedicated to one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S.; and Pink Triangle Park, a memorial to 15,000 LGBTQ Holocaust victims. The GLBT Historical Society Museum on 18th St. collects, preserves and promotes an active knowledge of the history, art and culture of sexually diverse communities. The Rainbow Honor Walk honors pioneers and icons of the LGBTQ+ movement. The SF LGBT Center is on nearby Market St. Each June, the SF Pride Parade draws more than 500,000 participants and spectators. Pyramid at 600 Montgomery St.; and the 724-foot-high (219 meters) 345 California St. are landmarks of the city’s skyline. Recent additions include the Salesforce Tower, which at 1,070 feet (326 meters) is now the city’s tallest building, and the Salesforce Transit Center, which includes a Grand Hall entrance, gondola and rooftop public park. FISHERMAN’S WHARF Castro Crosswalks CHINA BEACH THE EMBARCADERO 28th Ave. and Sea Cliff, between Lincoln Park and the Presidio. This former campground for Chinese fishermen is nestled between Lands End and Baker Beach. The 600-foot (183-meter) beach is a great spot for shoreline walks, sunbathing and picnicking. It offers sweeping views of the Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge and when the tide is low, you can walk to Baker Beach, finding sea creatures like starfish, anemones and mussels along the way. Swimming is not permitted. CHINATOWN Southeast of Fisherman’s Wharf. The Embarcadero is where miles of deep-water piers shelter ships of all flags. It’s also home to the Exploratorium, which features more than 650 interactive exhibits. The Port of San Francisco operates the cruise ship terminal at Pier 27. Here, too, at the foot of Market St., is the Ferry Building, a vibrant public space housing high-end retailers, a food hall, restaurants and a farmers’ market. The Ferry Building is also the terminal for ferries to Marin County, Vallejo, Oakland, South San Francisco and Alameda. Historic streetcars offer easy access to the area as well. Jefferson and Taylor streets, extending east and west along the waterfront. Fishing boats, seafood stalls, steaming crab cauldrons and seafood restaurants. That’s how you know you’re at world-famous Fisherman’s Wharf. Souvenir shops, museums and attractions augment the atmosphere. The Blessing of the Fishing Fleet occurs on the first Sunday in October and the crab season extends from mid-November to June. Two cable car lines terminate in the area, with sightseeing boat tours leaving from Piers 39, 41 and 43. Cruises to Alcatraz Island depart from Pier 33. Many bus lines and the historic streetcars serve the area. Grant Ave. between Bush St. and Columbus Ave. and adjacent streets. San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the largest in the U.S., offering an array of authentic shops, restaurants, food markets, temples, venerable institutions and museums, including the Chinese Historical Society of America and the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco. Pagoda-style roofs and decorative balconies dominate the architecture, and street lamps are dragon-entwined. Grant Ave., the district’s main street, is a spectacle during the annual Chinese New Year and Autumn Moon Festival celebrations. FILLMORE STREET Fillmore St. south of Broadway. Near Pacific Heights are a number of intimate cafes and restaurants, as well as a concentration of upscale stores. The 2000–2200 blocks of Fillmore offer shoppers a smorgasbord of boutiques with vintage clothing, used books, records, costumes and the next-to-new. The Fillmore District (Fillmore St. between Geary Blvd. and Eddy St.) is home to clubs and restaurants. THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT CIVIC CENTER Jason Doiy/Getty Images; @best_sf_daily_moment; shutterstock Van Ness, Market and Golden Gate triangle. A monumental assembly of federal, state and city buildings, San Francisco’s Civic Center is among the most impressive in the United States. The magnificent City Hall is crowned by a dome taller than the U.S. Capitol. Tours of City Hall are conducted on a regular basis. For information, call 415-554-6139. Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, the War Memorial Veterans Building, the War Memorial Opera House, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center, the Asian Art Museum, the Main Library and other institutions are all nearby. North of Market St., from Kearny St. to the Embarcadero. San Francisco’s bustling downtown is a center of commerce and architectural innovation. The carnelian marble-covered, 779-foot-high (237 meters) 555 California St. building; the unique, 853-foot-high (258 meters) Transamerica Salesforce Park CRISSY FIELD Shoreline of the Presidio southeast of the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a favorite spot to stroll, sit and sip a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Blue herons, native plants and an expanse of wild, wind-swept shoreline provide a great escape. Crissy Field Center, a partnership of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service, provides a variety of programs, services and amenities for visitors including walks, workshops and events. Boats Docked at Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco Travel Planner's Guide 26/27 TPG: Page 19
