San
Francisco is a large and beautiful metropolitan city whose culture
epitomizes sophistication and intellectualism.
On a recent trip to San Francisco we spent the first day in the
Union District, which contains a collage of shops such as Sephora,
Vuitton, Gucci, Tiffany’s, Macy’s, Disney, Apple and Levi’s,
and many nice restaurants.
The next day we rode the cable car up and down the streets’
steep inclines. We stopped at the top of Hyde Street to get a view
of Lombard Street, known as “the crookedest street in the world.”
It was an exceptional sight. Back on the cable car, which ran every
8 to 10 minutes throughout the day, we arrived near Fisherman’s
Wharf. We were thrilled to find a farmer’s market with an abundance
of fresh, organic foods that I can still taste and smell! We then
strolled down by the pier. The smell of fresh seafood wafted pleasantly
(or not so pleasantly, depending on your preference!) in the air.
We rented bikes and rode along the sea shore and through Presidio
Park – 1,400 beautiful acres of greenery and history. The Presidio
is a military base from the 1700s; now it is owned by the city.
Many beaches, jogging trails and historical buildings in San Francisco
are available to the public. We continued our bike ride across the
awe-inspiring Golden Gate Bridge. At the midpoint, we stopped to
take in the beautiful views of the city, harbor and Alcatraz. We
finished our ride across the bridge and into the quaint harbor town
of Sausalito. Sausalito has a large selection of wonderful specialty
shops. After spending the afternoon shopping and dining, we took
our bikes aboard the last ferry back to Pier 39 in San Francisco,
where street performers can be found. Many families, youth and tourists
fill the pier in the evening. We ate and immensely enjoyed a chocolate
strawberry crepe from one of the shops located on the pier.
The next day was spent touring the city on public buses, trolleys
and cable cars. We saw the Financial District, which was where the
gold rush began, though now it is full of banks and businesses.
We also saw Nob Hill (an expensive neighborhood with homes and pricey
hotels), Lafayette Square (full of museums and mansions) and Chinatown
(containing bargains and exotic items).
As one who has a passion for travel, I would highly recommend visiting
San Francisco. It truly is one of the world’s most amazing
cities to visit.
Travel tips: Unless you find a hotel that offers free parking, I
recommend that you fly to San Francisco rather than drive, as parking
can cost $40-plus per night, and San Francisco’s transportation
system is easily navigable. The subway (BART) goes from the airport
to the city center, plus the city offers cable cars, trolley cars
and public buses. I recommend purchasing a Muni Passport, which
allows access on all of the city’s public transportation, except
the BART. A one-day pass costs $11, a three-day pass costs $18,
or a seven-day pass costs $24.
