san francisco attractions
Things To See

Here are some of the most unique and interesting San Francisco attractions. First, we'll help you quickly show first time tourist friends a good time without much work on your part :). Then, we give a taste of some hidden delights most locals have missed.

FIRST TIME TOURISTS

Your first time as a San Francisco tourist will be a rare treat! We guarantee it if you follow our directions for first time tourists. You'll find these San Francisco attractions are better than a Disneyland for adults!

LONG TIME LOCALS

This web site is mainly for local enthusiasts searching for the "best of the best" hidden treasures to be found. So, be sure to look at the San Francisco neighborhoods and towns sections for details of where to go when you are planning to visit a particular area. You can also search the overall site for a treasures of particular interest.

Below are a few examples of very interesting San Francisco Bay area attractions which most locals have never seen.

• The USS Hornet, Alameda. The USS Hornet, one of the most famous WW II Aircraft carriers, gives you a real feel for exciting days of the past. Just walking the flight deck is a thrill.. Our ballroom dance instructor tell us that the old time Big Band bash there, covering 3 dance floors within the enclosed heated hanger deck, is the best place to go for New Year's Eve. Maybe we'll see you there next year.
• Old St. Hillary Preserves, Tiburon. Some of the prettiest natural views and preserves in the Bay area.
• Small unnamed park at the top of Vallejo St., Russian Hill. This quiet private view spot is part of a fabulous Russian Hill neighborhood. From Vallejo & Jones walk 1/2 block east on Vallejo to where Vallejo St. ends at the top of the hill. After you've enjoyed the view then walk east down the stairs one block to the Ina Coolbrith Park at Vallejo & Tayler. Another way to get there is to start at Vallejo & Columbus in North Beach and walk west on Vallejo. It's four long blocks uphill, with steps, which will make you huff & puff if you're not used to City hills.
• N. Judah Muni Metro ride, San Francisco. For an interesting and very different view of the city take the N. Judah line from the San Francisco Caltrain station, in SOMA by the baseball park, over to Ocean Beach and back. Get off for coffee at the Java Beach Cafe coffee house at the end of the N Judah line near Ocean Beach. It's a good find.
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  Montara Point lighthouse, Montara
  Point Montara Lighthouse, Montara - You don't have to go all the way south to Pigeon Point to see a nifty lighthouse. This lighthouse a hostel as well. Definitely check it out.
• Windsurfing, Foster City lagoon. There's no better place around to take windsurfing lessons or to practice in warm waters. Paddle boats and pleasant lagoon side hiking is also available for those who don't want to get wet. This location, near the intersection of Highways 101 & 92, is convenient to the entire Bay area.
• Rosicrucian Museum, San Jose. This is one of the best Egyptian museums in the U.S. and it's free. Many people who live a couple of blocks away have never been there.

SPORT EVENTS

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  AT&T Baseball Park, SOMA, SF
  The SF Giant's AT&T Baseball park, at the south end of the Embarcadero in SOMA -- has a great Bay view you can see from the upper stands. When we are in the area with nothing to do we'll sometimes wait a couple of innings and get some cheap San Francisco Giant's tickets from a scalper ... just to enjoy the upper bleacher and excellent ball park food for an hour or two. Or, we'll walk to the back of the ball park and watch the game from the free right field viewing area adjacent McCovery Cove.
• Stanford sports - If you like baseball check out the games at Stanford. It's a low key pleasant way to spend a few hours watching one of the top college teams in the country.
  
  Years ago we passed numerous pleasant afternoons enjoying a picnic lunch in the end stands of Stanford's old Football Stadium. Back then, in the days of Jim Plunkett & John Elway, it was just a nice way to picnic. The new stadium, designed with Bill Walsh, is said to be great for spectators.
• San Mateo Jr College football- Now it's more likely that we will take in the second half of a football game at College of San Mateo Stadium, off Hwy 92 between Hwys 101 & 280. It's cheap, the Bulldogs are a football powerhouse (2009 NorCal Champions), and last but not least the view of the Bay is fantastic! From the stands it appears that the football field sits on a large platter perched on the edge of space overhanging the SF Bay. The view is worth worth checking out even if there is no game.

As you can see, we go for the pleasant low-key atmosphere and great view more than for the games themselves. However, Bay Area teams are often highly ranked nationally which makes seeing them even more fun.

event EVENTS

San Francisco Bay Area attractions include dozens of different events to see on most weekends. Many are interesting and while others are old hat, like street fairs which are still worth dropping by if you're already in the neighborhood. Below are a few of the more entertaining events:

• Dream Machines, Half Moon Bay airport - . See a wide array of cars and old warbirds in a fun and funky setting. Held the last Sunday of April every year.
• Fleet Week and the Blue Angels, San Francisco - Over a million spectators watch the Blue Angels each year in October. Also, the kids can see Fleet Week ship parades, ship tours and other exhibits shown around Fisherman's Wharf.
• Bay to Breakers Race - It's the biggest foot race in the world and includes everyone from world-class runners to fat nude walkers. If you don't want to run or walk it then do like we do ... go to Golden Gate Park to watch the finish and festivities held afterwards at the Polo Field. Held the third Sunday of every May every year.
• Folsom Street Fair - We've only been to this event once, several years ago, but it was definitely an eye opener. For serious voyeurs only.
• Castro Street Halloween event - This used to be fantastic but newspaper accounts say it is more crowded than ever and sometimes dangerous. However, it's definitely a scene which our younger friends still attend.
• The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, Cow Palace - Weekends between Thanksgiving & Christmas. This is smaller than the former Marin County Rennaisance Faire used to be but is the same idea ... i.e., local hobbyists who do a fine job putting on a rennaisance show. It's convenient and worth seeing at least once.

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We could go on and on. You'll find many, many more San Francisco attractions described in context with other nearby treasures while browsing this web site.


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