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San Francisco Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in San Francisco
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San Francisco Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in San Francisco - The most attractive of American cities and
regularly voted the best city in the USA, San Francisco is adored
because of its colourful history, dramatic setting and its
laissez-faire atmosphere, a quality missing from synthetic Los
Angeles. It is a regular trendsetter in everything alternative,
from flower-power to 'free love' and gay liberation; it prides
itself on being individualistic, down-to-earth and
cultured.
Streets rollercoaster up and down the
hills, and when not swathed in the city's trademark fog, there are
superb vistas of San Francisco Bay, spanned by one of the world's
most famous sights, the Golden Gate Bridge. Surrounded by hills and
urban development, traversed by bridges, dotted with sails and 14
small islands, including the notorious Alcatraz, the bay is the
largest inlet on the Californian Coast. Fisherman's Wharf at the
edge of the bay is a popular place to eat, stroll and shop, with
its resident seals a favourite photographic subject.
Within the surprisingly compact city are distinct
neighbourhoods that reflect the cultural background of diverse
communities that were attracted to San Francisco by the discovery
of gold in 1848, and the promise of a new life for those desperate
to escape their harsh circumstances. Most of San Francisco's
residents were born outside the city and this mix of cultures is
reflected in the dragon-studded temples of colourful Chinatown and
Japantown, the characteristic bohemian flavour of the Italian pasta
restaurants and cappuccino cafes in North Beach, the old
Spanish-speaking Mission District that blends with the nightlife of
SoMa, the modern Financial District, the gay centre of Castro and
The Haight, characterised by the memory of the hippie movement of
the 1960s.
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San Francisco
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Golden Gate Bridge
Highway 101 North
www.goldengatebridge.org |
What is it? The rust-coloured towers, graceful suspension
and supportive cables of the Golden Gate Bridge make this famous
symbol of San Francisco the most photographed bridge in the world,
and visible from almost any high point in the city, although it is
often shrouded in rolling fog. Spanning the two-mile (3km) mouth of
the bay, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the
time of its completion in 1937 and was built to withstand winds of
more than 100 mph (161km per hour). During high winds it can sway
up to 27ft (8m) in each direction. One of the great engineering
accomplishments of the 20th century, the bridge claims to have used
enough wire in its construction to stretch around the earth several
times. Walking across the bridge, under the towers that loom 65
storeys above the water, is one of the best ways to experience the
immensity of the structure and affords beautiful views of the San
Francisco skyline, the bay and its islands. Golden Gate Bridge is
also a favourite with the suicidal and the sidewalks are dotted
with crisis-counselling phones.
Hours of Operation: Access for pedestrians is on the east sidewalk during
daylight hours only from sunrise to sunset (April to October from
5am to 9pm, November to March from 6am to 6pm). The bridge is open
24 hours for motorists
Phone:(415) 921 5858 |
2. Alcatraz
www.nps.gov/alcatraz |
What is it? Out in the middle of San Francisco Bay,
Alcatraz Island, or 'The Rock', is one of Golden Gate National
Recreation Area's most popular destinations. The notorious
escape-proof island with its dreaded maximum-security prison once
held the likes of Al 'Scarface' Capone, George 'Machine Gun' Kelly
and the 'birdman of Alcatraz', Robert Stroud. With sheer cliffs
surrounded by the icy waters of San Francisco Bay, known for its
treacherous tides and currents, it was regarded as the perfect
place to detain the country's most-wanted and dangerous criminals
who were isolated in dark solitary confinement cells. There have
never been any successful escapes from The Rock. Visitors can
explore the prison as well as learn about its history: from its
discovery as a pelican nesting ground, its location as a military
outpost, and the years between 1933 and 1963 as an off-limit
federal penitentiary. It was also inhabited by Native Americans
before being declared a Recreational Area and protected bird
sanctuary. Thousands of tourists flock here each year and take the
excellent self-guided audio tours that contain commentary from
former guards and prisoners about life on the island. There is also
a slide show and a tour of the island's ecology and bird life led
by a park ranger. The view from the island looking across to San
Francisco is awesome.
Hours of Operation: The last boat leaves the island at 6.30pm in summer
(April to October) and 4.30pm in winter
Phone:(415) 773 1188 (ferry schedules and information), or
(415) 705 1042 (park information) |
3. Fisherman's Wharf
The Embarcadero
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What is it? Some people love the bustle of Fisherman's
Wharf, while others make a conscious effort to steer well clear of
it. But for better or worse it is massively popular, attracting
more visitors than any other city sight, with Pier 39 the
commercial tourist epicentre. The Wharf was once a fishing port
with dozens of boats anchored here. Pier 45 is still used by
fishermen in the early morning hours, and fish and seafood can be
bought from the Fish Alley Market. There are shops galore, fast
food stands and overpriced bay-view restaurants as well as bars,
markets, street performers, and an endless variety of activities
for the whole family. It is also the gateway for several top
attractions: trips to Alcatraz and other bay cruises leave from
here; numerous museums include the Historic Ships Pier; and the USS
Pampanito submarine that can be boarded from Pier 45. The
entertaining colony of sea lions that reside on the floating docks
at Pier 39 are one of the best attractions on the
quay.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
San Francisco
holidays - Top Events
1. Uncorked!
From 2007-05-19
To 2007-05-19
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What is it? The San Francisco Wine Festival is a
celebration of wine, providing opportunity to taste, learn about
and enjoy wines produced from San Francisco's local wine-making
region. Various events take place along Beach Street including chef
demonstrations, wine tasting seminars, and a chocolate and wine
pairing seminar.
Where is it? Ghirardelli Square |
2. The Crab & Wine Marketplace
From 2007-02-23
To 2007-02-25
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What is it? The climax to the annual month-long festival
in celebration of San Francisco's Dungeness crab is the final
weekend at the Crab & Wine Marketplace, featuring food,
wine and entertainment. Highlights include gourmet crab
specialities, fresh seafood and wine tastings, chef demonstrations,
live music and performances, arts and crafts, and a children's
crab-themed recreation area.
Where is it? Fort Mason Center |
3. San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration
From 2007-06-01
To 2007-06-30
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What is it? As the world's most gay-friendly city, San
Francisco celebrates gay and lesbian pride with a festive
procession and numerous music stages. The parade features hundreds
of themed marchers and floats, after which thousands of people from
every walk of life gather at the Civic Center to carry on the party
in front of one of the many music stages. The area is lined with
stalls selling everything from food and drink to crafts and
souvenirs.
Where is it? Market Street, from Embarcadero to the Civic Center |
4. Carnaval
From 2007-05-26
To 2007-05-27
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What is it? Every Memorial Day weekend, the Mission
District hosts San Francisco's version of the Mardi Gras
celebrations with music and dancing, food and craft stalls,
contests, street performers, and a parade with lavish floats,
marching bands and colourful costumes. The Grand Parade is an
exotic celebration of different traditions and cultures from around
the world, with floats and dancers depicting vibrant multi-cultural
themes, from samba and Chinese Lion dancers, to African drummers,
and accompanied by the hip-swinging music of Latin America, Brazil,
and the Caribbean.
Where is it? Mission District |
5. Chinese New Year Parade
From 2007-03-03
To 2007-03-03
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What is it? The New Year Parade is the highlight and
focus of the two-week Chinese New Year celebrations that includes
the Miss Chinatown USA Pageant, the Community Street Fair and the
New Year Flower Market. A San Francisco tradition since the 1849
Gold Rush, the Parade is the biggest celebration of its kind
outside Asia and is listed as one of the top 10 parades in the
world. Hundreds of spectators gather to watch as colourful floats,
elaborate costumes, firecrackers, stilt walkers, lion dancers and
marching bands go by, and wait in expectation for the world-famous
annual Golden Dragon, which is 160ft (49m) long and takes over 100
men to carry it through the streets. In 2007 the Year of the Pig
begins.
Where is it? Chinatown |
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