| No visit to San Francisco is complete without visiting | | | | Lake - where you can rent paddleboats and bicycles. |
| some of the most popular San Francisco tourist | | | | Spreckels Lake - where you can watch the miniature |
| destinations. Here is a sampling of seven must-see | | | | radio-controlled boat races. Bison Paddock - Located |
| places you have to check out on your next visit: 1) | | | | along John F. Kennedy Dr., the Bison Paddock is an |
| California Palace of the Legion of Honor Located at | | | | exhibit of the San Francisco Zoo where you can see, |
| 34th Avenue & Clement Street, The California Palace | | | | what else, bison! 5) Union Square Union Square is the |
| of the Legion of Honor is an art experience you | | | | place to go for serious shopping. Bound by Stockton, |
| won't want to miss. First off, there's the building | | | | Powell, Post and Geary, several buses run to the |
| itself. Built in 1924, the Legion of Honor is a | | | | area and it's a short walk from many of the most |
| three-quarter scale replica of the Palais de La | | | | commonly used hotels. There's also a BART and Muni |
| Légion d'Honneur in Paris, built to honor the | | | | (subway) exit at Market Street. Or, you can stay at |
| 3,600 Californians who lost their lives on the | | | | the Grand Hyatt on Union Square and just walk from |
| battlefields of France during World War I. After being | | | | your room. Everywhere you walk in the Union Square |
| wowed by the building, you will probably want to | | | | area you'll find store after store after store, such as: |
| view the collection of Rodin sculptures, as well as | | | | Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, |
| some other notable acquisitions, including Claude | | | | Nordstrom, Giorgiao Armani, H&M, Hermes, Baccarat |
| Monet's "The Grand Canal, Venice," 1908 and El | | | | and Gianni Versace. 6) Haight Ashbury ("The Haight") |
| Greco's "St. John the Baptist," circa 1600. 2) Alcatraz | | | | Well, it's not Union Square, but it might not be what |
| Who knew touring a former prison could become so | | | | you'd expect either. While Haight Ashbury was the |
| popular? Alcatraz is a an island a few miles off the | | | | center of "hippiedom" in the 1960s, the Haight today |
| coast of San Francisco which had been used as a | | | | is home to exclusive boutiques, high-end |
| military prison in 1907, then as a Federal prison in the | | | | vintage-clothing shops, hip clubs and cafés. No |
| 1930s, housing the most hardened criminals. Some of | | | | matter what you're into you'll find something you like |
| its most famous prisoners include: George Kelly, bank | | | | in the Haight, whether it's a hemp bracelet, collectible |
| robber and kidnapper, also known as "Machine Gun | | | | kitchenware, punk t-shirts, skateboard gear, a Ben |
| Kelly;" Floyd Hamilton, driver for Bonnie and Clyde; | | | | and Jerry's ice cream or a vintage gown costing over |
| and Al Capone, Chicago Mob Boss, known as | | | | $1,000. While you're in the neighborhood you can |
| "Scarface." In 1973, Alcatraz was incorporated into | | | | walk by former houses of 1960s musicians, including |
| the National Parks system and became a tourist | | | | the former home of the members of the Grateful |
| attraction. Since then, over 14 million visitors have | | | | Dead at 710 Ashbury, the former home of Janis |
| taken the 10-minute boat ride from Pier 41 in San | | | | Joplin at 112 Lyon, and the former home of the |
| Francisco to see 'The Rock'. Tickets generally sell out, | | | | Jefferson Airplane at 2400 Fulton. 7) Neighborhoods |
| sometimes weeks in advance. 3) Chinatown | | | | on the Muni Metro and Bus Lines Of course, San |
| Chinatown is home to the largest Asian population | | | | Francisco is more than just popular tourist spots. |
| outside China, and is located in an area near North | | | | People actually do live there. Why not go to some |
| Beach, bound roughly by Grant Avenue and Bush | | | | not-so-touristy areas located along the bus and Muni |
| Street, Broadway and Larkin Street. Here you'll find | | | | Metro line routes and check out some really fun and |
| shopping and great food, including Mee Mee Bakery | | | | unique neighborhoods, most of which have their own |
| at 1328 Stockton between Broadway and Vallejo. | | | | shopping areas? Neighborhoods you might want to |
| Mee Mee's is reputed to be the originator of the | | | | visit and experience include: the Castro, which is the |
| fortune cookie. For great seafood, one of your best | | | | predominately gay neighborhood with many unique |
| bets would be Yuet Lee at 1300 Stockton Street, | | | | and fun shops along Castro Street; Noe Valley, a |
| near where North Beach and Chinatown merge. 4) | | | | neighborhood of Victorians with a great shopping |
| Golden Gate Park You can easily spend an entire day | | | | district along 24th Street; and the Inner Richmond, |
| at Golden Gate Park - and you should. It's great to | | | | which many consider the "New Chinatown," with a |
| just go there and walk, or sit and enjoy the day. But, | | | | great abundance of good Asian restaurants. You'll also |
| if you're into exploring, there's certainly enough for | | | | find an old-time Irish pub, Irelands 32 at 3920 Geary |
| you to explore, such as: The Strybing Arboretum - | | | | Blvd., where you can enjoy live music any day of the |
| 70 acres of gardens with trails, blooming trees and | | | | week and live telecasts of sporting events from |
| redwoods, herbs, flowers and duck ponds. Stow | | | | Ireland. |