Visitors to San Francisco will usually touch down at San Francisco Airport, which lies a 20 minute drive from San Francisco. Rent a car here and explore the surrounding area.
The Best Bits of San Francisco
Visit San Francisco’s China Town. 8 blocks long and almost 3 blocks wide, it’s one of the largest in the country. Check out the markets, shops, and of course enjoy some good food.
Visit Golden Gate Park where you’ll find multiple museums to keep you busy. Start off at the California Academy of Science complex which in itself contains the Steinhart Aquarium, Natural History Museum, and Morrison Planetarium. You can also see some buffalo and hop on a vintage carousel. The California Academy of Sciences, also in the Golden Gate Park, is one of the largest natural history museums in the world.
Take a trip to Marin Headlands for fantastic views of the bridge, Alcatraz Island, and city. Go for a walk and visit the lighthouse at Point Bonita.
Hop on one of the San Francisco cable cars for a quick tour around the city. These are some of the world’s last manually operated cable cars in use today.
Fisherman's Wharf is a popular tourist attraction and neighbourhood of San Francisco covering most of the northern waterfront. There are plentiful fish markets and eateries specialising in fresh seafood here, along with a number of other attractions.
Highlights of the Area
The cities of San Jose and Oakland both neighbour San Francisco. First, head to San Jose to explore the heart of Silicon Valley. The water park Raging Waters is also located here if you are looking for some serious fun! Travel to Oakland where you can visit the farmers market and find plenty of places to grab a bite to eat.
Journey a little further inland to Sacramento. It is home to the old Sacramento State Historic Park, which gives visitors an insight into the history and development of the west coast.
Beyond Sacramento is a long chain of national forest and parks almost acting as a natural barrier between the states of California and Nevada. This area offers plenty of outdoor activities and sights to see.
