Sightseeing around San Francisco

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The 415 area code covers two of the most famous landmarks in the United States: The Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. A drive across the Golden Gate Bridge offers a wonderful view of the Bay and San Francisco, but for someone who’s a little more adventurous, a walk across the Bridge is a breathtaking experience; just be sure to wear layers, as the wind and fog coming off the ocean can be cold. And nothing finishes the day like a trip to The Rock. Buy ferry tickets ahead of time to avoid unnecessary waiting (http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/ is recommended by the official Alcatraz website), and enjoy a beautiful ferry ride through the Bay. Alcatraz is everything it’s made out to be: it’s a fascinating piece of American history; it is an eerie building whose infamous past can be felt in the air; and occasionally, some of the ex-inmates even show up on book-signing tours, talking to the visitors about their experiences while locked up on the island.

The heart of San Francisco can be found right in its downtown at Union Square, and Union Square is definitely a section of the 415 area code that deserves a visit. Union Square is more than just one of the country’s wealthiest shopping areas (learn more about that in the ‘Where to shop’ section). It represents San Francisco’s commercial success, and it’s the center of some of San Francisco’s greatest history. On the Powell Street side of the square, the city’s original cable cars still make the trek up the hill, and off of the Stockton Street side of the square is Maiden Lane. Maiden Lane hosts very upscale shopping (think Chanel), a Frank Lloyd Wright building, sidewalk opera, and a secret red-light district past. Learn more about the ritzy area – or any other section of the city – with a walking tour. Recommended tours are the City Guides (http://www.sfcityguides.org) and the Barbary Coast Trail Tour, for which this author was once a guide (http://sfhistory.org).

Fun fact that most locals don’t even know: Many movies were filmed in San Francisco, including the Maltese Falcon. Prior to becoming a writer, Dashiell Hammett, the author of The Maltese Falcon, worked as detective in the Flood Building (located on Market Street, near the Powell Street Cable Car turn-around). As such, when his story was turned into a movie, a replica of the Maltese Falcon statue, used in the movie, was included in the Flood Building’s photo display. And the statue can still be seen there today. This display is also a wonderful place to see photos of the destruction of the 1906 earthquake and fire.