I couldn’t spend time in my favourite city without snapping a few classic San Francisco images. A coastal city built on the hills, there are plenty of interesting sites and unusual things to do in San Francisco.
Golden Gate Bridge
The most iconic San Francisco images include the Golden Gate Bridge. Connecting the city to Marin County to the North, the bridge was once the world’s longest suspension bridge (until 1964). Construction on the bridge took four years and began in 1933, during the Great Depression. The US Navy had wanted to paint it black with yellow stripes. Personally, I am glad it is “international orange”.
Alcatraz island
Sitting in the middle of the bay, Alcatraz Island prison gave it’s prisoners a view of freedom out its windows. Now it is a National Recreation Area. It was once “home” to Al Capone and George “Machine-Gun” Kelly.
Cable car
I think it is the cable car that comes to mind first when people think of classic San Francisco images. At a normal price of $7 per ride, I was thrilled to find unlimited cable car rides on our San Francisco CityPASS.
Buena Vista Cafe
Locals and tourists flock to Beuna Vista cafe for one of their famous Irish Coffees.
Palace of Fine Arts
One of my personal favourite spots in San Francisco, the Palace of Fine Arts was built for the San Franciso’s Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915. It exhibited works of art. It was rebuilt in 1965 and retrofitted in 2009. Visiting here is often thought of as one of the romantic things to do in San Francisco.
Chinatown
The Dragon Gate welcomes tourists to Chinatown along Grant Ave (at the intersection with Bush Street). While filled with shops, they tend to attract tourists. Locals wanting Chinese goods tend to do their everyday shopping one block to the west on Stockton Street.
Transamerica and Sentinel buildings
The Transamerica Pyramid Building (white) is the tallest building in San Francisco. The green building in the foreground is the Sentinel Building, home to American Zoetrope – the film studio founded by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas.
Faceless statues
Certainly one of the more unusual things to do in San Francisco, we stared up at these 12-foot faceless, hollow statues on the 23rd floor in the city’s financial district. There are 12 of them in total. Locals walk by daily without giving them so much as a glance.
Oakland Bay Bridge
Standing much longer than the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge is not nearly as well known. In fact, a visit here would be considered amongst the non-touristy things to do in San Francisco. The bridge crosses the San Francisco Bay heading towards Oakland. A section of this bridge collapsed during the earthquake of 1989.
Coit Tower
Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill is named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit. She left a substantial bequest “for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved.”
Fisherman’s Wharf
The world-famous San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf is still popular with tourists and locals. It’s also home to Boudin’s Sour Dough bread, a personal favourite of mine.
The Cannery
The Cannery is now a mall with several eateries. It was originally built in 1907 (after the big earthquake) by Del Monte as the world’s largest fruit-canning plant.
Getting to the classic sites of San Franciso
I know we missed a few, like Lombard Street and the Painted Ladies. But overall, I think we saw a good collection of the classics. We got around San Francisco on public transportation that was included on our San Francisco CityPASS.
My favourite classic monkey bench
Everyone has their favourite spot in San Franciso. Most are one of the classic San Francisco images above. Mine is this “Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil monkey bench:”
Where to stay in San Franciso
We stayed at The Sir Francis Drake Hotel, a Kimpton property with a secret prohibition room. Getting up into it is definitely one of the unusual things to do in San Fransico. If you want to stay in the perfect spot, check for deals and low prices at booking.com.
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San Francisco is one of my favourite USA destination cities.
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Billy
August 5, 2016 at 8:03 pmHave you seen the murals of the Mission District? If not, check them out on your next SF visit. Off the standard beaten tourist path, but they are amazing! Nearby Dolores Park and Mission Dolores are also fantastic.
Rhonda Albom
August 6, 2016 at 9:12 pmI used to live in San Francisco, so most of what we do isn’t touristy. I will add this to my mental list for my next visit.
Villroses hage
July 29, 2016 at 5:38 pmOh yes 🙂 Went there and took these pictures back in 1979!
Rhonda Albom
July 30, 2016 at 9:24 amYes, classic pictures. Some things really don’t change much.
TheChieftess
July 29, 2016 at 4:23 pmSan Francisco is a beautiful city!! You captured snippets of it well! Love your Golden Gate Bridge photos!
Rhonda Albom
July 30, 2016 at 9:22 amI took the photo of the Golden Gate Bridge on the side across from the city.
Martha Z
July 29, 2016 at 10:02 amGreat views of San Francisco, brought back many memories.
Rhonda Albom
July 30, 2016 at 9:18 amThanks Martha. It brought back memories for me too.
Trekking with Becky
July 29, 2016 at 4:10 amGreat shots! 😀 I love seeing the classic shots (that I know) as well as the others. 😀
Rhonda Albom
July 30, 2016 at 9:07 amThere is no shortage of photo opportunities in San Francisco. Although I didn’t get to take a shot of my sourdough rolling down the hill. I was in shock and disbelief.
indah nuria
July 29, 2016 at 2:42 amclassic but beautiful, Rhonda..I can’t never get bored with it 🙂
Rhonda Albom
July 30, 2016 at 9:01 amThanks. There is so much to see in San Francisco.
Merlinda Little ( @pixiedusk)
July 28, 2016 at 5:52 amLovely photos and the Architecture ones are my favorites!
Rhonda Albom
July 28, 2016 at 7:42 amThanks Merlinda.
Jay @CraftySpices
July 28, 2016 at 3:40 amDefinitely The Golden Gate Bridge image is one of San Francisco must have shots. Not to say you did get some really nice pictures all together.
We have never been to San Francisco but it’s a place that I would like to visit one day.
Thanks for sharing !
Rhonda Albom
July 28, 2016 at 7:41 amI agree, that’s why I added the older shot.
Kathe W.
July 28, 2016 at 12:51 amone of my favorite places- we’ll be there in August!
Rhonda Albom
July 28, 2016 at 7:38 amHave fun, and remember a jacket. The fog rolls in on August afternoons.
Deb Nance
July 27, 2016 at 10:24 pmYou did great! Hope you stopped by City Lights Bookstore, though.
Rhonda Albom
July 28, 2016 at 7:38 amMissed it this time.
Brooke
July 27, 2016 at 4:13 pmYour photos made me miss San Francisco! It must have been wonderful to photograph a city with so much color and vibrant designs. I always have a special place in my heart for this city.
Rhonda Albom
July 28, 2016 at 7:36 amIt’s a wonderful city for just about everything. I miss living there.
Sharon
July 27, 2016 at 3:48 pmOne of my favorite cities! You’ve captured it well! My last visit, we rented bikes and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge. Such a fun adventure! Thank you for taking me on a photo journey to lovely San Fran!
Rhonda Albom
July 28, 2016 at 7:35 amBikes across the bridge, I haven’t done that since I was single. Quite a long time ago.
Stacy Uncorked
July 27, 2016 at 3:39 pmAwesome shots, Rhonda! Brought back so many memories of my visits there – it’s been waaaaay too long since we’ve been there, might have to talk the hubby into revisiting all our favorite spots! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
July 28, 2016 at 7:35 amThat was how I felt, way too long. Yet for us it was only a few years.
Buckeroomama
July 27, 2016 at 10:18 amWe were just there a few weeks ago and looking through your pictures brings back memories. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:22 pmGood memories, I hope.
Parent Club
July 27, 2016 at 7:11 amSan Francisco is on my bucket list
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:18 pmI hope it moves to the top quickly.
Kristin Aquariann
July 27, 2016 at 4:48 amAwesome photos! I hope I get to visit San Francisco again some day with a digital camera – the last time I was there I was still using film.
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:17 pmLOL – was that a really long time ago, or did you hang on to your favorite technology?
Teresa Kindred
July 27, 2016 at 2:38 amYou make such great pictures! Wish I had your talent!
Teresa
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:17 pmThanks Teresa 🙂
Karren Haller
July 27, 2016 at 2:32 amBeautiful shots, I had the opportunity to vacation in San Francisco and had a wonderful time including Lombardie Street, that was when it was still open to drive down.
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:17 pmWithout a car, climbing the hill to photo Lombard Street just felt like too much.
stevebethere
July 27, 2016 at 1:32 amBrilliant shots Rhonda and I agree with Alex 🙂
That Green Sentinal building is amazing, whenever I see photos of San Francisco it always reminds me of that series “Tales Of The City” from the 80’s
Have a santastic day and I like that photo of you both too …cheers 🙂
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:16 pm{Blushing} Thanks
Terri Vanech
July 26, 2016 at 11:27 pmgreat shots!
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:16 pmThanks Terri
image-in-ing
July 26, 2016 at 9:35 pmGreat shots of some San Francisco icons!
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:16 pmThere are so many icons in SF.
Amila @Leisure and Me
July 26, 2016 at 7:21 pmBeautiful views from San Francisco.The bridge is really wonderful!
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:15 pmIt is a beautiful city 🙂
Patrick Weseman
July 26, 2016 at 3:41 pmVery shots of the place I was born in and the place I work in.
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:15 pmThanks Patrick.
Carola Bartz
July 26, 2016 at 1:53 pmWonderful images of this beautiful city. Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge still gives me goosebumps every time – after 15 years! My favorite image is the one of the Chinese lanterns. The red really pops.
Rhonda Albom
July 27, 2016 at 2:14 pmThat’s what I was trying to explain to my friends who were trying to pull me away, the lanterns were a shot to be taken.
L. Diane Wolfe
July 26, 2016 at 5:09 amYou captured it beautifully. That Sentinel Building has so much personality.
Rhonda Albom
July 26, 2016 at 10:19 amSuch a cool building, with the added fun of wondering what is going on inside.
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
July 26, 2016 at 2:05 amgreat photos! they’re classic for a reason:)
Rhonda Albom
July 26, 2016 at 10:18 amVery true.
Comedy Plus
July 26, 2016 at 1:43 amI love any shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a beautiful sight from the land and especially on the water. Been under it in our boat several times.
Have a fabulous day Rhonda. 🙂
Rhonda Albom
July 26, 2016 at 10:18 amI have been directly under it in a boat, but never crossed completely. Our insurance only covered us to the center.
Janie Junebug
July 25, 2016 at 2:02 pmMy favorite place in San Francisco is City Lights Bookstore, but I also love the Museum of Modern Art.
Love,
Janie
Rhonda Albom
July 25, 2016 at 2:18 pmTwo that I missed. MOMA only just reopened after three years being closed, so I just imagined the queue to be too long.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
July 25, 2016 at 1:00 pmAwesome shots! You need to make your own book on traveling through San Francisco.
Rhonda Albom
July 25, 2016 at 2:15 pmWow Alex, thanks. I am blushing.