California Official Visitor's Guide 2009 - UK - (Page 32) Fog floats above the Golden Gate Bridge; biweekly farmers' market, at the Ferry Building The inside scoop on shopping, museums, food and more in the City by the Bay welcome to san francisco street and Van ness). take a bay cruise (www.blueandgoldfleet.com, www.redandwhite.com, www.sailsf.com or www.adventurecat.com), or tour alcatraz island (book well in advance), a former federal prison (www.alcatrazcruises. com). stop by the san francisco Visitor information center at 900 market st., or the california welcome center at pier 39. shopping & dining san francisco’s famous hills have become natural dividers for different neighbourhoods and cuisines. enjoy chilli con carne in the Mission district, dim sum in bustling Chinatown and pasta in North beach. soMa (south of Market) has hot clubs and restaurants. for artisan foods, visit the Ferry building Marketplace. luxury stores (think tiffany & co.) line the streets around union square. nearby, visit over 200 stores in lavish westfield san Francisco. eclectic hayes Valley, near the civic center, yields one-of-akind fashion and gifts. haight-ashbury is the place for hip clothes and vintage finds. the Castro, known for the annual gay pride celebration and parade, is filled with colourful shops and cafes. F rom sailing boats skimming under the golden gate Bridge, to clanging cable cars climbing steep hills, san francisco has a magic that consistently makes it one of the most exciting cities in the world. taste fresh-steamed Dungeness crab on fisherman’s wharf. shop for treasures along luxurious maiden lane. enjoy long-running shows: the circus-like Teatro ZinZanni and the irreverent musical revue, Beach Blanket Babylon. getting around can be half the fun: rent an electric, satnav-guided GoCar (www.gocartours.com) to zip to the fun shops lining Pier 39 (www.pier39.com) and lively Ghirardelli square, a former chocolate factory where you can browse among shops and splurge on sundaes (www.ghirardellisq.com). rent bikes to pedal across the Golden Gate bridge (try www.baycitybike.com or www.blazingsaddles.com). Hop aboard a clanging cable car (shortest waits: california street line between polk Parks & Museums in the expansive grounds of Golden Gate Park, visit the new California academy of sciences, an architectural masterpiece with innovative green design and exhibits, including a spectacular rainforest dome and wildflower-covered rooftop garden (www.calacademy.org). nearby, the dramatic de young Museum has thrilling exhibits (www.famsf.org/ deyoung). some 6,000 years of art are showcased at the asian art Museum (www.asianart.org), in the civic center plaza. Downtown, sFMoMa (san Francisco Museum of Modern art) presents edgy works by andy warhol and roy lichtenstein, and others (www.sfmoma.org). adjacent are the yerba buena Gardens (www.yerbabuenagardens.com), with pretty fountains. the elegant legion of honor showcases ancient art and exceptional views (www.famsf.org/legion). GettiNG arouNd MaiN aiRPoRT: san francisco international (sfo, www.flysfo.com) is linked to downtown san francisco (13mi/21km north) by taxi, bus, van shuttle and Bart (see below). aVeraGe teMPeratures hiGh wiNter sPriNG suMMer autuMN 58°f/14°c 63°f/17°c 69°f/21°c 69°f/21°c low 46°f/8°c 49°f/9°c 55°f/13°c 53°f/12°c 32 www.visitcalifornia.co.uk tai power seeff (2) muni buses and trolleys (www.sfmta.com) offer access to most of the city. Bart (Bay area rapid transit) has links to east and south Bay cities and sfo (www.bart. gov). BiG SaviNGS: get a citypass (www. citypass.com) or a go san francisco card (www.gosanfranciscocard.com) for discounts citywide. PuBliC TRaNSiT: http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com http://www.redandwhite.com http://www.sailsf.com http://www.adventurecat.com http://www.alcatrazcruises.com http://www.alcatrazcruises.com http://www.gocartours.com http://www.pier39.com http://www.calacademy.org http://www.ghirardellisq.com http://www.flysfo.com http://www.famsf.org/deyoung http://www.baycitybike.com http://www.famsf.org/deyoung http://www.blazingsaddles.com http://www.asianart.org http://www.sfmta.com http://www.sfmoma.org http://www.bart.gov http://www.bart.gov http://www.citypass.com http://www.yerbabuenagardens.com http://www.citypass.com http://www.gosanfranciscocard.com http://www.famsf.org/legion http://www.visitcalifornia.co.uk
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