You want to see the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge up close and personal, or thrilling views of the San Francisco skyline from the middle of the Bay? We have you covered:

The Beach

The fact that San Francisco sits on the edge of the ocean makes beach-going a natural, although sometimes chilly idea. The journey itself is simple, fun and adventurous. Depending on which beach you want to end up at, you can choose either the L or the N line of the Metro (Muni’s light rail) Both stop at the Embarcadero station (298 Market St., between Spear & Beale) and all the downtown stops. If you take the L, you end up on the south end of Ocean Beach, by the San Francisco Zoo, where the water is fairly wild and it’s mostly frequented by surfers. If you time it right, you can watch some amazing surfing. Get a hot chocolate at Java Beach at the Zoo, take off your shoes and walk down to the water. If the weather’s pleasant, it’s a 2-mile walk North to Judah St where you’ll hop on the N line for your return trip.

To make the journey to the northernmost slice of beach, where you’ll find landmarks like the Cliff House, the ruins of Sutro Baths, and a lovely hike along to Coastal Trail to rare East-facing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, you’ll need to catch the bus —- the 38-Geary leaves from the corner of Union Square (Geary & Powell) and takes a 45-minute journey to get to Lands End. The Lands End Lookout Visitor Center is just down from the corner of 48th Ave. on Point Lobos Avenue. Look for the parking lot on the right and the stunning view of the Pacific.

The Bridge

Crissy Field is a little bit like San Francisco’s front lawn — a great place to look out at the world, walk the dog, and play a little frisbee. Of course, that’s if your front lawn just happens to have a million-dollar panorama of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands. Not bad. You’ll also find beaches, cafes with warm drinks, and a flat promenade through tidal wetlands. Bring a sweatshirt and a camera! One of the dozens of amazing local sites overseen by Golden Gate National Parks, Crissy Field (1199 East Beach) is definitely accessible by taxi or public transportation — check their website for a trip planner to help you get there from wherever your find yourself.

The Rock

Also under the auspices of the GGNP, Alcatraz is a traditional tourist spot, but well worth a visit for the views alone. You’ll reach the abandoned maximum-security Federal prison by ferry, since it sits on a rocky outcropping in the middle of the Bay (hence the nickname). The boats leave from Pier 33 (on the Embarcadero), from 8:45am to 3:50pm most days. Pro tips: You’ll need to reserve your tickets to avoid running into sold-out tours. Pier 33 is about a 25-minute walk from the Ferry Building, but here’s a spot you might want to catch a cab or rideshare, since you’ll need to save your legs for the actual island. Lastly, don’t pass up the cellhouse audio tour. It’s included in your ticket price and it’s excellent!

 

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PBS Annual Meeting Guides:

In Downtown
Locations within a single mile of the Marriott Marquis.

Getting Around
Venture further afield within the city limits.

Outward Bound
A quick overview of some great vistas.

Union Square Checklist from Check, Please! Bay Area
Our producers selected 10 of the best restaurants near the iconic landmark.

 

The hills of San Francisco are legendary and those who climb their peaks are rewarded with amazing vistas. That said, you can safely navigate most of downtown SF on foot without needing to bring any climbing gear, save a light jacket to keep off an evening chill. These sights and secrets should mostly be within an easy walk or a short ride.

Walking Tours

Fans of noir fiction and the famous mystery novels starring detective Sam Spade, will love the Dashiell Hammett Walking Tour, which is the longest running literary tour in the nation. It’s led by Don Herron, author of The Literary World of San Francisco and editor of selected letters of Philip K. Dick – a guy who clearly knows his stuff and has been praised not just for dressing in a snap-brim hat and trench coat, but for leading a tour that, according to The Wall Street Journal, “moved like a drunken cat through the streets and back alleys of the Tenderloin. It passed Southeast Asian diners, tawdry hotels, bars without windows, and places where a twenty will buy you more than the weekend’s groceries.” If you find yourself in town early, the tour will be offered on Sunday, May 11, starting at noon, leaving from NW corner outside the San Francisco Main Library (Fulton & Larkin).

Neighborhood to Know: Chinatown

If you’d rather amble around under your own recognizance, consider a self-guided walking tour through San Francisco’s Chinatown. Start just north of Union Square at the Dragon Gate (Grant & Bush) and then venture down the bustling, shop-lined streets of the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. You’ll find everything from dim sum palaces to herbal apothecaries, scores of churches and temples, as well as a non-stop visual smorgasbord of architecture and antiquities.

If you still have some steam left once you’ve lost yourself in Chinatown, you can continue on to North Beach and another of San Francisco’s most treasured stomping grounds.

Bottoms Up

There’s no dearth of great hotel bars in downtown San Francisco: There are classics that actually tower over the rest, including Top of the Mark and the Starlight Room (not to mention the aptly named View Lounge at the Marriott Marquis), but here are are few that stand out no matter what floor you find them on.

Beautifully designed and decked out in wood panels and Art Deco details, The Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel (495 Geary) exudes class and a chic sense of humor. The real action is at the back of the lobby where the paintings slide and shift and a DJ keeps the night crowd lively with subdued house music. The bar itself, with its towering mirrored display, is breathtaking.

Parallel 37 at The Ritz-Carlton (Stockton at California) might best be described as Mad Men set in the woods, with tables and counters fashioned from gorgeous slabs of trees surrounded by low-slung Danish modern furniture. For a more cosmopolitan setting, enjoy the handcrafted cocktails in The Lounge with the skyline for company.

The Clock Bar at the Westin St. Francis (335 Powell St., off Union Square) offers a lovely and easily accessible respite from the crowds in the Square -— as well as a great stiff drink. On your way to this cozy, comfortable spot, make sure to peek at the impressive Viennese grandfather clock that has served as a local meeting spot for over a century.

For those with a sense of humor and a yearning for balmier climes, the Tonga Room at the Fairmount Hotel (950 Mason) offers the full tiki bar experience -— really, who can resist drinks served in coconut shells with umbrellas?

Craft beer is hot right now, and we know where you can find some of the craftiest folks in the world offering to quench your thirst.

Mikkeller Bar SF (34 Mason) opened just under a year ago, but it’s already found a dedicated following. Its 42 taps are flowing with a selection of rare, delectable beers from notable local breweries and around the world.

SF’s Cable Cars

Ding ding! What a cliché! Ding ding! And priced to gouge out-of-towners ($6 for a one-way ride, except early in the morning and late at night). But you know, San Francisco’s hand-crafted, steel-wood-and-glass transit antiques really are unique. There’s nothing quite like hanging on to the side (or hanging out on the rear platform) as that little car crawls up or clatters down San Francisco’s steep, steep streets. From the Powell Street turntable (Powell at Market St.), you can ride from one pole of the city’s retail wonderland–the greater Union Square/San Francisco Centre/Bloomingdale’s sector—to the other—Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 (via the Powell-Mason line) and Ghirardelli Square (via the Powell-Hyde line). If you want to delve into cable car lore, then you need to alight at Muni’s Cable Car Museum, at Washington and Mason streets (both Powell Street routes pass the museum.)

Here are a couple of tips: Take the short California Street line (starts at Market Street outside the Hyatt Regency, goes west up over Nob Hill, turns around at Van Ness Avenue). Or ride after 9 p.m., when the fare falls to $3 and the crowds thin out. The cars run until nearly 1 a.m. every night of the week.

Museums for Everyone

The Bay Area offers myriad great museums and galleries, and you’ll find them in almost every part of town.

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is currently closed due to construction, although you can find events and exhibits from that institution scattered around the city as part of their SFMOMA On the Go initiative.

Another great downtown museum to explore is the Contemporary Jewish Museum (736 Mission St.), just steps away from the Marquis — the most current exhibition looks at Jewish contributions to Mid-Century Modern design. Browse the rotating exhibits, the permanent collection, and make sure to grab a smoked pastrami sandwich at the museum’s deli.

The world renown Exploratorium recently moved to a new, state-of-the-art building on Pier 15 (on the Embarcadero) and is definitely worth a visit for all ages.

More art to check out downtown:
The Cartoon Art Museum (655 Mission), Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission), and just a bit farther afield — the Asian Art Museum (200 Larkin, across from City Hall).

Next Stop: Foodie Heaven

Head on down to the edge of the Bay to find another kind of gallery, this one dedicated to sweet and savory treasures from the city’s finest culinary curators. The historic Ferry Building (Market & Embarcadero) hosts Farmer’s Markets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, but their permanent marketplace boasts a delicious array of artisanal foodstuffs — from hand-roasted coffee to heirloom beans, local cheese to luscious pastries. Easily accessible via BART, Muni, or on foot, the Ferry Building is a stop no self-respecting foodie would want to miss.

If you happen to be at the Ferry Building close to sundown, stick around and you’ll be treated to a spectacular view of the Bay Lights, a stunning installation of LEDs on the Western span of the Bay Bridge. The thousands of tiny white lights are computer-controlled and cycle through a hypnotic dance of ever-changing designs. Grab a bite at one of the waterside restaurants in the area and enjoy the show.

Giant Steps

Also in the shadow of the Bay Bridge, boasting its own array of tasty bites and dazzling lights, AT&T Park (King St., between 2nd & 3rd) is home to the two-time World Series Champion San Francisco Giants. If you are in the mood to take in some National League action with a heaping helping of garlic fries, you are in luck, as the Giants are in town all week, taking on the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins. Check the website for the game schedule and information on ticket. Home games are always sold out, but good seats are usually available through the team’s own ticket resale system. You’re transportation options from Ferry Building include Muni, pedi-cab, or a leisurely stroll along the Embarcadero.

 

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PBS Annual Meeting Guides:

In Downtown
Locations within a single mile of the Marriott Marquis.

Getting Around
Venture further afield within the city limits.

Outward Bound
A quick overview of some great vistas.

Union Square Checklist from Check, Please! Bay Area
Our producers selected 10 of the best restaurants near the iconic landmark.

 

These destinations are over a mile from the Marriott. Some are still very walkable, but others are farther flung and that’s where BART, Muni, taxi or our local “transportation network companies:” Uber and Lyft are probably your best bet.

Telegraph Hill Tour

Perhaps best known for Coit Tower, Telegraph Hill boasts some of the best views of the Bay the city has to offer. Before you go, be sure to download KQED’s Let’s Get Lost smartphone app for interactive tours of the famous New-Deal-era murals at Coit Tower (1 Telegraph Hill Blvd), as well as others around the city. To enjoy the richness of the area, take a tour from SF City Guides and along the way you’ll see some of the neighborhood’s most attractive gardens, as well as cottages that date from the Gold Rush era. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the flock of wild parrots made famous in the Independent Lens documentary “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.”

Neighborhood to Know: North Beach

Even if you can’t make the scheduled walking tour, you can still enjoy the panoramas of Telegraph Hill and North Beach. Just to the north of the equally fascinating Chinatown neighborhood (see our “In Downtown” guide), you’ll find the historic domain of the Italian-American community. While the neighborhood is now as multi-ethnic as any you’ll find in SF, you’ll still find scores of bakeries, gelaterias, espresso stands, and decadent Italian restaurants. You’ll also find notable literary landmarks such as City Lights bookstore (261 Columbus) and streets named after significant members of the Beat Poets. You can learn more about the West Coast contributions to that movement at the Beat Museum (540 Broadway) or just chill out and watch the Tai Chi practitioners in Washington Square Park.

Castro Walking Tour

There’s a bit of construction happening along Castro Street, the historic heart of San Francisco’s pioneering gay community. Sidewalks are being widened. Rainbow-hued crosswalks are being painted. Still, don’t let a little dust deter you from visiting the cafes and shops that line this energy-filled neighborhood. It’s hard to imagine now, but the neighborhood called the Castro was once a subdued, working class community known as “Eureka Valley.” Take this tour with Foot! Comedy Walking Tours and laugh your socks off while you learn about the neighborhood’s history from the 19th century to the present. Stops include the Castro’s very first gay bar, the surprising controversies that flutter with the iconic massive rainbow flag, and of course the Castro Theatre, which first opened in 1922. As the company’s web site promises, “you’ll have a gay old time.” $30 per person.

Neighborhood to Know: The Mission

Sitting right next to the Castro, you’ll find the super-hot Mission district. Sunnier than most of the city, this moderately flat neighborhood sports parallel arteries — Valencia and Mission streets — the former packed with upscale restaurants and trendy shops, the latter is still holding on to its everyman roots, but just barely. You’ll find an ever-increasing number of adventurous new spots nestled among the dollar stores and taquerias. If you can’t get the best burrito or small-batch fresh-roasted coffee you’ve ever had, you’re just not trying. And beer is making a big splash at places like Monk’s Kettle (3141 16th St), Amnesia (853 Valencia St), Abbot’s Cellar (742 Valencia St), and outdoor favorite Zeitgeist (199 Valencia St). If craft cocktails are more your thing, you’ll want to search out Trick Dog (3010 20th St) on the emerging 20th Street gourmet corridor right around the corner from the KQED building.

Golden Gate Park

While it’s sometimes compared to another great ubran expense in New York City, Golden Gate Park is 20% bigger than Central Park. Who can argue with that? Okay, it’s not a contest — it’s a treasure trove of amazing natural sights and home to a host of great cultural institutions.

Here are a couple of highlights you might want to consider:

The San Francisco Botanical Garden

Located in the heart of Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco Botanical Garden (1199 9th Ave) is planted with more than 8,000 plants from around the world, including those rare and endangered plants that are the objects of conservation. Check their website to see what’s in bloom, and don’t miss the “cloud forests” – gardens that have the same conditions as rainforests at high elevations in Mexico, the Andes, and Southeast Asia. There you’ll find some of the garden’s most treasured plants, like the golden fuchsia (Deppea splendens) from Mexico and a type of passion flower called Passiflora parritae native to Andean cloud forests. San Francisco Botanical Garden is one of the only outdoor gardens in the world that can grow these species, largely thanks to Bay Area fog mimicking high altitude cloud cover. Free admission.

The California Academy of Sciences

This recently renovated wonderland of inquiry houses “the oldest scientific institution in the western United States.” Visit the California Academy of Sciences (55 Music Concourse Dr) and you’ll find an undulating living roof, an all-digital planetarium, an aquarium, and a host of rotating exhibits. Check their website for specifics on exhibitions and special events, including an after-hours cocktail party offering Do-It-Yourself workshops with veterans of the Bay Area’s world-famous Maker Faire.

The de Young Museum

Also newly rebuilt, the de Young Museum (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr) is an art-lovers paradise. The permanent collection includes American paintings and decorative art, African and Oceanic art, as well as textiles and photography. Current exhibits include Native American Art recently acquired from the Weisel family, photographs of the Bay Bridge during its original construction, and a show celebrating 50th anniversary of Walasse Ting’s “groundbreaking artist-illustrated book” 1￠ Life. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:15 pm, museum admission costs $10. If you go, don’t miss the chance to ascend to the tower’s observation deck and take in its panoramic 360-degree views of the park (free).

 

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PBS Annual Meeting Guides:

In Downtown
Locations within a single mile of the Marriott Marquis.

Getting Around
Venture further afield within the city limits.

Outward Bound
A quick overview of some great vistas.

Union Square Checklist from Check, Please! Bay Area
Our producers selected 10 of the best restaurants near the iconic landmark.