San Francisco the Second, Third and Fourth Time

San Francisco, the Second, Third and Fourth Time!

The Second Visit

Visit the Asian Art Museum – Located across from City Hall, this is one of the largest museums in the world devoted exclusively to Asian art with a collection comprising of nearly 15,000 works spanning 6,000 years of history.

Visit the Civic Center – Be inspired by the architectural beauty of San Francisco’s City Hall and attend a performance by the San Francisco Symphony, Opera or Ballet.

Visit the Ferry Building Marketplace – Remodeled and repurposed in 2003, this gourmet galleria celebrates regional purveyors and cuisine. The Saturday morning Farmers Market is a spirited gathering of local farmers, high quality artisan producers and independent food businesses, catering to food connoisseurs alike. .

Visit Mission San Francisco de Asis and the Mission District – The heart of San Francisco's predominantly Hispanic neighborhood is 24th Street, a colorful collection of restaurants, taquerias, Mexican bakeries, fresh produce markets and specialty shops. Mission Dolores at 16th and Dolores streets is the oldest structure in San Francisco. The largest collection of murals in the city, each reflecting the pleasures, passions and pitfalls of their respective creators, adorns buildings, fences and garage walls throughout the neighborhood.

Visit North Beach – Rich in Italian heritage, San Francisco’s version of “Little Italy” compresses cabarets, jazz clubs, galleries, inns, family style restaurants and gelato parlors into less than a square mile. Bakeries and delicatessens serve up traditional Italian delicacies. A perfect spot for cappuccino and espresso, North Beach is transformed into one of San Francisco's most electric playgrounds by night; live music and dancing keep the streets swinging.

Visit Haight Ashbury – The "Summer of Love" lives on mainly in stores throughout this charming Victorian sector; vintage clothing, books and records are abundant along Haight Street, the neighborhood's busiest stretch.

The Third Visit

Visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – One of the world's most innovative museums of modern and contemporary art is the anchor of the Yerba Buena Gardens district where almost a dozen museums are located including the Museum of the African Diaspora and the temporary location of the California Academy of Sciences.

Visit Castro Street – Steep streets and brightly painted Victorian houses give a distinct San Francisco look to this upper Market Street neighborhood, famous as the “Gay Mecca.” The Castro is a series of imaginative boutiques, bookstores and bars. Novelty items abound in shops at the end of Market Street between 16th and 17th Streets.

Visit Japantown – The heart of Japantown is Japan Center, a five-acre complex of shops, sushi bars, restaurants, hotels and theaters at Post and Buchanan Streets. It is crowned by a five-tiered pagoda, a symbol of eternal peace. Locals call this sector "J-Town." More than 12,000 residents of Japanese descent call it home. There is much to learn from this small slice of Japanese life.

Visit Union Street – The first neighborhood in San Francisco to convert its gingerbread Victorians into popular boutiques, art galleries and restaurants, Union Street's distinct turn-of-the-century atmosphere makes a walk along its streets a delightful journey back in time, at least from an architectural perspective. The attitude along modern day Union Street, however, is anything but old-fashioned. This is where some of the city’s most fashionable and upscale citizens live and play.

Visit the Exploratorium and the Marina District – Experience exciting and interactive exhibits that make learning fun, regardless of your age or familiarity with science at the original hands-on science museum, the Exploratorium. Off Marina Boulevard, streets are dominated by grand stucco houses and flats. Chestnut Street brims with inviting stores, restaurants and watering holes.

The Fourth Visit

Visit Golden Gate Park – Take a picnic, try fly fishing, see the buffalo, rent a bike or skates, play golf. Visit the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden or San Francisco Botanical Garden and pedal a boat on Stow Lake.

Explore the striking new de Young Museum – The new de Young Museum building is hard to miss, with dramatic architecture by Herzog & de Meuron and Fong & Chan Architects, a unique copper façade and an observation tower that rises 144 feet above the treetops of Golden Gate Park.

See a Giants baseball game at AT&T Park – The crowning jewel of San Francisco sports, AT&T Park boasts sweeping views of the city and bay, with many modern amenities.

Visit the Legion of Honor museum in Lincoln Park – One of San Francisco's most beautiful museums displays an impressive collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. See the nearby Holocaust Memorial. Play Lincoln Park Golf Course with its lush grounds and spectacular views.

See the city from Twin Peaks – Clear days reveal a breathtaking view from one of the tallest points in San Francisco. See sweeping skylines that reach from the Pacific Ocean to Alameda.

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