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Attractions
Attractions by category
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Attractions by travel time
At Four Seasons, you enjoy a unique vantage point from which to explore the city's sights, sounds and experiences. Begin with A Walking Tour of the Hotel's Art Collection, then venture out to explore San Francisco's neighbourhoods and diversified cultures. We hope the highlights of local attractions below will help simplify your planning. Attractions on this page Attractions Walk around the Hotel and take in our impressive art collection, which includes a cross section of contemporary styles and media representing the diverse and culturally rich art scene of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Once the home of infamous maximum-security prisoners, Alcatraz is now a popular tourist destination. Tours transport visitors to a time long since past, recounting the history of the island and its most famous inmates: Machine Gun Kelly, Al Capone and Robert Stroud (the Birdman of Alcatraz). The full audio tour takes approximately 2.5 hours, although visitors can proceed at their own pace. Round out a visit to Alcatraz with lunch at Fisherman's Wharf and a stop at Ghirardelli Square.
Aquarium of the Bay
Located in Fisherman’s Wharf, The Aquarium offers a glimpse of the hidden world under the water of San Francisco Bay. A moving walkway leads guests through two crystal clear tunnels, 300 feet in length, with 700,000 gallons of filtered Bay water and more than 23,000 aquatic animals. A “petting area” offers access to live bat rays, leopard sharks, and tide pool animals.
Cable Cars
Only in San Francisco can visitors ride upon a national historic landmark. Cable cars still run on three original routes that date back 130 years. The cars grip a constantly moving underground cable to ascend hills. To descend, the cable is released. They average a speed of over 9 miles (14 kilometres) per hour and handle grades of up to 21 degrees. The nearest route's turnaround is just one block from the Hotel at Powell Street – jump on for a great way to see the city while making your way to the famed Fisherman's Wharf.
Coit Tower
Coit Tower was built in 1933 at the top of Telegraph Hill. In addition to stunning views of the North Bay area, the tower features fascinating Diego Rivera-inspired frescos in its lobby, which vividly depict life in modern California. Close to Coit Tower is the "crookedest street in the world," Lombard Street.
Ferry Building Marketplace
Often called the city's most famous landmark, a massive renovation of the historic Ferry Building was completed in 2003, bringing the Bay Area's rich agricultural resources and culinary traditions under one roof. The Ferry Building Marketplace now offers a central, waterfront food-lovers paradise that draws countless locals and travellers alike, especially on Saturday's, when the Farmer's Market is in full swing. Operating Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends, the market brings approximately 100 farmers and 25 artisan food vendors to flank the Ferry Building where they sell their organic produce. It is advisable to go early in the morning to avoid the crowds, and it is often filled with the city's top chefs.
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge, recognised the world over as the international symbol of San Francisco, has a 1.7-mile (2.7-kilometre) suspension span and was built in 1937. Designed to withstand gale-force winds and earthquakes, it handles over 40 million vehicles a year that make the crossing over the strait separating Marin County from the city. It is one of five bridges that span San Francisco Bay and can be crossed by car, on bicycle or on foot.
Opened in 1894 as part of a Japanese Village exhibit in a California Midwinter International Exposition, this is the oldest Japanese-style garden in the United States. Stroll its 5 acres (2 hectares), which contain an eclectic collection of sub-gardens, buildings and artefacts.
Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach is the widest, longest expanse of sand on San Francisco’s shores. Popular for brisk jogs, seaside drives and sunset walks along the esplanade that tops the sea wall, Ocean Beach is also a great place to sit, fly kites and fish the surf.
Point Bonita Lighthouse
An active lighthouse maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, Point Bonita is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the largest urban national park in the United States. Enjoy the landscape, geology and fascinating history of Point Bonita, which is reached by a half-mile (0.8-kilometre) trail.
For thousands of years, the Native American Ohlone managed and harvested the natural bounty of what is now the Presidio. In 1776, Spanish soldiers and missionaries arrived and began 218 years of military use of the area just south of the Golden Gate. The Presidio served as a military post under the flags of Spain (1776-1822), Mexico (1822-48) and the United States (1848-1994). As a U.S. Army post, the Presidio played a logistical role in every major U.S. military conflict over the last 150 years – visitors can look back over this history at the Presidio Museum. On October 1, 1994, the Presidio became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Today, visitors can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of its 1,480 acres (600 hectares) filled with more than 500 historic buildings, a collection of coastal defense fortifications, a national cemetery, an historic airfield, a saltwater marsh, forests, beaches, native plant habitats, coastal bluffs, miles of hiking and biking, and some of the most spectacular vistas in the world.
Visit this quiet community and go for a hike, enjoy a picnic, explore the town or simply relax on the beach.
San Francisco's newest and most exciting neighbourhood, Yerba Buena Arts District, includes 87 acres (35 hectares) of redeveloped land, including Moscone Center, the city's major convention facility. Yerba Buena Gardens, located immediately behind the Hotel, offers a host of fun family activities with the Sony Metreon movie theatres, bowling, ice skating, Zeum, a carousel and outdoor gardens that often host live performances and festivals. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is just across the street from the gardens (just around the corner from the Hotel), along with numerous other museums and galleries.
City tours San Francisco's Chinatown is home to the largest concentration of people of Chinese descent in the USA. It was founded by young men lured by the promise of the Gold Rush and the transcontinental railroad in the late 1800s. As they brought over their families, the neighbourhood grew. Today, Chinatown is 24 blocks of bustling activity: shops, restaurants, produce markets, traditional herbalists and temples. Grant Avenue, which starts at the entrance of the Hotel, is the main street running through Chinatown. Both Grant and the alleys woven throughout Chinatown are well worth a stroll.
Fisherman's Wharf is still a working fishing pier, bringing in thousands of tons of fresh fish and crabs every year. The city's most popular tourist destination, Fisherman's Wharf – along with its Pier 39 – is lined with colourful shops and restaurants. Boat tours of the Bay are offered, as well as a special attraction courtesy of Mother Nature: the copious sea lions that call this pier home. The boats of Alcatraz depart from the Wharf, which is also accessible from the Hotel by riding the Powell Street cable car.
Fisherman's Wharf is open to the public at all times, although most restaurants and stores close in the evening.
Ghirardelli Square
It was 1895 when Ghirardelli Chocolate relocated to what is now Ghirardelli Square and the site of its flagship Ghirardelli Chocolate Manufactory and Soda Fountain. Declared an official city landmark in 1965, visitors can still see the original chocolate-making equipment in operation. Its trademark Ghirardelli clock tower and electric roof sign beckon visitors to enjoy elegant shops, waterfront dining, art galleries, family events and walking tours. Its outdoor Fountain Plaza is an airy, colourful focal point throughout the day and evening.
Ghirardelli Square is always open to the public; however, restaurants and stores close during the evening.
Golden Gate Park
At 1,017 acres (411 hectares), Golden Gate Park is the largest man-made park in the world. It measures 3 miles (4.8 kilometres) in length (ending at the Pacific Ocean) and 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometres) wide and offers endless green lawns, bridle paths, lakes and flora. Its many attractions include the California Academy of Sciences, the Steinhart Aquarium and Morrison Planetarium, Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the Japanese Tea Garden, lawn bowling, fly casting pools, boat rentals and a restored carousel in the Children's Playground.
Haight Ashbury Neighbourhood
The birthplace of "Flower Power" in the 1960s, the Haight Ashbury neighbourhood is still one of the liveliest, most unconventional places in San Francisco, revolving around the intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets. In addition to its eclectic mix of people, this 12-block area also boasts some of the city's best cafés, as well as excellent book and music shops.
Haight and Ashbury Streets are open to the public at all times; however, most stores and restaurants close in the evening.
Residents refer to Mission District as the area where the city was born. Mission Street, the main thoroughfare, linked Mission Dolores, the oldest structure in San Francisco, to the Bay. Bustling marketplaces, hot restaurants and rows of Victorian houses pepper the neighbourhood.
Founded in the 19th century by the four railroad tycoons C.P. Huntington, Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford and Mark Hopkins - known as "The Big Four," Nob Hill used to be the centre of the city, with many elegant residences and restaurants. The third-largest Episcopal Church in the nation, Grace Cathedral, is Nob Hill's crowning jewel. With its fine art, architecture, music and liturgy, Grace Cathedral hosts ecumenical services and interfaith celebrations. Views from atop Nob Hill are magnificent panoramas of the San Francisco Bay Area.
North Beach is an exuberant quarter known for its lively nightlife and café society. With cabarets, jazz clubs, galleries, inns, restaurants and gelato parlours, this area retains the bohemian atmosphere of the 1960s. A predominance of Italian restaurants centre around Washington Square Park, frequently featuring live entertainment, art shows and neighbourhood festivals. Many European-style cafés remain open late into the night, serving coffee and desserts.
Sausalito
Sausalito, a beautiful bayside community, lies across the Bay from San Francisco. Its cafés, boutiques, yacht clubs, fine restaurants, shops and plentiful art galleries contribute to the sophisticated charm of this Mediterranean-inspired city.
Museums
Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the western world, devoted exclusively to Asian Art. Offering nearly 15,000 treasures spanning 6,000 years of history, the Asian Art Museum also presents a wide range of special exhibitions and programs to explore all cultures represented in the museum’s collection.
Cable Car Museum
Located in the historic Washington/Mason cable car barn and powerhouse, the museum deck overlooks the huge engines and winding wheels that pull the cables. On display are various mechanical devices, detailed models, a large collection of historic photographs and three antique cable cars from the 1870s.
California Academy of Science
The California Academy of Sciences was founded in 1853 to survey and study California’s resources, making it the oldest scientific institution in the West. It is one of the 10 largest natural history museums in the world, with research departments studying animals, plants, minerals and artefacts.
California Historical Society Galleries
Since 1871, the California Historical Society has been collecting and preserving materials on the history of California and the West. This impressive collection includes paintings, photographs, costumes, archival materials and a library.
Cartoon Art Museum
Established in 1984 by a group of cartoon enthusiasts, the museum is art without walls, promoting an appreciation of cartoon art. It focuses on preserving, documenting and exhibiting this unique art form that expresses cultural diversity in the community. The museum houses over 6,000 original pieces in the permanent collection and is host to at least seven major exhibitions each year.
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, the Contemporary Jewish Museum encompasses historic and new San Francisco. The 63,000 square feet (5,853 square metres) houses exhibitions like no other – including art, music, film, literature and debate, engaging audiences while exploring contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture. Its location uses the historic Jessie Street Power Substation, which helped restore energy to the city after the 1906 earthquake.
The De Young was founded in 1895, playing an integral role in San Francisco culture while providing a cherished destination for millions of residents and visitors to the region for more than 100 years. The museum is a state-of-the-art facility that integrates art, archticture and natural landscape and houses collections from the Americas, the Pacific Islands and Africa.
Exploratorium – The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception
Located in the Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium aims to educate informally. It is an experimental, hands-on museum where you can pick up or touch the exhibits.
Museum of Craft and Folk Art
Located in the Yerba Buena Museum District in downtown San Francisco, the Museum of Craft and Folk Art is the only folk-art museum in Northern California. It offers traditional and modern folk art and craft exhibits from around the world.
Museum of the African Diaspora
The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) exhibits objects of art and culture from around the globe in an attempt to collect stories and create a repository of information about the African Diaspora.
Palace of the Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor houses an impressive collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art including an impressive Rodin sculpture collection. The building itself is situated overlooking one of the most beautiful views in San Francisco and is a three-quarter-scale adaptation of the 18th-century Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris which was dedicated to the 3,600 California men who lost their lives on the battlefields of France during World War I.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Just around the corner from the Hotel, MOMA houses many of the country’s leading shows and remains one of the world's most innovative museums of modern and contemporary art. Numerous other museums and galleries fill the blocks around the Hotel, although there is no need to venture out for a taste of the local art scene – on display throughout the lobby level is the Hotel’s own extensive private collection of contemporary works, created predominantly by leading Northern California artists. A walking tour of this collection is available in guest rooms as well as the concierge desk.
Society of California Pioneers
Founded in 1850 for the study and enjoyment of California art, history and culture, the society's museum and library are open to the public. They feature exhibitions and programs focused on early California and its development over the years. Collections include paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, silverware and artefacts from the Gold Rush era to 1945.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Focusing on living artists, the YBCA has a passion for those who engage the contemporary world, push boundaries and are willing to take risks. YBCA's two-building complex is located on Third Street in the beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens District. Its schedule of rotating exhibitions are many and diverse – focusing on film, printed art, dance, music and interactive media.
Zeum
Zeum is a non-profit multimedia arts and technology museum with a mission to foster creativity and innovation in young people and their families. Zeum is the only Bay Area museum that combines hands-on use of animation, digital technology, electronic media, traditional and non-traditional materials and the power of the imagination to create high-quality stories, movies, performances, music, art and more. Zeum is located directly behind the Hotel.
Scenic day trips
Año Nuevo State Park and Santa Cruz
A short drive to the coast will take you to the spectacular Año Nuevo State Park, with a wealth of nature hikes and an excellent opportunity to view elephant seals and sea lions. Just south of the park lies Santa Cruz, with its famous Boardwalk amusement park.
A trip to Mendocino will take you along the rugged coastline of northern California through wild and unspoiled country, to a small picturesque town that was once a logging village. It became a haven for artists in the 1950s and has been declared a historic monument, with charming architecture, antique shops and stunning natural surroundings.
One of the most scenic stretches of the California coast includes the historic town of Monterey, capital of California in 1777. Just beyond lies the quaint Spanish mission town of Carmel. The area offers challenging golf courses (including the famed Pebble Beach), the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the National Steinbeck Center.
Muir Woods National Monument, created in 1908, is a 550-acre (223-hectare) stand of coast redwoods, whose ancestry can be traced back 150 million years. Some soar to 252 feet (77 metres) and are up to 1,000 years old. The Monument offers 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) of flat paved trails, as well as dozens of miles of trails through forests and meadows, along creeks and ridge lines.
All of the Napa Valley regions – Napa, Sonoma, St. Helena, Calistoga, Yountville – still retain a turn-of-the-century air. Families used to head north to enjoy the benefits of the hot springs and mineral baths. The area's 273 vineyards give tours and tastings; many operate fine restaurants as well. Berry patches and orchards are sprinkled throughout the valley, accompanied by the legendary "Old Faithful" Geyser in Calistoga.
Sonoma County offers visitors vineyards and restaurants, berry patches and orchards, as well as Robert Louis Stevenson State Park.
Shopping
Metreon
Enjoy entertainment, restaurants and unique stores in this nearby mall.
San Francisco is home to many distinctive neighbourhoods devoted to enclaves of unique boutiques.
Union Square boasts over 5 million square feet (464,500 square metres) of retail space within its four blocks. Stores such as Chanel, Tiffany, Burberry, Levi's, Gump's, Giorgio Armani, Hermès, Disney, Macy's and Niketown make for the city's best shopping. The square was named to commemorate the pro-union rallies held on the eve of the Civil War; it now plays host to fashion shows, music and dance performances, and competitions.
Westfield San Francisco Centre
This shopping centre offers an array of boutiques including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Juicy Couture, Simayof, Ann Taylor and BCBG.
Sporting/Concert venues
AT&T Park
Seating over 40,000 fans, AT&T Park is the home of the San Francisco Giants. It features a classic urban ballpark design with the amenities of all great ballparks, an inspiring nine-foot statue of Willie Mays at the public entrance and excellent mass public transit.
Cow Palace
The Cow Palace and its extensive stable and barn facilities are home to the annual Grand National Rodeo. The facility also hosts ice hockey and basketball games. Many famous rock music artists have performed at the Cow Palace, including the Beatles, the Doors, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Kiss, Elvis Presley, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Rolling Stones and U2.
Fillmore Theatre
The Fillmore Theatre is San Francisco's historic music venue that represented the pinnacle of creative music-making in the late 1960s – and still has a policy of introducing its audiences to eclectic musical combinations. The “Most Appearances Award” would go to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who have played a total of 27 times at the Fillmore and more recently No Doubt, the Cure, Prince, the White Stripes, and Dave Chappelle have graced its stage many times.
Monster Park
Home to the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers, Monster Park also hosts a variety of concerts and events throughout the year.
Oracle Arena & McAfee Coliseum
Home of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics, National Football League's Oakland Raiders and National Basketball Association's Golden State Warriors, the Oracle Arena & McAfee Coliseum has also hosted a spectrum of sporting and entertainment events including concerts, circuses, boxing matches, rodeos and ice shows.
Modelled after an ancient Greek amphitheatre, the William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre opened in Berkeley at the University of California a little over one hundred years ago. Since then, the Greek Theatre has become a popular venue for ceremonies, classical music performances and plays, and has played host to many of the biggest names in entertainment – Sting, Pearl Jam, Tina Turner, Elton John, Paul McCartney and the White Stripes, just to name a few.
Theatre/Performing arts
American Conservatory Theater
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) encourages dynamic productions and offers intensive actor training. With groundbreaking productions of classical works and bold explorations of contemporary playwriting, A.C.T. aims to renew and reinvent our relationship to our rich theatrical traditions.
Curran Theatre
The Curran Theatre underwent extensive renovations in 1993 and went on to host five years of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera – the show's longest run in the United States outside of New York City. The theatre's Best of Broadway series brings high-quality musical theatre productions and award-winning plays to the Bay Area. Over the years, Best of Broadway subscribers have enjoyed everything from the Tony Award-winning plays Fences and Proof to the historical musical Les Misérables.
Orpheum Theatre
From the day the Orpheum Theatre opened – over 75 years ago – on the corner of Hyde and Market Streets in San Francisco, Orpheum audiences have seen an array of American theatrical entertainment pass across its stage and screen. Shows have ranged from vaudeville to movies and musical comedy.
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