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The city of San Francisco in California is a beautiful city that is famous all over the world for the rolling fog that suddenly sweeps the bay even during summer; the numerous, steep hills that give the city character and make driving tricky in certain areas; the Golden Gate Bridge; the cable cars; and its diverse population with their cosmopolitan lifestyle and colorful cultural backgrounds.
San Francisco has a life and air that cannot be found anywhere else. Just like what the song written about it says, it is easy to leave your heart in San Francisco, and you will always long to come and take it back.
If you were to visit San Francisco on a long weekend, what landmarks should you see? Here are five famous landmarks that you should see on your trip to San Francisco.
The Golden Gate Bridge
Any visit to San Francisco must include the Golden Gate Bridge. This suspension bridge that connects the city to the county of Marin across the Golden Gate is the icon that is most associated with San Francisco. People who do not have a fear of heights will find walking across the bridge to be a very interesting experience. The sights upon the bridge are breathtaking, especially when the fog comes rolling in.
Beautiful Golden Gate
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island, or the Rock, as it is more popularly known, is a military and federal prison island right in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Historically, it is significant for being the site of the first working lighthouse on the western coast. The Rock, however, gained its notoriety more for being the prison that held the likes of Al Capone and Robert Stroud, and is reputed to be a prison from which it is impossible to escape. Now, it is one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist attractions as well as birdlife sanctuary.
The Ferry Building
The Ferry Building is a significant historical building that was once the embarkation point for travelers going to and from the San Francisco, at a time when the Golden Gate Bridge did not as yet exist and the ferry is the only way by which anyone can reach the city. Currently, the Ferry Building now serves as a grand shopping and dining arcade as well as an office building.
Union Square
The Union Square is the commercial heart of San Francisco, where the city’s hotels, inns, restaurants, shopping malls and high-end retail outlets are most concentrated. It is a paradise for shopaholics; almost anything can be found in Union Square. Among the stores located here are the flagship stores of Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and many others.
The Presidio
The Presidio was once a military fort used by the US Army, which the Army had in turn seized from the Spanish government in 1886. It is a huge military complex that housed many notable military figures in its time. It is now a park that is popular for its lovely views of the San Francisco Bay.
Do not forget to ride San Francisco’s world famous cable car when you go and visit these landmarks.