Many a traveller has left their heart in San Francisco. With its iconic landmarks, bohemian lifestyle and renowned museums and galleries, it’s not hard to see why.
You can shop for vintage clothes and follow the trail blazed by rock gods
Built around a stunning bay on the northern Pacific coast of California, San Francisco has a well-earned reputation as a haven for free spirits and a centre of liberal activism.
If you don’t mind cool summers and steep hills, San Francisco has first-class attractions to keep any visitor happily occupied.
It is perhaps most famous for the unmistakable Golden Gate Bridge, which has the second longest span in the world. Opened in 1937, the bridge takes its name from its location at the entrance to San Francisco Bay, known as the Golden Gate Strait.
The Bay is also home to the notorious Alcatraz Prison, built on an island 2.5km offshore. Some of America’s infamous criminals were incarcerated here, including Al Capone for five years. It was closed in 1963 and is now a popular tourist attraction.
Alcatraz tickets are rarely available on the day and visitors are encouraged to book up to 90 days in advance with a reputable tour operator such as www.alcatrazcruises.com.
Culture vultures flock to the Palace of Fine Arts, located near to the Golden Gate Bridge. Featuring a peaceful lagoon, large rotunda and Greek-style colonnades, the Palace of Fine Arts is a great place to unwind.
Visitors will also have the chance to ‘ride’ a national historic landmark. The city’s tramways – known as cable cars in the US – are the world’s last permanently operational manually-operated cable car system.
While the skyline may be dominated by the futuristic Transamerica Pyramid (325 metres), the smaller Coit Tower is perhaps the city’s most charming structure.
This flute-like art-deco cylinder (64 metres) was built in 1933. It is a legacy of Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who left $125,000 to San Francisco “for the purpose of adding beauty to the city which I have always loved”. Built on Telegraph Hill, it offers stunning views of the city.
Alamo Square’s famous ‘Painted Ladies’ provide one of the most photographed locations in the city. These colourful Victorian houses are backed by downtown skyscrapers.
Another popular photo stop is Lombard Street, the steep, verdant thoroughfare famous for its hairpin turns.
If you are looking to discover the city’s famous bohemian side, head to Haight-Ashbury, epicentre of the ‘Summer of Love’. This remains a bustling street full of independent businesses and cafes, where you can shop for vintage clothes and follow the trail blazed by rock gods.
San Francisco has the largest Chinese community in the world, outside of China of course. In fact, one of the most famous Chinese dishes was actually created in San Francisco – chop suey was first tasted at a banquet here in 1878. And as a testament to the city’s cross-cultural pollination, the Chinese fortune cookie was invented here at the Japanese Tea Garden by Makato Hagiwara.
San Francisco is also known for its 300 coffee shops. Contrary to its name, Irish coffee was actually invented here at Buena Vista.
What is more, this trendsetting city was home to the first ever motel – The Motel Inn on Monterey Street, which opened in 1925 in the San Luis Obispo. It is now used as an administrative building and parts of it have been demolished.
California dreaming
Experience awesome California with ROCS Travel
ROCS Travel has organised a guided US West Coast Tour Experience every September for the past 15 years. Starting in San Francisco, the 17-day tour takes in Monterey, Carmel and Los Angeles, followed by a coastal drive to San Diego, and ending in Las Vegas.
The tour will be led by Maurice Gruppetta and ROCS is promising professional foreign guides and quality, centrally located hotels.
Rates for the 17-day West Coast Tour Experience start from €1,999 per person, including return flights, five nights at the four-star Hilton Union Square in San Francisco, three nights at the four-star Millennium Biltmore in Los Angeles, three nights at the four-star Hilton Gas Lamp Quarter in San Diego and four nights at the four-star Treasure Island Hotel in Las Vegas, plus ROCS Travel tour manager and all taxes and charges.
For more information, call ROCS Travel on 2015 1515, visit www.rocsholidays.com or e-mail travel@rocsgrp.com.