Best Places to Visit in San Francisco, CA
Sometimes you just want to get out and explore. We try to strike a good balance of places that you will really enjoy. Finding ideas for family friendly outings, or interesting places to go in San Francisco, CA with your friends, both are at your fingertips here with America Top 10. We aim to give you plenty of ideas without you having to do all the research. That way you can easily decide if you want to explore San Francisco, CA sites or check out the sites in another state.
You have also heard how it is becoming a lot more popular to have staycations (where you stay home instead of going to far off places) and discover new and interesting places in the near vicinity. We try to make that easier for you. Check out the sites in San Francisco, CA that have become local favorites easily with our site.
We hope that we have provided you plenty of choices in San Francisco, CA whether this is a new area for you or your own back yard. Something a little different from the typical amusement park. If you really loved somewhere but don’t see them on our list let us know, we are always looking to improve our lists and we can only do that with your help.
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
They are proud to welcome more than 13 million visitors each year to Golden Gate Park, one of San Francisco’s greatest treasures. From a vast, windswept expanse of sand dunes, park engineer William Hammond Hall and master gardener John McLaren carved out an oasis, a verdant, horticulturally diverse, and picturesque public space where city dwellers can relax and reconnect with the natural world. The rest, as they say, is history. Within Golden Gate Park’s 1,017 acres you’ll discover gardens, playgrounds, lakes, picnic groves, trails, and monuments, plus an array of cultural venues, events, and activities.
Union Square
San Francisco, CA
Union Square is the retail and cultural hub of San Francisco. It boasts the city’s largest collection of luxury, department and boutique shopping, making it one of the premier tourist attractions in the Western United States. A spectacular selection of hotels, art galleries, salons, and theaters also contribute to the area’s cosmopolitan, 24-hour character. The center of the neighborhood is a landmark park bordered by Geary, Powell, Post, and Stockton streets. Built in 1850, Union Square was the gathering sight for pro-Union demonstrations on the eve of the Civil War.
Winchester Mystery House
San Jose, CA
Winchester Mystery House is a 160-room Victorian mansion that was previously the home of Sarah L. Winchester, heiress to the Winchester Rifle fortune. The mansion has many mysteries inside and is known to be historic, beautiful, and bizarre.
Pier 39
San Francisco, CA
Pier 39 has 110 specialty shops and 14 full-service restaurants. In addition, the Pier 39 experience involves two levels of dining, entertainment, shopping, and other attractions which are all surrounded by beautiful views of the city and the bay.
Exploratorium
San Francisco, CA
The Exploratorium is known as a 21st century learning laboratory that features tools, exhibits, and programs that stimulate curiosity and thinking. The Exploratorium was founded in 1969 by Dr. Frank Oppenheimer and is currently recognized as a museum of science, art, and human perception as well.
Hearst Castle
San Simeon, CA
Hearst Castle is a Mediterranean-style historic house museums that features guest houses, gardens, pools and terraces. Hearst Castle also features a 5,000 square foot gift and museum shop, museum exhibits, and the Hearst Castle Theater.
Mission Dolores Park
San Francisco, CA
A Leave No Trace park, encompassing nearly 16 acres, Mission Dolores Park is one of San Francisco’s most popular destinations, the vibrant heart of its equally vibrant, culturally diverse neighborhood. You’ll find lush green lawns shaded by tall palm trees, a soccer field, six tennis courts, one basketball court, a multi-use court, a playground, and two off-leash dog play areas.
Ghirardelli Square
San Francisco, CA
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre
San Francisco, CA
The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District of San Francisco, is a monumental structure originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in order to exhibit works of art presented there. One of only a few surviving structures from the Exposition, it is still situated on its original site. It was rebuilt in 1965, and renovation of the lagoon, walkways, and a seismic retrofit were completed in early 2009.
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco, CA
The California Academy of Sciences is a renowned scientific and educational institution dedicated to exploring, explaining, and sustaining life on Earth. Based in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, it is home to a world-class aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum, all under one living roof.
Not find what your looking for? Try one of these other cities. Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego.
