If you are like most other people who move to this city, you will want to run out and explore as soon as your Bay Area movers carry in the last box. The biggest question is trying to figure out where to begin. Sure, you will have the rest of your life to explore, but there are a few places that you simply must visit first to truly appreciate this amazing city.
Bus Tour
Without a doubt, you want to jump on a double-decker bus, sit back and enjoy the view. This will give you an idea of just how much there really is to do and see here! You might want to take a notepad and pen and jot down places where you want to go another day. If you have time, hop off and walk around a little and hop back on the next one that comes along.
Cable Car Ride
Unless you have been living under a rock or have never watched any movies, you have to know what a cable car is. You always see people running to jump on one and ride away in classic movies; these cable cars an icon of San Francisco. They are a little slow, but you can see a lot in a couple hours if you sit back and ride around.
Golden Gate Bridge
This will be at the top of many lists. The Golden Gate Bridge is the most enduring symbol of the West Coast, especially at sunset when the brilliant reflection glistens off the orange arches with the rocky seascape in the background. The best way to enjoy the bridge is rent a bike and ride across. There are bike rentals all around it as well as souvenir shops, eateries, and public restrooms.
Alcatraz
The most famous prison in the country is found here and you can tour it. You have probably heard plenty of stories about the inmates constantly trying to escape, but there is a lot more to this place than you realize. Book a tour a few days in advance; you can rarely get a ticket if you just show up.
The Castro
It is no big secret that San Francisco is the birthing place to the gay and lesbian rights movement. This central neighborhood attracts all types of travelers and everyone here is friendly. In late October, this is where you will go for the Castro Street Fair.
Chinatown
Outside of Asia, this is where you will find the largest Chinatown. There are great places to eat, an abundance of shops and vendors to purchase souvenirs. Make sure you stop by the fortune cookie factory and finally learn how they get the fortunes magically inside.
Eat
If you ask your Bay Area movers what you should do first, they might tell you to eat. Who can blame them? There are more than 4,500 restaurants here as well as some of the best food trucks in the country. Thank goodness biking across the Golden Gate Bridge is so enjoyable, because you are going to need to burn a lot of calories!
