DK Travel : San Francisco

San Franciscans will, rather candidly, admit that they are the most fortunate people on earth, the occasional earthquake notwithstanding; and most visitors, after a few days of taking in the sights and sounds of this magnificent city, will agree. Ask anyone who has been here and they will tell you it’s their favorite US city. The geographical setting evokes so much emotional drama, the light seems clearer, the colors more vivid, the cultural diversity of the ethnic neighborhoods so captivating and inviting, that it’s a place almost everyone can fall in love with at first sight.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Second only to New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco’s newest architectural landmark houses 20th-century masterworks of painting, sculpture, and photography, and the edgiest digital installations.
San Francisco Shopping Center

The crown of San Francisco’s main shopping mall is Nordstrom, but there are some 100 shops and boutiques spread over its nine floors.
San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco Zoo is at the far southwest corner of the city, between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Merced. The complex is home to more than 1,000 species of birds, mammals, and insects, among which 20 are considered to be endangered – most notably the snow leopard, Bengal tiger, and jaguar. Gorilla World, Koala Crossing, and Children’s Zoo are particular hits, as are the feeding times for the big cats (2pm at the Lion House Tue–Sun), penguins (3pm Mon–Wed and 2:30pm Thu at Penguin Island), and the Asian elephants (1:30pm daily).
San Francisco Zoo

Direct encounters with farm animals at Family Farm, and visits with zoo babies, which may include gorillas, snow leopards, rhinos, or alpacas, make this a must-do for the youngsters. Although perhaps not the biggest or best zoo in the world, its attention to top-quality children’s programs, such as the many feeding times and the creepy-crawly insect denizens, make it one of the tops for budding zoologists. The whole landscaping of the place, from quirky castles to natural habitats, is also designed for maximum fun.
San Gregorio and Pescadero

San Gregorio, protected by cliffs, is the Bay Area’s oldest nudist beach. Pescadero, in addition to having a state beach with wonderful tidepools, is also a lovely town that looks like something out of the Old West, complete with a whitewashed wooden church. The thriving farming community produces asparagus and pumpkins.
San Gregorio Beach

Part of San Gregorio Beach, 11.5 miles (18.5 km) south of Half Moon Bay, is clothing-optional, but it requires a good hike down the cliffs to get to. The entire stretch is partly state park, and includes a protected, driftwood-strewn estuary at the back of a wide, sandy beach, with grassy bluffs along the coast. All along there are protected areas and inlets. The estuary is home to many birds and small animals (see San Gregorio and Pescadero).
San Jose

This sprawling town is an integral part of Silicon Valley enterprises and has popular attractions.
San Jose Sharks

Fast-paced ice hockey.
San Mateo Central Park

San Mateo Central Park 50 E. 5th Avenue San Mateo, CA 94401

Central Park is San Mateo’s signature park. It has lighted tennis courts, bocce ball courts, a playground and a baseball field.

Japanese Tea Garden The Japanese Tea Garden is one of the finest tea gardens in California and was designed by landscape architect, Nagao Sakurai of the Imperial Palace of Tokyo. It features a granite pagoda, tea house, koi pond and bamboo grove. The Japanese Tea Garden is beautiful throughout the year, but be sure to visit in the late Winter and early Spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. The Japanese Garden hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Koi fish feeding is twice daily at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. For more information about the Japanese Tea Garden, call (650) 522-7440.
San Rafael

Located in the heart of Marin County, this town has a charming historic center loaded with good restaurants and shops. When the street market takes over the main drag every Thursday evening, it’s transformed into an impromptu pleasure fair.