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San Francisco: An Escapade to Paris of the Pacific
San Francisco flaunts the nickname "Paris of the Pacific" with a distinct elegance and undying charm. After all, tech and millennials are not the sole characteristics of the Bay area. From rows of painted Victorian homes to cable cars to famed historic districts to the iconic Golden Gate bridge, the city harbors a raft of attractions that blend Old-World appeal, American grandeur and an unmistaken local allure not found anywhere else. In a bustling metropolis as large as San Francisco, sightseeing can easily prove overwhelming, but the below pointers will bring order to the natural and man-made sites of the city.
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Before you venture out, however, spend some diligence picking the right luggage. Whether you are flying in from across the country or driving in from a neighboring state, SWISSGEAR 6283 makes any travel easier with its three soft-side cases – a carry-on of 21" and two larger pieces of 24.5" and 28". Unfolding into big and versatile storage spaces, equipped with tie-down straps, several side pockets and removable wet bags, the 6283 series is hoisted on 360-degree spinner wheels for maximum maneuverability and portability. With the possibility to expand in order to accommodate additional garments and essentials, each lightweight case, cloaked in long-lasting, rip-resistant fabric, exhibits the sturdiness and style to match San Francisco's unabating appeal.
So does SWISSGEAR 6677, a TSA-friendly ruck that unzips into two flat halves to streamline the process at the X-ray belt. An amalgam of different-sized pouches and departments, it has plenty of space for tablets and laptops as well as small travel necessities like sunglasses, phones and even a toothbrush. With padded contours, built-in suspensions, superb ventilation and intuitive silhouette, 6677 is truly airport-ready.
When it comes to a daily backpack to support your city shenanigans, however, SWISSGEAR 3598 is a trusted accomplice. In addition to its main compartment, it features several pouches for small accessories, including a pocket for ID cards, travel documents and credit cards. With a padded mesh airflow panel at the back and adjustable straps, it is a great pack to carry all day long.
An Iconic Destination
Begin your escapade to "Paris of the Pacific" at the most photographed bridge, Golden Gate, whose pair of orange towers looms over 700 feet above the San Francisco Bay as perpetual hallmarks of the city. Once considered "the bridge that couldn't be built," today, it is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. There are several vantage points close to the 4,200-foot span that afford spectacular opportunities for wallpaper-worthy snaps. The Baker Beach, Fort Point, the Golden Gate Overlook as well as Crissy Field reveal mesmerizing vistas, no matter whether the sun beams down or fog blankets the traverse from San Francisco to the Marin Headlands.
Another site where human construction genius transformed a stunning landscape is the Alcatraz Island, which lies in the Bay some 20 minutes to the east of Golden Gate bridge. The site of the inaugural lighthouse in the Western United States, Alcatraz morphed into a federal penitentiary in the 1930s. Once it held infamous convicts such as Al Capone, Robert "The Birdman" Stroud and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. Today, it is a part of the sprawling, 80,000-acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area but keeps its past alive with tours of the prison cells, which include narratives of the brazen escape attempts throughout the decades.
Mere mile-and-a-half away from Alcatraz rests the Fisherman's Wharf whose collection of vintage ships and boats – and USS Pampanito submarine – is well worth the see. The predominantly tourist area also comprises an old-time arcade, a multitude of rides and shops that can entertain the whole family for hours. Like many other parts of San Francisco, entertainment here comes with spectacular vistas of Pier 39's sea lions.
The daily anchoring ground for fishermen, the wharf bustles with eateries, whose menus are replete with delicious seafood. Try the vessel-shaped Franciscan Crab Restaurant, whose delectable mussels, oysters and crabs, among other offerings, come with a side of panoramic views of the Bay.
Close-by is the once raucous district of gambling and prostitution, Barbary Coast. Much of its unsavory reputation has now faded to let its historic hangouts shine. The City Lights Bookstore and Vesuvio Café are not-to-miss landmarks, and so is the Saints Peter and Paul Church, where Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe posed for pictures after they tied the knot.
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Where Different Cultures and History Coalesce
Part of the larger Barbary Coast is Chinatown, claiming the major Grant and Stockton avenues. It is the oldest as well as the biggest neighborhood of Chinese immigrants outside of their motherland. Here, both the culture and cuisine possess an allure that is, at once, foreign and universal. Many of the buildings that line the streets beyond the Dragon Gate, relay the history of the community, which has not always been propitious. Despite any ordeals, the enclave is often dubbed the birthplace of American-Chinese delicacies like Chop Suey and dim sum. Take a bite of the sumptuous meals Chinatown has to offer at Good Mong Kok Bakery, which daily draws lines of patrons.
From here head to the Cable Car Museum, where San Francisco's once iconic cable cars preserve their undying appeal. Propelled by a giant wheel that turns underground cables, few grace the streets – and only to drive tourism. A ride on one of the three remaining lines is a trip back in time, through some of the city's most coveted real estate on the original "Seven Hills," including Nob Hill and Russian Hill.
When it comes to marveling at San Francisco's architecture, there is no better place than 710 – 720 Steiner street, whose "Painted Ladies" – a string of brightly colored, Victorian-style houses – have featured in a slate of commercials, movies and TV series such as the popular Full House. While admirers cannot wander in the residences – people do live in them – the Alamo Square, on a gentle hill across them, presents the ideal spot for snapping photos of the elegant homes on the backdrop of the city's skyscrapers.
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The Green Spots
A mile or so to the west of the Alamo Square sprawls Golden Gate Park, the much huger, albeit less internationally renowned, cousin of New York's Central Park. Spanning more than 60 blocks and over 1,000 acres, the park consists of leisurely knolls and groves of trees and gardens that surround some of the city's most famed sites. The Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, and the Academy of Science rise along a multitude of hiking trails, a disk golf course and several bocce ball courts.
Another destination known for its exquisite vegetation and recreational opportunities is San Francisco Zoo and Gardens, which lies off the coast, less than 10 minutes away from Golden Gate Park by car. The zoo is home to over 250 species, including endangered and rescued animals. Its historic prominence and place in city life elevate the zoo into a must-visit site that offers much more than kid-friendly entertainment.
Any visit of San Francisco will find a fascinating finale at the Coit Tower, which has hulked over the city for almost a century. Named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, whose $118,000 bequest to the city resulted in the tower, the white construction boasts a roof deck with sweeping views of San Francisco and a ground level covered in murals of bygone times. With an expansive base anchored in the region's past and a top rising into the city's present, the Coit Tower is not only a great place for panoramic vistas and a quick lesson of the past; it is also a symbol of San Francisco, embodying the city's modern character and historic charisma that define its "Paris of the Pacific" nickname.
