Trifter

Golden Gate Bridge

Completed in 1937 at a cost of $35 million the Golden Gate Bridge is an enduring symbol of San Francisco and America. 10,981 feet long and and 90 feet wide with 6 lanes of traffic and side lanes for pedestrian and bike traffic. The bridge is believed to be the most popular place in the world for suicides as its great height and beauty make it attractive to those who want to cheat life.

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Alcatraz Island

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Home of the famous Alcatraz Prison which was first used in 1861 to house Civil War prisoners. It remained a military prison until 1933 when it was purchased by the Department of Justice and turned into a Federal prison. It housed such famous criminals as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly for a time and has become famous for escape attempts made by inmates. Today the prison no longer houses inmates and is a big tourist attraction where you can rent audio devices to learn all about the prison’s colorful history.

Fisherman’s Wharf

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Home to many great restaurants, Shopping Centers, a number of museums and the Aquarium of the Bay. You can catch many street performers operating at the Wharf while you have a great seafood lunch or dinner. Catch the ferry to Alcatraz Island from here.

Golden Gate Park

A must visit in San Francisco this park is home to many great museums and other tourist attractions like the Japanese Tea Garden.

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Also in the park is the lovely Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, Academy of Sciences which a fine natural history museum, a number of lovely man made lakes and The Music Concourse. Golden Gate Park is the 3rd most visited park in the United States (behind Central park in New York City and Lincoln Park in Chicago).

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Cable Car System

Designated as a National Historic Landmark the Cable Car System in San Francisco has been in operation since 1873. It is the last permanently operational manually operated cable car system in the world. Today it is widely used by tourists and if not for tourists would almost certainly cease to exist. It’s a fun way to see parts of San Francisco.

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Lombard Street

A one way street that is billed as “the crookedest street in world”. Lombard street winds its way down hills with numerous switchback, hairpin turns. If you visit Lombard Street it’s best to go as a passenger in a car rather than be the driver because the driver will be too distracted by the crazy hairpin turns to enjoy the views (you’ll be distracted too even as a passenger!).

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Other great sites in San Francisco include Chinatown, the Presidio where you can get great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Telegraph Hill and the Victorian architecture on display in almost all neighborhoods.

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