7 Must-visit Places in San Francisco

7 Must-visit Places in San Francisco

No visit to San Francisco is complete without visiting some of the most popular San Francisco tourist destinations. Here is a sampling of seven must-see places you have to check out on your next visit:1) California Palace of the Legion of HonorLocated at 34th Avenue & Clement Street, The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is an art experience you won't want to miss. First off, there's the building itself. Built in 1924, the Legion of Honor is a three-quarter scale replica of the Palais de La Légion d'Honneur in Paris, built to honor the 3,600 Californians who lost their lives on the battlefields of France during World War I. After being wowed by the building, you will probably want to view the collection of Rodin sculptures, as well as some other notable acquisitions, including Claude Monet's "The Grand Canal, Venice," 1908 and El Greco's "St. John the Baptist," circa 1600. 2) AlcatrazWho knew touring a former prison could become so popular? Alcatraz is a an island a few miles off the coast of San Francisco which had been used as a military prison in 1907, then as a Federal prison in the 1930s, housing the most hardened criminals. Some of its most famous prisoners include: George Kelly, bank robber and kidnapper, also known as "Machine Gun Kelly;" Floyd Hamilton, driver for Bonnie and Clyde; and Al Capone, Chicago Mob Boss, known as "Scarface."In 1973, Alcatraz was incorporated into the National Parks system and became a tourist attraction. Since then, over 14 million visitors have taken the 10-minute boat ride from Pier 41 in San Francisco to see 'The Rock'. Tickets generally sell out, sometimes weeks in advance. 3) ChinatownChinatown is home to the largest Asian population outside China , and is located in an area near North Beach, bound roughly by Grant Avenue and Bush Street, Broadway and Larkin Street. Here you'll find shopping and great food, including Mee Mee Bakery at 1328 Stockton between Broadway and Vallejo. Mee Mee's is reputed to be the originator of the fortune cookie. For great seafood, one of your best bets would be Yuet Lee at 1300 Stockton Street, near where North Beach and Chinatown merge. 4) Golden Gate ParkYou can easily spend an entire day at Golden Gate Park – and you should. It's great to just go there and walk, or sit and enjoy the day. But, if you're into exploring, there's certainly enough for you to explore, such as:The Strybing Arboretum - 70 acres of gardens with trails, blooming trees and redwoods, herbs, flowers and duck ponds. Stow Lake - where you can rent paddleboats and bicycles. Spreckels Lake – where you can watch the miniature radio-controlled boat races.Bison Paddock – Located along John F. Kennedy Dr., the Bison Paddock is an exhibit of the San Francisco Zoo where you can see, what else, bison! 5) Union SquareUnion Square is the place to go for serious shopping. Bound by Stockton, Powell, Post and Geary, several buses run to the area and it's a short walk from many of the most commonly used hotels. There's also a BART and Muni (subway) exit at Market Street.Or, you can stay at the Grand Hyatt on Union Square and just walk from your room. Everywhere you walk in the Union Square area you'll find store after store after store, such as: Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Giorgiao Armani, H&M, Hermes, Baccarat and Gianni Versace. 6) Haight Ashbury ("The Haight")Well, it's not Union Square, but it might not be what you'd expect either. While Haight Ashbury was the center of "hippiedom" in the 1960s, the Haight today is home to exclusive boutiques, high-end vintage-clothing shops, hip clubs and cafés. No matter what you're into you'll find something you like in the Haight, whether it's a hemp bracelet, collectible kitchenware, punk t-shirts, skateboard gear, a Ben and Jerry's ice cream or a vintage gown costing over $1,000. While you're in the neighborhood you can walk by former houses of 1960s musicians, including the former home of the members of the Grateful Dead at 710 Ashbury, the former home of Janis Joplin at 112 Lyon, and the former home of the Jefferson Airplane at 2400 Fulton.7) Neighborhoods on the Muni Metro and Bus LinesOf course, San Francisco is more than just popular tourist spots. People actually do live there. Why not go to some not-so-touristy areas located along the bus and Muni Metro line routes and check out some really fun and unique neighborhoods, most of which have their own shopping areas? Neighborhoods you might want to visit and experience include: the Castro, which is the predominately gay neighborhood with many unique and fun shops along Castro Street; Noe Valley, a neighborhood of Victorians with a great shopping district along 24th Street; and the Inner Richmond, which many consider the "New Chinatown," with a great abundance of good Asian restaurants. You'll also find an old-time Irish pub, Irelands 32 at 3920 Geary Blvd., where you can enjoy live music any day of the week and live telecasts of sporting events from Ireland.

Gothic Clothing Your Own Style

Want to make a statement with your clothing and style? You can set your style out from the crowd with the use of gothic clothing that can be purchased online. Gothic clothing represents a time when witchcraft, powers of the beyond, and beliefs were considered to be evil. If you want to set your own style with the use of gothic clothing, you can find shirts, pants, dresses, tanks, tops even jewelry and makeup that will include the gothic look for an overall complete appeal to your being. Gothic clothing is often times including the use of black, red, and sometimes whites and bold yellow or red in the material that is used. The black gothic clothing represents the dark feeling that someone wants to portray, but that was back in a day. Now black gothic clothing is a style, one that is going to provide you with a slim, sexy even sultry appeal in your crowd. The gothic clothing you purchase online can be different from anyone else in the club if you mix and match the accessories that are also available to match that outfit. Have you ever been to a play or a drama movie that includes the use of gothic clothing? If you are trying to break into the action scene, that is going to put you in a time when gothic clothing is worn all the time, you should purchase gothic clothing now, and put yourself into this everyday scene and feel now, so you are ready when you go to the audition for that gothic situation. You can find gothic clothing actually quite comfortable, providing you a feeling of power as you wear it and it takes you to a time in history that is different from where we are now. Gothic clothing lines are often times going to be geared towards those who want to create a feeling an atmosphere that is secretive but revealing at the same time. Gothic clothing is going to show off the curves of your body, the slightest hint of sexiness while still covering those needed and required to be covered in public. The corset in particular is one that is fun, and will show off what you have without revealing too much skin at the same time. You can mix and match the gothic clothing of your choice for an overall appeal that is going to be exciting and bold at the same time. Gothic clothing is available for purchase online, now, and in just a few days you can be out on at the club, showing off your new style.