The city BY THE BAY
Only seven miles square, San Francisco boasts some heady inclines, historic quarters and the dazzling Golden Gate Bridge
Why go?
WORDS: HELENA CARTWRIGHT PHOTOS: GETTY, ALAMY
Famous for its beautiful waterfront, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of architecture and soaring orange bridge, San Francisco has so much to offer. The hardest part is deciding where to go first… well, that and packing for the city’s famously unpredictable weather.
Some of the steep inclines are frankly stomach-dropping
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CHECK OUT THE WATERFRONT
San Francisco’s waterfront neighbourhoods have some fabulous views and utterly different personalities. Start your walk at or near Pier 24 beneath the Bay Bridge, then walk northwest towards the Ferry Building and Pier 39. Between the two locations, a former
maritime no-man’s-land now houses the relocated Exploratorium, as well as a $90-million cruise-ship terminal; Alcatraz Landing; wonderful artisan food shops; fashionable waterfront restaurants and pedestrian-friendly piers. For a special meal, try delicious Peruvian food at La Mar (lamarsf.com). Split into three spaces – a rustic happy-hour bar, an airy dining room and a large patio with an unobstructed view of the bay – its overall ambience is welcoming and calm. It’s a sharing menu, so order plenty and tuck in! Try the flat iron steak skewers with accompanying cocktail.
The Golden Gate Bridge
Nothing beats the view from perhaps the USA’s most famous bridge. The spectacular icon towers 746ft above the Golden Gate Strait, the narrow entrance to San Francisco Bay. You may spot one of the daredevil painters who frequently repaint the bridge as part of the maintenance programme. On a clear day, hop aboard a vintage fire engine for a 90-minute tour (sanfranciscofireengine tours.com), which The iconic bridge crosses the bridge.
is repainted on an ongoing basis
