THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT ON YOUR HOLIDAY TO SAN FRANCISCO

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THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT ON YOUR HOLIDAY TO SAN FRANCISCO - If you are planning a holiday to America sometime soon then how about a trip to San Francisco? San Francisco is a destination that is often overlooked in favor of the more popular hotspots of Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. However, there is a vast amount to see and do on a trip to San Francisco, so you can be sure that you will have a huge pick of attractions to visit and places to go.

There are plenty of flights from UK airports to San Francisco, with direct flights available from major airports such as London Heathrow and Gatwick taking around 11 hours to touch down in San Francisco.

No visit to San Francisco would be complete without visiting the city’s famous landmarks, but to experience the San Francisco culture, taking a wander through its streets is a great way to get a feel for this vibrant city. Here are some places you may want to check out on your visit:

Historic Places

Alcatraz Island is probably one of the best-known destinations in San Francisco and attracts plenty of tourists all curious to see inside this infamous prison building. Enjoy a boat trip over to Alcatraz Island and then see inside a building which was once home to a whole host of notorious criminals.

Wander through San Francisco’s Chinatown, and you will get a real feast for the senses. Take in the sight of the beautiful historic buildings here, browse Chinatown’s shops and stop for a bite to eat at one of its many eateries.

Fisherman’s Wharf offers a mix of history, nature, shopping, attractions, and culinary delights, so it is little wonder that it is a must-visit destination for so many tourists. Here you will see historic ships, fishing boats and delicious fresh seafood for sale. Boat trips are also available from Fisherman’s Wharf, enabling you to enjoy the cityscape from the water as you travel around San Francisco Bay. Surprisingly, at Fisherman’s Wharf, you will also find some well-known attractions that you would expect to find back home in the UK. Here in San Francisco they also have their own popular home of waxwork celebrities, Madame Tussauds along with the San Francisco Dungeons. Expect all the usual terror of live actors scaring the wits out of you as you would find back in London, but here they will educate you on the dark past of the San Francisco Bay area.

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Food and Drink

Are you looking for a whole new dining experience on your holiday? If so, head to Pier 39, here you can enjoy some delicious seafood while surrounded by sea lions! As well as sea lions you will find an array of restaurants and shops here, but the sea lions are sure to be the thing that you remember most about visiting Pier 39.

Discover some locally-produced hidden gems at Ferry Building Marketplace. From tasty chocolate through to high-quality meat, you will find it all at Ferry Building Marketplace.

Love ice cream? Who doesn’t! You will find plenty of it at the San Francisco Museum of Ice Cream. Yep, that’s right, a whole museum dedicated to ice cream! During your visit, you will get to take a tour of the factory, and the opportunity to sample loads of the flavors along the way! The San Francisco Museum of Ice Cream is like the frozen dessert equivalent of Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory; there is even a sprinkle pool that you dive into! Tickets have to be booked in advance, so this is a visit to plan into your itinerary if you are planning to take a trip here.

Head to Divisadero Street to take your pick of restaurants; you are sure to find something here that will satisfy your taste buds. Divisadero Street is jam-packed with restaurants of all kinds, from Ethiopian cuisine to Italian favorites, there is something here to suit everyone’s tastes.

Shopping

If you are in search of some serious retail therapy, then head to Union Square. Union Square in San Francisco’s biggest shopping destination and is also home to plenty of places to eat for when you need a pit stop.

If you prefer your shops to be more original than mainstream, then check out the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. This laid back part of the city is home to thrift stores for those that love a bargain and an opportunity to pick up something unusual. You will also find places to eat here and plenty of street art to check out as you explore the area.

Pamper Yourself

Wherever you stay in San Francisco, you can be sure that there will be somewhere amazing to pamper yourself nearby. San Francisco is home to a vast choice of spas, salons, and clinics to get you feeling revived, and refreshed.

A treatment is a perfect antidote to a hard day of sightseeing! Whether you want a massage, a hair treatment or fancy soaking in a rooftop spa enjoying views of the stunning cityscape, you will find somewhere here to do it.

Get Prepared

San Francisco is incredibly hilly, so it’s a good idea to bring shoes that you will feel comfortable wandering around in as you scale the city’s sometimes steep slopes.

Another practical tip to remember when you’re packing for your trip is that San Francisco has microclimates and is prone to fog, so you may need to pack clothes for all eventualities so that you aren’t freezing or uncomfortably hot.