You are hereNear Marin Attractions and Activities to do:
Near Marin Attractions and Activities to do:
Bay Area sights Outside Marin County:
Besides Marin County, there are many places to explore around the bay that are exciting and beautiful, plus easy to get to!
(Click on location interested in for list of possiblilities)
Cable Car, Alcatraz, Chrissy Field, Pier39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghiradelli Square, Union Square, Lombard Street, China Town, North Beach's "Little Italy", Coit Tower, Haight Ashbury, Historic Victorians; The "Painted Ladies" row., Fisherman’s Wharf
Museums:
DeYoung, Ansel Adams Center, Fine Arts Museum, Legion of Honor, China Tea Garden, Steinheart Aquarium
Cable Car: A fantastic "San Francisco Treat"! Take the trolley and experience the hills, sights, and flavor of San Francisco! A must do!
Alcatraz: Visit the famous prison that sits in the middle of the bay. Enjoy magnificent views there, on the island, and on the way back while learning history and possibly getting locked up!
Chrissy Field: Spend a day biking through the area on the way to the Golden Gate Bridge and taking a break to enjoy a snack. Beautiful views of the city, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge in every direction, not to mention historical buildings and artifacts along the way. A great beach at the east end of Crissy Field is very popular for windsurfers and kite surfers. The summer winds build in the early afternoon and make great sailing of any type!
Pier 39 / Fisherman’s Wharf / Ghiradelli Square: Very much a tourist destination, but worth it! Fun filled streets include wax museums, great dining, Views to die for! Don’t miss Pier 39 where the Seals have taken over the docks to the dismay of the boat
owners- the tourist and animal lovers of the bay area have declared these docks for the seals! It is a magnificent opportunity to see Seal community lifestyle upfront. Definitely a must see for tourists and locals alike!
Union Square: Downtown San Francisco Shopping Mecca. Top stores exhist here such as Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc... all the big guys and some powerful small boutiques! Great dining.
Lombard Street: Known as the most "Crooked street in the world", Lombard street consists of a steep, one-block section, tight hairpin turns.. The Powell-Hyde cable car line stops at the top of this block.You can take the trolley here on your way to Fisherman’s Wharf.
China Town: Outside China, San Francisco has the largest population of Chinese people. Experience authentic Chinese food and culture in San Francisco.
"Little Italy": Few places manage to be popular with the locals and the tourists, but Little Italy is just one of those places. Great Italian fare, checkered tablecloths complete much of the café and Italian delicatessen “scene”.
North Beach is also loved for its history of embracing the Beat generation, such as Kerouac and Ginsberg. For those that want more then poems and pasta, don’t worry, North Beach offers much more. Enjoy some of the best nightclubs and bars in North beach. In the daytime, boutique shopping on upper Grant can’t be beat (no pun intended).
Union Square: Great City shopping and dining. Includes big name stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstroms and Macys! It is also the beginning of the line to catch the San Francisco Trolley car!
Coit Tower: Built atop Telegraph Hill in 1933. Fantastic 360 degree views of the city and bay area. Historic murals decorate the inside, depicting San Francisco in the 30’s.
Haight Ashbury: The district is famous for its role as a center of the 1960s hippie movement. Modern counterculture happend here. Cute Victorians. Excentric Boutiques.
Historic Victorian Home Viewing: The "Painted Ladies" row in San Francisco gives you a beautiful glimpse of the bygone era- the Victorian era. Visitors who would want to learn more about its rich history, the Victorian lifestyle, and architecture can join the regular Victorian Walking Tour every Sunday at 2:00pm (check www.sfcityguides.org for more information about this tour).
Fisherman’s Wharf:
Museums: such as DeYoung, Ansel Adams Center Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, the legion of honor, China Tea Garden & Steinheart Aquarium to name a few.
UC Berkeley: UC Berkeley ranks first nationally in the number of graduate programs in the top 10 in their fields. This is a fine university, very liberal, and makes the heart of downtown Berkeley. Enjoy the main street that runs up to it, with cafe's, boutiques, novelty shops, and good eats! Check-out the universities website for performances, theatre, sports and special events!
website: http://berkeley.edu/life/ent.shtml
- CalBears.com: Official site of California Golden Bears intercollegiate athletics; includes sports news, ticket sales, traditions, boosters clubs, schedules, broadcasts, and more.
- Campuswide calendar: Comprehensive, searchable calendar of campus events, organized by date and type.
- Cal Performances: Showcase for performing artists and cultural luminaries — from cellist Yo-Yo Ma to jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves and economist Paul Krugman.
- Berkeley Art Museum: Permanent and visiting art exhibitions, featuring established and emerging artists from around the world.
- The Greek Theatre: The traditional venue for Commencement, the Bonfire Rally, and other campus events — and a great place to hear live music.
Ikea: Not really a tourist attraction, but you'd be surprised at how popular this store is, which is located right next to Berkeley, in a small area city called Emeryville.
Website: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/store/emeryville
Wine Tasting: World known for it’s great wines and majestic vineyard scenery. Big labels are rooted here such as Mondavi, Beringer, Sterling, Fetzer, Clos du Val, Sutter Homes, the list goes on!
Nascar racing:
http://www.nascar.com/
Lake Berryessa:
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/field_offices/lake_berryessa/visitor_info/index.html
Natural Geysers:
http://www.oldfaithfulgeyser.com/
Hot Springs:
http://www.napavalley.com/thingstodo/spas/featured.html
Wine Tasting: Not as well known as Napa Valley, but certainly just as good! Numerous wineries and Napa vineyards grow grapes here.
http://www.sonoma.com/wineries/alphalistings.html
Petrified Forests: A short trail of petrified redwood trees from a volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helena three million years ago. Most of the trees were over 2,000 years old when covered by the ash, and are now petrified. Worth a stopping by if on a road trip. California Landmark #915.
Address: 4100 Petrified Forest Road, Calistoga, CA
http://www.petrifiedforest.org/directions.html
Coastline: Beautiful Northern California scenery.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=451
Train Town: Fantastic for young kids and train enthusiasts. Nice scenery as well.
http://www.traintown.com/
Lake Sonoma:
Located in the beautiful coastal foothills of Northern California is Lake Sonoma which is surrounded by Sonoma County vineyards and land rich in history. Provides a wealth of recreation activities. Camping boating, hiking, horseback riding, & mountain biking.
See website(s):
http://www.parks.sonoma.net/laktrls.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warm_Springs_Dam
Also:
Fish Hatchery: Call (707) 433-9483
Lake Sonoma Winery: http://www.lakesonomawinery.com
Monterey Bay Aquarium:
One of the largest aquariums in the world! Sealife on exhibit includes stingrays, jellyfish, sea otters, and numerous other native marine species, which can be viewed above and below the waterline. The Great White Shark has even been on exhibit here for 138 days!
The aquarium is organized into three institutions, Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation, the Support Services, which manages the property, and the Research Institute, which operates three ocean-going research vessels. Unbelievably large tanks exhibit the special Monterey sealife!
Website: http://www.mbayaq.org/vi/
Pebble Beach: Pebble Beach is a small coastal unincorporated community in Monterey County, California and is best known for its famous golf course. However, the scenery and coastline is beautiful!
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pebble_Beach,_California
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk:
Located on a mile of sandy beach and voted the world’s Best Seaside Amusement Park in 2007, the 101-year old Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk features both modern and classic thrill rides, restaurants, miniature golf, video game arcades, and family bowling.
The admission-free Boardwalk offers affordable ticket options and free summer entertainment. A truly unique California experience!
Website: http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
