Holidays in San Francisco – California, USA
San Francisco holidays are a wonderful mix of spectacular scenery, great entertainment, world famous landmarks and some of the best shopping in California. Use the search bar above to check our great prices on West Coast tours of the USA and multi centre holidays that include San Francisco.
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San Francisco History
San Francisco was one of the first real footholds in California for the European settlers and explorers. The founding of Mission Dolores in 1776 (just pre-dating the Declaration of Independence) spelt the beginning of colonisation for the west coast of America and, ultimately, the end of the hunter-gathering lifestyle of the native Oholone people. Before this, Spanish and Portuguese explorers were probably the first European visitors to set foot on these shores, closely followed by the likes of Francis Drake. Drake spent time here re-supplying the Golden Hind and is said to have gotten on famously with the local people. He dubbed his little patch of the North Pacific, ‘Nova Albion' on the basis that the cliffs reminded this Englishman abroad of the White Cliffs of Dover.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century trading ships from Boston came to California and the Spanish towns and Missions to barter for otter and beaver pelts. Soon trappers and hunters began to drift eastwards into the state gradually swelling the population. Thirty or so years later and the discovery of gold meant that things would never be quite the same again.
These were wild and exciting times for this ‘city beyond the frontier' typified, perhaps, by characters like Essex born Joshua Norton, who declared himself Emperor of the United States and even had the temerity to abolish both the Democratic and Republican parties! In the mid 19th century San Francisco was still isolated by wild and inhospitable country from the rest of the fledgling United States – it was a long way further west than even ‘the Wild West'! The Panama Canal wouldn't open until 1914 leaving the Pony Express as the only established land-link with the East. The people of San Francisco had to wait until 1869 for the arrival of the first westbound train. However, the city continued to grow at break-neck speed until, in 1906, a devastating earthquake and fire destroyed many of the original wooden buildings. These days Napier Lane remains as the only wooden street in San Francisco.
The great depression of the late 1920's and the 1930's led to waves of immigration from dust-choked farms and idle factories right across America. But, although these were desperately tough times for many, huge building projects helped absorb the newest arrivals and really began to shape the city that exists today. Unlike their European counterparts, American mainland cities were spared the ravages of WWII and post-war prosperity quickly came to stay.
These days the city seems to teem with world famous landmarks like Alcatraz, the fantastic bridges of the 1930's and wonderful modern buildings like the Transamerica Pyramid. Film and television have made San Francisco instantly recognisable to almost everyone whether it's from '48 Hours', ‘The Maltese Falcon', ‘The Streets of San Francisco', ‘Ironside,' ‘Dirty Harry,' or perhaps 1968's ‘Bullitt' starring Steve McQueen, a Ford Mustang and possibly the best car chase ever filmed!
Shopping on a San Francisco Holiday
Shopping is close to the heart of many a Californian and San Francisco is one of the best places to shop in the entire state – no, make that the U.S.A.! Here are some tips about where to go and what you'll find on your holiday.
Union Square: an absolute must for the serious shopper! Famous names like Saks, Macy's and Gump's rub shoulders with hundreds of smaller boutiques. Market Street is often considered the Champs Elysees of the city. It's an imposing street – more of a boulevard, really - full of dramatic buildings, shops and hotels. At Pier 39, the third most visited attraction in the U.S., you'll find restaurants, shops, and all manner of entertainment. From here it's not far to Ghirardelli Square full of shops, restaurants and galleries set in beautifully renovated factory buildings.
Don't miss the San Francisco Centre on your holiday, home to over 60 stores and, this being America, the world's only spiral escalator!
San Francisco Landmarks
Where to begin? This is a city full of landmarks! Leaving aside the bridges – yes, that's bridges in the plural – how about starting at the beginning, with a visit to Mission Dolores? This is the oldest building in San Francisco and, thankfully, much of it is still completely original. Marvel at hand-carved altars, adobe walls, beautiful tiles and timbers held together with rawhide! By way of contrast, check out Fisherman's Wharf and attractions like the Wax Museum, Haunted Gold Mine, Laser Maze and Medieval Dungeon. Talking of dungeons, you can't come to San Francisco on holiday and not visit Alcatraz. These days the infamous former prison that claimed the lives of many a would-be escapee is now a national park.
Lovers of architecture could do worse than visit City Hall where the dome is actually a replica of the one crowning St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. This is where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were married - think 1950's all-American Posh and Becks and you're still only half way there! The marriage was rocky and short-lived; DiMaggio hated the limelight while Marilyn seemed to live for it. In a rare interview DiMaggio was once asked what it was like being with Monroe and replied: 'Better than rooming with Joe Page'.
On a more spiritual plane, Grace Cathedral is the largest Gothic structure in the West and famous for its magnificent gilded bronze doors. If you head downtown you'll find the Old Cathedral of St. Mary, the first Catholic church in California and an interesting comparison with St. Mary's Cathedral a mixture of old and new styles. There are many beautiful places of worship in the city, though sometimes you need to look carefully. The Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church is very beautiful and features a silver chandelier donated by Nicholas II, the last Russian Tsar, while the Sherith Israel, the oldest Jewish congregation in the city, was founded during the Gold Rush.
San Francisco Views
San Francisco's spectacular location means there are plenty of great views to be had on your holiday. Climb Telegraph Hill and be rewarded by a view of the entire ‘Bay. Similarly, Coit Tower, has an observation deck that provides great views of the city. And, don't forget, you can hardly say you've been to San Francisco without a trip down Lombard Street, ‘the crookedest street in the world'.
Bridges of San Francisco
If you think of San Francisco, chances are you'll think of the Golden Gate Bridge (primarily the work of Joseph Strauss). But spare a thought for Charles H. Purcell architect of the mighty Bay Bridge, the longest steel high-level bridge in the world. Its foundations are sunk deeper than any other the deepest pier being bigger than the largest of the pyramids and filled with more concrete than the Empire State Building!
Parks, Beaches & Zoos of San Francisco
San Francisco is home to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the largest urban national park in the world, covering some 74,000 acres of land and water. The Presidio National Park, once a former military installation has 1,500 acres of trails, beaches and brilliant views, while those seeking tranquillity in the city should try the Japanese Tea Garden that forms part of Golden Gate Park. Similarly soothing, the Yerba Buena Gardens features five acres of shade and murmuring fountains.
You don't need to spend very long here on holiday to realise that this is a city that's almost completely surrounded by water. It always seems fitting, therefore, to pay a visit to UnderWater World where the denizens of San Francisco Bay await. At San Francisco Zoo on the other hand, you can watch the penguins taking a late lunch.
If you feel inspired by the fish or the penguins head for China Beach where you'll enjoy the city's only safe swimming, as well as great views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
San Francisco Holiday Entertainment
Union Square and Union Street are good places to start if you're after holiday entertainment and nightlife. The theatre district is around Union Square and there is no shortage of choice and no lack of quality. Nightlife in San Francisco is varied, fascinating and fun. Union Street is home to many a chic hostelry while disco dancers should try the Minna Street Gallery for the best in modern disco and rather good cocktails too. You'll find plenty of great restaurants all over the city. For seafood and a great view Aqua is hard to beat albeit at a price; trendier (and cheaper) The Last Supper Club is a great place to see and be seen.
Of course for a real taste of San Francisco you should head for Chinatown (the largest Chinatown outside Asia) where anything from a pork roll, Dim Sum to an extensive (though not necessarily expensive) meal can be yours. While you're here take a little time to admire some of the wonderful buildings like the Bank of Canton (formerly the Chinese Telephone Exchange).
Getting Around San Francisco
When in Rome… well, you'd go by scooter or Ferrari, perhaps, but in San Francisco a cable car is the only way to travel! A three-day ‘Passport' for cable cars, street cars and buses will cost $15 and will take you almost anywhere you'd care to go.
The cable cars were the brainchild of Englishman, Andrew Hallidie, who tested his first car on Nob Hill in 1873. Four years previously Hallidie had witnessed four horses being dragged to the deaths as they attempted to pull a heavy load up one of San Francisco's many vertiginous hills. Hallidie's father had filed a patent for wire rope, the rope proving to be especially suited to pulling ore cars from California's mines. Once Andrew Hallidie had adapted this technology to literally pull his cable cars along, an institution was born.
Beyond the City
Outside San Francisco some of California's most beautiful scenery is within reach. Yosemite National Park and the resorts of Lake Tahoe and the Mammoth Lakes provide a real taste of the great outdoors as, indeed do trips to Death Valley and the Joshua Tree National Monument. Between the imperious Sierra Nevada and the coast lies the Central Valley, where some of California's most excellent wines are grown – well worth a trip! For a taste of those far off pioneering days try the state capital, Sacramento. Alternatively, why not hire a Harley or a big American gas-guzzler and cruise Route 66?
Cosmos Tourama Holidays in San Francisco
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