Sightseeing
in San Francisco, Part I
Downtown, Mission District,
Yerba Buena
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San Francisco offers a lot to resident and tourist alike. The city is world famous for its arts and culture, offers many diverse neighborhoods, and vies with New York for the title of Culinary Capitol of the US.
We basically gave in to the whole tourist vibe and took lots of pictures of the cityscape. This page and Part II both display some of the more interesting features.
 Our
hotel, just down the block from the corner of Bush and Powell. San
Francisco boasts a large number of "boutique" hotels,
and they're typically a better deal than the larger chains. The
atmosphere is more personal, and even though these are older properties
with smaller rooms, they have character. Vintage Court offers a
wine social in the afternoons from 5-6, and is connected to the
famed Masa's
restaurant. |
 The
skyline of San Francisco, seen from across the bay. This picture
was taken from the boat deck on the way to Alcatraz Island. You
can see the Transamerica pyramid and part of the SF/Oakland Bay
Bridge. |
 Union
Square: we have no idea what was up with the palm trees. Union Square
is the hub of downtown San Francisco, and is central to the city's
shopping district, which extends down to Market Street. |
 A
warm sunny day in the gardens at Yerba Buena, next to the Moscone
Convention Center. The gardens offer a fairly quiet place to walk
and relax amid the bustle of downtown. |
 This
is the promenade walkway along the top of the King Memorial Waterfall
in Yerba Buena. |
 We
never did figure out what these flowers were. However, the gardens
are planted with many diverse specimens. Azaleas were in bloom in
August! |
 The
San Francisco Marriott shows some of the stylish architecture in
the city. The water in the foreground is the top of the Martin Luther
King Jr. Memorial in the Yerba Buena gardens. The crowd below was
watching a dance performance, and because of the stage the memorial
was closed off to the public. So - no pictures... sorry. |
 Once
out of the downtown area, the landscape gives way to rolling hills
and residential neighborhoods. The style remains predominantly Victorian
with Spanish touches, most especially here in the Mission District. |
 A
stereotypical California residential street, complete with palm
trees and sun. |