San Francisco travel tips
January 19th, 2010 by admin
Use your Go San Francisco Card to take the Alcatraz Island Tour for an additional $13* for an adult ticket (regularly $26) and an additional $8* for a child (regularly $16). To get these rates, present your valid Go San Francisco Card at the Alcatraz Landing Ticket Booth to redeem this offer (subject to availability).
The Alcatraz Island Tour includes round-trip ferry to Alcatraz Island and a 45 minute self guided cell house audio tour. No one can tell the Alcatraz tale like the men and women who actually lived it and the award-winning Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour brings history alive through the actual voices of the correctional officers and inmates who served time and worked on the island.
The tour is available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, and Mandarin. Allow approximately 2 1/2 hours for the full tour experience and dress appropriately.
In addition to getting you the above rate on the Alcatraz ferry and tour, the Go San Francisco card gets you into 50 San Francisco area attractions for FREE as the full cost of those admissions are covered by the price of the card. That’s something no coupon or travel deal can top. See the full list of all the museums, tours, and attractions that accept the Go San Francisco Card.
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
May 12th, 2009 by admin
California Academy of Sciences is now part of the Go San Francisco Card. Holders of San Francisco’s best attraction pass now get free entry to the Academy along with 50 more of the Bay Area’s best things to see and do.
After nine years of planning, four years of construction and $488 million, the new California Academy of Sciences recently opened its doors to the world. The new Platinum LEED certified museum is the only place on the planet to combine an aquarium, natural history museum, the world’s largest all-digital planetarium, and a rain forest dome under a 2.5-acre living roof.
With the addition of the California Academy of Sciences, the Go San Francisco Card’s convenience, cost savings and flexibility for visitors to the city is now that much better. Customers choose one, two, three, five or seven day cards at a low, pre-paid price. Customers have the ability to use the card to gain access to an unlimited number of attractions each day from 9:00am to 5:30pm and the Card also provides discounts at popular restaurants and shops and the ability to skip the lines at many attractions. Each Go Card also comes with a color-printed, pocket-sized guidebook full of maps, travel tips and itineraries for San Francisco.
“The ‘do more, see more’ vacation mantra is still valid, but it’s getting rounded out with ‘and do it for less,’” said Cecilia Dahl, Founder and President of Smart Destinations. “By adding the California Academy of Sciences to our roster of San Francisco attractions, we’re proud to offer our customers the ability to visit a museum that is so rich in history and knowledge – a real ‘must-see’ in San Francisco.”
“Officially the greenest museum in the world, we’re thrilled to be able to welcome additional visitors to experience all that the Academy has to offer under its mission to ‘explore, explain and protect the natural world,’” said Richard Peterson, Director of Travel Industry Sales at the California Academy of Sciences.
It really is a one-of-a-kind place: you can peer in on an albino alligator living in a swamp, get close to a colony of penguins or watch sharks and rays slither through their tank. Then you can walk through the four-story rain forest where you wind your way through Borneo’s Bat caves, see chameleons of Madagascar, climb into the tree-tops of Costa Rica and descend by elevator into an Amazonian flooded forest.
Throughout the week there are daily programs and activities at the exhibits including Coral Reef Dives, Penguin Feedings, and a Swamp Talk about the inhabitants native to swamps in the southeastern United States.
So if you are visiting the Bay Area, be sure to check out this amazing new attraction.
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
April 8th, 2008 by susan j
Olympic Torch relay in London, England Photo uploaded by
This morning around 4 am, the Olympic Torch reached San Francisco. Earlier protests in Paris and London have prompted San Francisco officials to ramp up security at San Francisco International Airport and around the city. The relay is planned for an undisclosed route near Fisherman Wharf and San Francisco’s waterfront. Since San Francisco is the only torch top in North America, protesters from around the country are expected to turn out for the event.
If you are planning to visit San Francisco attractions in the Fisherman’s Wharf or Embarcadero areas today or tomorrow, please allow extra travel time due to the Olympic Torch relay. There will be street closures and delays to service on public transportation during the time of the relay so make plans accordingly. If you’re a Go San Francisco cardholder, and you’ve made a reservation for Alcatraz Cruises, please arrive at Pier 33 at the Embarcadero one hour before scheduled departure time.
If you’re attending the Olympic Torch relay as a spectator (or even a protester), then leave a comment and tell us about your experiences!
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
March 21st, 2008 by amy c
San Francisco’s Castro Theater Photo uploaded by
San Francisco’s pride and commitment to community oozes out of every bar, restaurant, hangout, and street fair in the Castro, most well known for its accepting and liberal politics and environment. The Castro community represents the epitome of San Francisco flair from the steep streets and brightly colored Victorians to the large gay community and liberal feel.
In fact, the San Franciscan liberalness is a main tourist attraction in of itself. The streets are also sprinkled with funky boutiques and lively bars. Home to the most beloved street fairs in the Bay Area and perhaps beyond, the area attracts 500,000 participants and spectators at the annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration Parade every June and at the Castro Street Fair every October.
As seen through its popular annual parades, the Castro has a rich history of activism and a sense of community that dates back to the 1960’s and 70’s. Home to one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., Harvey Milk, the area is well known for its revolutionary strides and commitment to AIDS research. To learn more about how the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community has influenced San Francisco, check out the GLBT Museum. (more…)
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
March 19th, 2008 by jamie a
San Francisco Photo uploaded by
Maps can cost a lot of money, but are beyond useful when trying to navigate a new city. After you’ve picked up your Go San Francisco Card, check out these great maps for bargain travelers!
Budget Travel just alerted us to the concept of , which are free travel guides to places all over the world with local, zoom-able maps, and marked attractions.These guides are great for planning out itineraries based on your personal interests as well, providing all sorts of suggestions based on your preferences.
We’d love to hear what you think should be included for those traveling to San Francisco! What are your favorite attractions? Let us know in a comment!
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
March 14th, 2008 by amy c
San Francisco Marina photo uploaded by
Where can you find the posh residents of Pacific Heights on a weekend afternoon? On the Marina green, of course! This long, flat strip along the northern edge of the bay not only attracts joggers and sunbathers, but also offers views of Alcatraz and scenic Marin County. The sight of San Franciscans flying kites and picnicking on the green may inspire you too put down your full itinerary and enjoy a laid-back, Californian day along the water.
Or the sight of the oh-so-fit and active locals may inspire you to add an exercise element to your vacation by picking up your own set of wheels at Bay City Bike Rentals, where you can cycle along the majestic coast and historic Presidio.
The green is not the only playground for locals and visitors in this culturally rich and perfectly manicured neighborhood– cute and trendy boutiques speckle Chestnut and Union Street and the interactive science museum, Exploratorium, and the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts grace the area.
Where to eat:
Marina Submarine on Union Street has been attracting hoards of city kids for generations for its delicious sandwiches and cheap prices. Though a favorite among cash-poor high school and college students, the good food and great deal can bridge any age gap. Marina Subs is the perfect place to pick up picnic food to eat out on the green after a long day of shopping Chestnut and Union Street.
For a more sophisticated way to round off a day in the Marina, head to A16, where the food of Campania, Italy and the wood-fired pizzas of Naples await in this friendly neighborhood favorite.
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
March 6th, 2008 by amy c
Embarcadero photo uploaded by
There may be no other city that embraces its waterfront quite like San Francisco does, as parts of it are reminiscent of its seaside and fisherman roots. The Embarcadero, with its deep-water piers, ships from around the world, and expansive views of the bay, is a prime example of San Francisco’s love of the water. The area attracts joggers, strollers, street performers, and visitors captivated by the views and gorgeous architecture of city landmarks, such as the Ferry Buiding.
Here you can also get an impressive under-belly view of the beautiful, but less publicized, Bay Bridge, which connects San Francisco to the city of Oakland. The Embarcadero, with its wide, seven-mile promenade of sidewalks right along the water (within walking distance to the financial district), easy access to public transportation, and weekly farmer’s markets make it the perfect jumping off place for your San Francisco day. (more…)
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
March 4th, 2008 by amy c
San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood Photo uploaded by
This wealthy and historical neighborhood embodies the San Francisco you glimpse in movies, filled with ornate Victorian architecture and the characteristic hills that cinematographers love. The Hollywood vision and breathtaking views the heights allow of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge make this neighborhood a favorite among visitors. You can find high-end shopping as well lavish mansions, offering a glimpse into the legacy of luxury of Pacific Heights.
To get an insight into the history of the area—everything from how the nouveau rich first inhabited the neighborhood in the 1800s to the devastation of last century’s fire and earthquake—don your best walking shoes for the Pacific Heights Guided Walking Tour. (more…)
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
February 28th, 2008 by amy c
AT & T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants Photo uploaded by
South of Market, or SoMa as it is mostly referred to, is an up and coming neighborhood that got its start in the dot com era. Now it is a booming center for contemporary art and pop culture. The neighborhood boasts of fashionable nightclubs, a beautiful baseball stadium–home to the San Francisco Giants–and unusual museums that high light emerging artists from around the Bay Area and the eclectic feel of the city.
Though SoMa has much to offer locals and visitors alike, it is important to have a plan before you approach this sprawling and ever-developing neighborhood. To the unfamiliar explorer, the area may appear to be little more than busy streets and nameless buildings. But don’t let the sometimes-industrial exterior fool you, SoMa is quickly gaining recognition as one of the best places to become culturally enriched by day and entertained by night.
Perhaps start your SoMa experience after a stroll through the Embarcadero, which will put you close to the famed and recently renovated AT&T Park. During the summer you can spot droves of baseball fans, sporting their orange and black walking along the water toward this architectural landmark. Sneak a behind-the-scenes peek at the AT & T Park Tour and catch the breathtaking views of the bay and city that rival the action on the field. (more…)
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
February 15th, 2008 by susan j
Travel toiletries Photo uploaded by
Since I’m eagerly anticipating a vacation later this week, over at caught my eye. In it, a veteran traveler and blogger discusses ways to get around the TSA’s limit on liquids by using bar soap, solid shampoos, and other goodies in place of liquids. It sounds like a good idea, but I’m a little skeptical of washing my hair with something that’s shaped like a bar of soap. Anyone tried it? Leave a comment and let us know!
Planning a trip to
San Francisco?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Francisco Card.
