San Francisco - Places to see and things to do

San_Francisco Airport Rent-A-CarCorporation in South Portland, Maine. Shortly thereafter
The Cliff Houseshe entered service, operated by Grace Line for the
The first Cliff House was a modest structure built inWar Shipping Administration. Named for the first
1863 by Masters Butler and Buckley. The guestAmerican to capture a British naval vessel during the
register bore the names of three U.S. Presidents asRevolutionary War, the O'Brien made seven World
well as prominent San Francisco families such as theWar II voyages, ranging from England and Northern
Hearsts, Stanfords and Crockers who would driveIreland to South America, to India, to Australia. She also
their carriages out to Ocean Beach for horse racingmade eleven crossings of the English Channel carrying
and recreation. In 1881, the Cliff House was sold topersonnel and supplies to the Normandy beaches in
Adolph Sutro, a self made millionaire, philanthropist andsupport of the D-Day invasion. After the war, she was
later a mayor of San Francisco. Seven years later,"mothballed" and laid up in the Reserve Fleet at Suisun
Sutro built a railroad to bring the general public to thisBay, north of San Francisco. Thirty-three years later,
seaside attraction. On Christmas Day 1894, the Cliffskillful maneuvering by a U.S. Maritime Administration
House was destroyed by fire.official (himself a former Liberty ship sailor) saved the
Fisherman's WharfO'Brien from the scrap yard. In 1979, after hundreds of
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco's most popularhours labor by volunteer crew members to remove
destination. Known for its historic waterfront, deliciousthick layers of preservatives, the O'Brien headed for
seafood, spectacular sights and unique shopping,San Francisco to be restored. No other ship ever has
Fisherman's Wharf offers a wide array of things to dosteamed out of the mothball fleet under her own
for everyone. Our fabulous location in the 'City by thepower.
Bay', puts you within minutes of the Maritime Museum, 
Alcatraz, Coit Tower and everyone's favorite, theSan Francisco Zoo
world famous San Francisco Cable Car lines.The new Zoo is becoming a reality. In Summer 2002,
Fisherman's Wharf offers some of the most incrediblethe new Lipman Family Lemur Forest opened along
views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gatewith a whole new main entrance experience for
Bridge and the cityscape.visitors. The lemur forest features five different
 species of these amazing primates from Madagascar
Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf - San Franciscoin a large outdoor setting. And not only will you find the
There is something for everyone at PIER 39, Sanmain entrance facing the Pacific Ocean, you'll find all
Francisco's #1 Attraction, a festival marketplace withnew services just for you! The Friend and Taube
more than 110 stores, 13 bay view restaurants, andFamily Entry Village offers a new gift shop, restrooms,
variety of fun-filled attractions for all ages including,and membership and information booths. It will be a
splashy sea lions, street performers and live dailycentral place for you to meet up with friends and
entertainment.family. You'll also enjoy the new Leaping Lemur Cafe
Mission Doloresthat offers an indoor dining experience with a wide
The mission called Dolores was founded October 9,variety of food choices including personalized,
1776. The padres chose a site for Mission Sanmade-to-order pasta and pizza. And near the the
Francisco de Asis beside a little inlet called LagunaCafe, don't miss the intricate restoration of the famed
Dolores. The nearby pueblo was named Yerba Buena.Dentzel Carousel.
As time went by the town took the name of SaintOakland Zoo
Francis, while the mission more popularly becameThe Oakland Zoo is nestled in the rolling hills of
known as Dolores. Even though located beside one of525-acre Knowland Park. Each year thousands of
the finest harbors in all the world, Mission Dolores wasfamilies and school groups from around the Bay Area
handicapped from the outset by lack of suitable spacecome to visit 440 native and exotic animals that live in
for agriculture, competition for that space from thenaturalistic habitats at the Zoo.
citizens of the Spanish pueblo, and the damp andMetreon. A Sony Entertainment Centeris a
foggy climate. Initially the Indians were greatly attractedfirst-of-its-kind entertainment and technology
to the mission, but ample food and protection frommarketplace. Covering 350,000 square feet on four
enemies had to be measured against fatal epidemicslevels, Metreon houses 15 movie theatres, an IMAX
of measles, the worldly attractions of the pueblo, andtheatre, three interactive attractions, nine restaurants
the free life of "unenlightened" brothers across the bay.and world-class shopping.
Ghirardelli SquareTransamerica Pyramid
Ghirardelli Square, a historic San Francisco destination,When plans for the new Transamerica Corporation's
offering shopping San Francisco style, waterfrontheadquarters in downtown San Francisco were
dining near Fisherman's Wharf, art galleries, familyunveiled in 1968, there was public outcry. Many people
events, walking tours and more. Find out why we'reclaimed that a pyramid-shaped skyscraper didn't
one of San Francisco locals' favorite fun things to do inbelong in their city. But today, it's impossible to imagine
San Francisco and why San Francisco visitors lovethe San Francisco skyline without the grace and
Ghirardelli Square!symmetry of the Transamerica Pyramid. The
Fort Mason FoundationTransamerica Pyramid has become a source of great
It is the responsibility of the Fort Mason Foundation topride to San Franciscans and an icon of San Francisco
administer and develop this unique cultural, educational,recognized worldwide, along with the city's famous
and recreational center in partnership with the Nationalcable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Park Service. Fort Mason Center, located in the historicSan Francisco Flower Mart
piers and buildings of Lower Fort Mason, offers aWith beginnings paralleling the growth and development
variety of activities of the highest quality at minimum orof the San Francisco Bay Area, the origins of the San
no cost, suitable for all ages and interests. This formerFrancisco Flower Mart go back to the late 1800's
military base offers the opportunity to experiencewhen land was plentiful. Local flower growers could
diversity in a unique environment, focusing on the visualbring their product to Lotta's fountain in downtown San
and performing arts, humanities, education, ecology, andFrancisco three days a week, selling their product to
recreation. A National Historic Landmark and part oflocal flower shops. A need for a centrally located
the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Centermarket bringing together the three ethnically diverse
houses more than 40 nonprofit organizations and is thegroups of flower growers was fulfilled with the
setting for more than 15,000 meetings, conferences,opening of a market located at 5th and Howard
performances, and special events, attended by 1.5Streets in 1924. As flower growers expanded
million visitors each year.production areas outside of the Bay Area and as
Bay Area Sports Hall of Fameproduct from other parts of United States came in, the
STRYBING ARBORETUM SOCIETYneed for a larger more modern permanent facility led
The mission of the Strybing Arboretum Society is toto the design and construction of our current market at
create a community to actively support the GardensSixth and Brannan Streets in the South of Market area
with fundraising, promotion and advocacy, and toof San Francisco.
provide outstanding botanical, horticultural andThe Embarcadero Center
environmental education opportunities for people of allRussian church in San Francisco - Russian Orthodox
ages.Church Of Our Lady Of Kazan (ROCOR) and Church
S.S. Jeremiah O'BrienMemorial to Russian Royal New Martyrs at 5717
In June 1943 the Liberty Ship S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien slidCalifornia St. San Francisco, CA 94121 USA.
down the ways at the New England Shipbuilding