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news
San Francisco
boasts culture, diversity
By Tanya Dellaca
On-line Forty-Niner
Winter break is
approaching, but with the threat of terrorist activities still
looming, the idea of boarding a plane takes on a whole new
meaning for weary students.
Fortunately, for
Southern Californians leery of flying, San Francisco and the
Bay Area are close enough to reach by car, bus or train, and
are diverse enough to satisfy everyone's appetite.
Whatever the route
chosen to get to San Francisco, transportation is no longer
a worry, parking is. But with so much public transportation
available, why drive? The streets are filled with taxis driven
by the local tourist gurus adept at finding almost any location
with minimal information.
"I just told
the driver I wanted Italian food in an area with some gift
shops. The next thing I new I was in North Beach with many
restaurants to pick from," said Long Beach resident Ken
Gordon. "I travel a lot for work and San Francisco is
one of the easiest places to get around."
Part of the history
of San Francisco is the legendary cable cars. Who can visit
the city without trying them at least once? The cars are another
way to travel between San Francisco's most popular tourist
sites.
One tourist favorite
is the dragon-topped gates at the Grant Avenue and Bush Street
entrance to China-town. Visitors to Chinatown will find many
inexpensive imported items from China and the Far East including
linens, toys, incense and teas. Other more expensive shops
include items like Asian-style furniture, art, jewelry and
clothing. But when in Chinatown an authentic meal is a must.
Another traditional
San Francisco tourist stop featuring both shopping and food
is Fisherman's Wharf, the place for fresh seafood. The Wharf
mixes local harbor nostalgia with many street vendors selling
tourist items and food. Serving up freshly-caught steamed
crab and hollowed-out sourdough bread bowls filled with steaming
clam chowder, the vendors provide visitors with a way to keep
warm among the busy harbor's crisp bay breezes.
Other areas of
interest to visit in San Francisco are the Mission, the Embarcadero,
Union Square and the Financial District. But for those seeking
to avoid the conventional tourist traps and discover an alternative
side of San Francisco there are numerous Web sites with event
calendars, reviews and directions.
In a city with
so much to do, Bayinsider.com features events by topic and
provides schedules by day, week or month for a perfect custom
time out on the town. The site also features numerous links
to restaurant reviews and locations, underground music events
and clubs, museums and art exhibits and many others.
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