When it comes to attractions, San Francisco has it all -- quality, quantity and remarkable variety.
Visitors to the city can view its skyline and shoreline by taking an inexpensive ferry ride, gain some cultural awareness at one of its many art and science museums, rent a bicycle and pedal through a huge expanse of park greenery, or check out the cutting edge of high-tech entertainment.
Just about anything is available in San Francisco; listed below are a few possibilities. Some, such as Golden Gate Park, have pulled in visitors for decades; others, such as the Metreon, are recent but have already established themselves as crowd pleasers.
Metreon
San Francisco's four-story, 350,000 square-foot Sony entertainment center is a video game fanatic's dream come true.
Located in the heart of the city's Yerba Buena Gardens, at the corner of Fourth and Mission streets, the nearly 1-year-old Metreon offers interactive, family-friendly attractions as well as shops, restaurants, movie theaters and San Francisco's first Sony-IMAX theater.
The main attraction at Metreon is its Airtight Garage, where the 21st century meets kid's play.
This upscale arcade, located on the second floor, offers virtual reality games that can be found only at Metreon, as well as myriad video games certain to delight both kids and adults.
It also offers a full bar, which may or may not enhance one's game playing abilities.
Bowling enthusiasts will not want to miss HyperBowl, the ultimate virtual bowling experience. In the game, the ball's path is represented on a large screen projecting one of four worlds -- San Francisco in 2099, a Roman garden, a traditional bowling alley, and an ancient ship on a windy day. In the San Francisco scenario, for example, a player must steer the ball up and down the streets of the city, dodging cable cars and other obstacles in an attempt to hit the pins at the end.
HyperBowl costs $6 to play. All the other games are $2.50. Game cards must be purchased at the front of the arcade.
If you're planning to spend an evening at Airtight Garage, consider going on Wednesday night, from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. During that time, unlimited game play is $12, and drinks are only $2. Wednesday nights are open to those 21 and older; Sunday through Thursday, the Airtight Garage is open to all ages, from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., with unlimited game play for only $10.
Also on the second floor is 'The Way Things Work -- in Mammoth 3-D,' a three-screen, three-dimensional presentation that explains the operating principles of machinery featured in David Macaulay's book 'The Way Things Work.' There is a $2.50 charge for this attraction.
On the fourth floor, you'll find an interactive display of Maurice Sendak's popular children's book 'Where the Wild Things Are.' The book, with its monsters, bubbling cauldrons and hall of mirrors, comes to life in a hands-on, interactive play space. For $6, you can tour the display, but be prepared for crowds of children. Enthusiasts of the book might also want to spend some time in the shop located in front of the attraction -- stuffed replicas of some of the monsters are hard to resist. If you're hungry, the In the Night Kitchen restaurant is also nearby. The family-friendly classic American diner is inspired by Mr. Sendak's book of the same name.
Seven other restaurants are located throughout Metreon, and they might prove good places to eat lunch during the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc. conference, given its proximity to the Moscone Center. Among the restaurants are the Firewood Cafe, which offers big salads and gourmet pizza and pasta; and Sanraku, which serves fresh sushi, teriyaki and tempura. Both restaurants are on the ground floor.
Jillian's South of Market restaurant, also on the ground floor, offers white-tablecloth dining, sports on a wall of televisions at the bar, and a back room full of pool tables.
From 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Wednesday through Saturday, Jillian's dining area turns into a dance club. Wednesday night is devoted to salsa.
Intermixed among the entertainment and restaurants are such stores as Sony Style; Discovery Channel Store, offering interactive educational exhibits and products; PlayStation store, where Sony PlayStation enthusiasts can play the latest titles at game kiosks; and MicrosoftSF, where shoppers can sample the latest computer software, hardware and other related products.
If you've ever wanted a picture of yourself made into a holographic image for a key chain or card, there's even a vendor offering that service on the second floor.
Metreon also houses 15 movie theaters and a Sony-IMAX theater. For shows and show times or for more information about Metreon's other attractions, call 1-800-638-7366.
Metreon itself is open daily from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., but many of the restaurants and attractions remain open later.
Alcatraz
Anyone with a free morning or afternoon should consider a trip to Alcatraz Island. A short ferry ride out from Pier 41 in Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz will bring to life what many have seen only in movies and on television.
Whether you have a whole afternoon or only a few hours, there are several ways to tour Alcatraz that will accommodate your schedule and still give you a feel for what it was like on the island during its 29-year history as a federal penitentiary. In addition to a 15-minute introductory film, you can take a 30-minute audio tour of the cell house, with narration provided by former inmates and guards. There also are several free park-ranger guided tours that offer more detail about the prison and the lives of its inmates. For those wishing to tour Alcatraz on their own, there are explanatory brochures that will help.
Whatever route you take, you will have the opportunity to stand in the five-by-nine-foot claustrophobic cells in which inmates spent up to 23 hours a day; to tour the cafeteria; to stand in one of the solitary-confinement cells found in the infamous D Block; and to look upon the recreation yard, where such notable inmates as Al Capone once stood. You also can peer into the cell of Robert Shroud, the 'Birdman of Alcatraz.'
Also on display are the actual cells of John and Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris. In June 1962, the three escaped from Alcatraz by digging with spoons around the ventilation ducts in their cells, gaining access to the utility corridor and, eventually, the roof. While cells No. 150, 152 and 138 are genuine, the holes have been re-dug and the displayed dummy heads that were used to fool the guards in the escape are replicas. The inmates, whose escape was chronicled in the Clint Eastwood movie 'Escape from Alcatraz,' were never found. On an interesting note, cell No. 113, down the corridor known as 'Broadway,' served as Mr. Eastwood's cell in the movie.
There were 14 attempted escapes from Alcatraz during its 29 years as a federal penitentiary, but it was the 1962 escape -- as well as escalating operational costs -- that led then-U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to close the facility in 1963.
Alcatraz was not always a federal penitentiary. Initially, the island had been used as a small military fortification, built in 1853, to protect the port from Confederate raids.
In 1854, the first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast was constructed on Alcatraz. It still operates on the island today.
By the time the Civil War broke out, Alcatraz's defenses were obsolete, and, in 1907, the island was decommissioned as a fortification. In
the meantime, starting in the mid-1800s, Alcatraz was used to incarcerate convicted soldiers, citizens accused of treason and the crew of a Confederate ship. The army also used Alcatraz to imprison Hopi, Apache and Modoc Indians captured during the various Indian wars of the mid-to-late 1800s and to hold military convicts during the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1934, Alcatraz reopened as a federal penitentiary.
A complete tour of Alcatraz covers every aspect of life on the island, from its beginnings before the Civil War, to the small community where prison guards lived with their families, to the Native American occupation in the late 1960s.
The Red & White Fleet, which departs from Pier 41, provides ferry service to and from the island every half-hour, starting at 9:30 a.m. Tickets, which are $8.75 without an audio tour and $12.25 with the audio tour, must be purchased in advance. For information, call 415-705-5555.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Located around the corner from the Moscone Center on Third Street, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art offers a beautiful and convenient place to take a break from the conference.
SFMOMA, which is San Francisco's newest major museum, is one of the largest single buildings dedicated to modern art in the country.
The $63 million 5-year-old building, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, is a beautiful piece of art both inside and out. It consists of four stories of gallery space and one floor devoted to services and amenities.
Admissions, restrooms, the museum store and audio tour information are located on the ground floor, as is the Caffe Museo, which is an excellent place to get breakfast, lunch or a cup of coffee. Caffe Museo has outdoor seating along the front of the museum and offers reasonably priced salads, pizza, pasta and soup, in addition to assorted scones, muffins and croissants. Coffee, juice, beer and wine also are sold.
Caffe Museo is open every day but Wednesday. Normal hours are from 10 a.m until 6 p.m.; on Thursday, though, Caffe Museo remains open until 9 p.m.
The second floor of the museum houses art from its permanent collection in an ongoing exhibit titled 'Matisse and Beyond: A Century of Modernism.' The impressive collection of modern art includes original paintings and sculptures by such artists as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, Georgia O'Keefe, Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.
An audio tour that guides you through the museum's permanent collection while exploring the relationship between modern music and modern art is available for $3.
The second floor also houses other special exhibits. During RIMS, you can check out 'Structure and Surface: Contemporary Japanese Textiles;' 'Paul Klee: Recent Acquisitions of the Djerassi Collection' and 'Selections from the Permanent Collection of Architecture and Design: Adams Morioka.'
The third floor houses a collection of photography exhibits. In addition to an exhibit from SFMOMA's permanent photography collection -- 'Picturing Modernity' -- work by photographers William Gedney and Germaine Krull will be exhibited during the RIMS conference.
The fourth and fifth floors currently house an exhibit showcasing four decades of work by the artist Sol LeWitt. The exhibit will also be available during the conference.
The museum, located at 151 Third St. between Mission and Howard streets, is open every day except Wednesday. Hours are 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. On Thursday, the museum is open until 9 p.m., and tickets are available at half-price beginning at 6 p.m. Regular admission is $9, although entrance to the museum is free the first Tuesday of every month.
Sausalito
Taking the ferry boat ride from San Francisco is part of the fun in visiting Sausalito, a quaint waterfront town that features art galleries, sailboat slips and restaurants.
Ferries that run daily are operated both by the Golden Gate Ferry & Transit Service and by the Blue & Gold Fleet. One Golden Gate ferry departs from the Ferry Building, at the bottom of Market Street.
The snack and beverage bars to be found on Golden Gate's boats have a very utilitarian decor and definitely can't be counted on for anything approaching gourmet luncheon fare. But the bars do stock basic alcoholic refreshments and, by some estimates, the cruise between San Francisco and Sausalito provides just the right amount of time to enjoy a couple of martinis.
By the clock, the trip takes about 30 minutes.
As the ferry pulls away from San Francisco, travelers are treated to an extraordinary panoramic view of the city's skyline and geography. In inclement weather, passengers can sit inside, but if the day is sunny, they can soak up the rays outside while taking in views of Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and the beautiful shoreline of Marin County.
Golden Gate ferry rides are $4.80 each way. Blue & Gold Fleet ferries depart from Pier 41 in Fisherman's Wharf, and the adult fare is $6 each way. For schedules, contact Golden Gate Ferries at 415-923-2000 and Blue & Gold Fleet at 415-773-1188.
Driving to Sausalito takes visitors north on Highway 1/101 and across the Golden Gate Bridge. It's about a 45-minute trip from central San Francisco during non-rush hour traffic. But the parking in Sausalito can be problematic, so many locals prefer to load their bicycles on to the ferry.
Sausalito is known for its scenic bicycle routes, and bikes can be rented either upon arrival or near Fisherman's Wharf before leaving San Francisco.
Once in this Mediterranean-style town, stroll along Bridgeway Boulevard, Sausalito's main street, located just off the ferry stop. Take in Bridgeway's art galleries, shops and rustic houses. Or sit in one of the restaurants that offer breathtaking views of the bay and San Francisco.
For dinner, Ondine, located at 558 Bridgeway Blvd., is one of the better-known restaurants in the area, although it is considered pricey. Ondine also offers a Sunday brunch. For lunch, Margaritaville, also located on Bridgeway, offers large portions of Mexican food served on its waterfront patio. Or, for a drink, try the No Name bar, also on Bridgeway. Some say the bar maintains one of Sausalito's last ties to its bohemian past.
That bohemian spirit developed after World War II, when a shipyard employing thousands of workers closed its doors. Squatters then salvaged scrap materials from barges and decaying ships and built houseboats. Today, the houseboats still bob out in the harbor, providing shelter for area artists; some of those homes have themselves been turned into works of art.
To see the houseboats, head north from the ferry landing on Bridgeway to Gates 5 and 6. To take in more local living and the city's hillside housing stock, climb the steep stairways on the west side of Bridgeway.
Also north up Bridgeway is the Bay Model, a miniature, two-acre version of the area's 350 square miles of ocean and rivers. The model features flowing ocean tides and rivers and is used to study the area's marine life and water conservation efforts.
Still another alternative is to simply sit and relax amid the palm trees in the pretty square just off the ferry landing.
Bear in mind that Sausalito is small, and its sights can easily be seen in half a day or a few hours. Furthermore, the ferries serve as transportation for area workers, so it might be best to travel when local commuters are less likely to be crowding the ships.
If you particularly enjoy the ferry ride, you might consider some of the other destinations offered by both ferry services. If driving, try to visit additional nearby destinations, such as the Muir Woods National Monument, with its beautiful redwood trees.
California Palace of the Legion of Honor
In a city known as an art center and a bastion of museums and galleries, the California Palace of the Legion of Honor stands out.
The 1920s French neoclassic building that houses the museum stands out for its beauty, for the art exhibits displayed there and for its location. The palace, which is perched atop Lincoln Park, at the city's far west end, offers stunning views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Architect George Applegarth designed the building as a replica of Paris' 18th-century Palais de la Legion d'Honneur. The Parisian palace formerly served as a royal residence and is considered a landmark of the Left Bank.
San Francisco's palace is currently home to thousands of pieces of ancient and European art. The palace's collection includes an Assyrian wall relief; French furniture, ceramics and antiques; Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 18th century; and 18th-century English paintings.
The museum was a gift to San Francisco from Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, the whose family was prominent in the sugar industry. She befriended the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, who helped her select works for her museum. The palace's collection of Rodin's works now includes an early cast of 'The Thinker.'
Through May 14, the palace will host 53 works created from 1908 to 1963 by Georgia O'Keefe. 'The Poetry of Things' exhibit includes many of O'Keefe's better-known works, as well of some that might not be as familiar to admirers.
The exhibit provides plenty of commentary on the objects O'Keefe chose to paint, such as the bones, shells and flowers prominent in many of her colorful works. The exhibit includes photographs taken by contemporaries of O'Keefe, as well as photographs by O'Keefe's husband, famed photographer Alfred Steiglitz.
For those seeking refreshments, the museum's cafe is enjoyable for its outdoor seating overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Also located on the exterior of the museum is a moving Holocaust memorial.
The palace is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10. More information is available by calling 415-863-3330.
Those who have additional time after visiting the museum might want to see how some of San Francisco's wealthiest residents live. To do so, visit nearby Sea Cliff, an ocean bluff community of opulent homes. Robin Williams and other celebrities call the area home.
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park, stretching nearly from the middle of San Francisco to the Pacific Ocean, has more to offer than most tourists will ever have time to explore.
But those who do visit can wander through museums, relax in a Japanese tea garden or participate in physical activities such as bicycling or roller-blading. The park is a 1,017-acre expanse of greenery that offers tourists and locals an escape from the surrounding urban environment. Even fly fishing and hikes along secluded nature trails are possible in the park.
Some of the most-visited sites are located at the park's eastern end, near the 10th Avenue entrance, on the Fulton Street side. One attraction in that area is the H.E. de Young Museum. The museum features American art from Colonial times to the mid-20th century, and it also has a collection of objects from around the world, such as African carvings and European tapestries. Admission for adults is $7. For more information, call 415-863-3330.
Adjacent to the de Young is the Asian Art Museum, which boasts a jade jewelry and craft collection and art from Tibet, Japan, the Middle East and elsewhere. The price of admission to the de Young includes entry to the Asian Art Museum.
The California Academy of Sciences is also in the immediate vicinity. It includes the Morrison Planetarium, the Steinhart Aquarium and the Natural History Museum, all under one roof. One large hall houses an exhibit on the history of life on Earth as well as one on geological plate tectonics and earthquakes. Visitors can stand on an earthquake simulator that vibrates with the intensity of the 1906 temblor that struck the city. That quake, later estimated to be of magnitude 7.9, and the subsequent fire, killed about 700 residents. Admission for adults is $8.50. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 415-750-7145.
Behind the Academy of Sciences sits the Garden of Shakespeare's Flowers, containing about 150 specimens.
Also nearby is the Japanese Tea Garden. Ponds, paths, sculptures, native Japanese plants and cherry trees occupy the five-acre site. Adjacent to that is the 70-acre Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, featuring thousands of plant species. Admission to the tea garden is $3.50 for adults; admission to the arboretum is free.
But Golden Gate Park has even more than museums and greenery.
Name just about any sport or physical activity, and the park probably has facilities for it. Miles of tree-lined streets and trails wind through the park, and skates and bikes can be rented at shops along nearby streets. On Sundays, one of the park's main thoroughfares, John F. Kennedy Drive, is closed to cars, giving use of the pavement over to bicyclists, skaters, runners and walkers.
Near JFK Drive and 36th Avenue stands a wood cabin that was built during the federal Works Project Administration era. It is now home to The Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club, whose members perfect their art in the fly casting pools behind the cabin. Club members love to give impromptu casting lessons; an interested visitor can leave a drivers license as a deposit for the use a rod.
The park's Sunbather Meadow attracts ultimate frisbee enthusiasts of all levels, as well as crowds that watch. Other sports facilities include a nine-hole public golf course, bridle paths, an archery field and Stow Lake, where rowboats can be rented.
At the far west end, where the park runs into the Pacific Ocean, the hungry and thirsty can stop in at Beach Chalet Brewery. The brew pub overlooks the beach and the crashing waves. The restaurant occupies the top half of a two-story building constructed in the 1920s. The first floor houses a visitor center and gorgeous tile mosaics depicting life in San Francisco.
Other nearby eating establishments can be found along the streets leading up to the Lincoln Avenue side of Golden Gate Park.
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