San Francisco Cruises

Since the Gold Rush of 1848, San Francisco has been a major travel destination. This beautiful city with its rolling hills overlooks the San Francisco Bay. Rich in culture as well as history, San Francisco is also a major port city. Day after day, various cruise ships can be seen entering and leaving the harbor carrying throngs of adventurous vacationers to exciting places. Many cruise companies use San Francisco as a departure city before venturing on to other places such as Vancouver and Seattle. To experience the vacation of a lifetime that will leave you with many wonderful memories, book a cruise vacation today and get ready to have the time of your life.

Highlights of San Francisco

There is so much to do and see while in San Francisco that it is suggested Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

that cruise travelers arrive several days early or prolong their trip once they return to the city. When the world thinks of San Francisco the Golden Gate Bridge almost instantly comes to mind. This three mile long suspension bridge can be walked or biked across for those who want to prolong the experience and take in the fantastic scenery around them. The Golden Gate Park is also a great place to pass a leisurely day in San Francisco. This 1,017-acre park stretches from Haight Ashbury all the way to Ocean Beach. In addition to the lakes, tennis courts, golf course and riding trail the park houses various museums and historical points of interest. The Steinhart Aquarium, the Conservatory of Flowers, the Natural History Museum, the Japanese Tea Garden and the Cliff House are all a part of Golden Gate Park. During the spring months the beautiful flowers that bloom around the Dutch windmill are absolutely breathtaking. Alcatraz Island is also another major symbol of this great movie. The scene of many heart pounding movies, Alcatraz was once the home of many dangerous criminals and was considered one of the most complicated prisons from which to escape. Today, travelers can see for themselves where these criminals were kept. Ferries depart every half-hour from Pier 41 for this gloomy yet interesting place that is such a huge part of San Francisco's legacy.

Museums, Parks and Entertainment

The sheer number of museums that call San Francisco home will leave museum Street Car in San Francisco

lovers breathless. The Exploratorium is a great place for families. Kids will love the interactive exhibits while learning at the same time. Underwater World allows visitors to get a close-up look at numerous creatures of the sea including the always-intriguing sharks. The Hall of Health strives to teach the public about the benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Lovers of contemporary art will thoroughly enjoy all there is to see at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The Cartoon Art Museum possesses over 11,000 of original pieces and is one of three museums in the United States that is dedicated to showing and preserving this genre of art. The University of California Botanical Garden features over 13,000 species and 21,000 plants located on 34 acres. The Roscicrucian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium is one of the city's most beautiful structures in addition to housing a fantastic park that is exploding with beautiful plants and flowers. The Hakone Japanese Gardens is one of the most authentic gardens of this type in the entire country. Jack London Square pays tribute to San Francisco's mixed community that lives together in harmony. Visual and Performing Arts as well as a Film/Video area are all located here. The Children's Fairyland brings to life characters from favorite children's stories. The Raging Waters theme park is also very popular with children both large and small, as is the Children's Discovery Museum.

So Much Diversity in San Francisco

There are numerous ways to explore this wonderfully diverse city. One Tuesday Ayala Cove in San Francisco

and Saturday mornings walking tours of the famed Haight-Ashbury district are conducted. In the 60's and 70's, young people from all over the worlds gathered here to promote peace and love. Some of the greatest musicians and bands, such as the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Quicksilver Messenger Service, lived and performed here. There are also various walking tours of Chinatown. Tourists can immerse themselves in this unique culture by learning about the inhabitant's customs, celebrations and beliefs. Fisherman's Wharf is another great place to wander around while visiting San Francisco. Numerous restaurants, museums, merchants and the lively street performers make this an entertaining place to explore.