Page 700 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

698  C ALIFORNIA

San Francisco Practical Information in Harding and Lincoln Parks.
Most of the public swimming
San Francisco occupies a compact area, making it a sightseer’s pools are located in the
dream. Its efficient transportation system has cable cars, buses, suburbs; for details contact
streetcars, Muni Metro, and BART lines. The city prides itself the City of San Francisco
on its variety of cultural and entertainment opportunities, Recreation and Parks
Department (www.parks.
which make it one of the most enjoyable vacation spots in the sfgov.org). To swim in the
world. The Civic Center is the main venue for classical music, chilly ocean, head out to China
opera, and ballet, while pop music – in particular, jazz and Beach. There are tennis courts
blues – is where the city really excels. There are also diverse in almost all the public parks,
theater companies and specialty movie houses. with the largest ones in Golden
Gate Park. Claremont Hotel
Club & Spa in Berkeley offers
fine courts with unlimited
Tourist Information
five downtown stations: playing time. There are dozens
Visitors planning a trip will find Van Ness, Civic Center, Powell, of running clubs and events in
the San Francisco Visitors Planning Montgomery, and Embarcadero. all seasons. The Golden Gate
Guide, published by the San San Francisco’s famous cable Running Club is one of many.
Francisco Convention & Visitors’ cars operate from 6:30am to
Bureau, very helpful. It is available 12:30am daily, at 15-minute
free at the Visitor Information intervals. Cars run on three Entertainment
Center at Hallidie Plaza. Listings routes: the popular Powell– San Francisco offers visitors an
of what’s on are given in the San Hyde line, the Powell–Mason unending variety of high-quality
Francisco Chronicle and Examiner line, and the California line. entertainment. It has an avid
newspapers. Weekly newspapers, Boats and passenger ferries film-going community, and one
such as the San Francisco Weekly are also a fun way to get around of the best movie houses is the
or the San Francisco Bay Guardian, the city’s shoreline. The Ferry Sundance Kabuki, an eight-
also give listings and reviews of Building is the terminal for screen complex in the Japan
live music, films, and nightclubs. the Golden Gate Ferries. Center, which also hosts the
Bay sightseeing cruises from San Francisco International
Fisherman’s Wharf are operated Film Festival each May. The
Getting Around by the Blue & Gold Fleet. Horn- main venue for first-run foreign
The best way to explore San blower Dining Yachts offer films is the Opera Plaza on Van
Francisco is on foot, although various meals on their cruises. Ness Avenue. For theater goers,
the hills can be strenuous. The Other modes of travel include major shows are staged at
city’s main sights all lie within 15 bicycles, which can be rented Theater District venues, the
to 20 minutes of each other. City for around $25 a day or $125 two largest being the Curran
taxis are licensed and operate a week. Details of scenic routes Theater for Broadway shows
24 hours a day. Green Cab and are available from the Bike Hut and the Geary Theater, now
Yellow Cab are good bets. rental. Pedicabs and horse- home to the American
The San Francisco Municipal drawn cabs are found on the Conservatory Theater (ACT),
Railway or Muni, runs the city’s Embarcadero. Sightseeing bus both on Geary Street.
transportation system. The Muni tours are also available. The San Francisco Opera
Passport, valid for 1, 3, or 7 days season runs from September
can be used for unlimited travel Sports & Outdoor to December; tickets can cost
on Muni buses, Muni Metro over $100, but there is a summer
streetcars, as well as San Activities season with less expensive
Francisco’s three cable car lines. The city has plenty of options tickets and many free outdoor
The City Pass can be used for for sports fans. The home concerts. The Civic Center
7 consecutive days of travel on ground of the San Francisco complex on Van Ness Avenue
all Muni vehicles, and includes 49ers is Monster Park. Other offers opera, classical music, and
admission to several attractions. football teams are supported dance. The San Francisco Ballet
Passes are available at the by local colleges, UC Berkeley, season runs from late June
Visitor Information Center. and Stanford University. Two through May, while the Yerba
Buses and streetcars serve professional baseball teams play Buena Center for the Arts is
all areas. Buses stop only at in the Bay Area: the National home to the LINES Ballet.
designated places, every few League San Francisco Giants Two popular nightclubs,
blocks, and route numbers are (in AT&T Park) and the American Slim’s and gay club, Oasis,
printed on the buses. Muni League Oakland Athletics are located close to each other
Metro streetcars and BART trains (in the McAfee Coliseum). in the SoMa district. Another
both use the same underground Golfers have a range of popular place is the Fillmore
terminals on Market Street. The courses to choose from, Auditorium on Geary
high-speed BART trains stop at including the municipal links Boulevard, the legendary

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm