Holidays in San Francisco – California, USA
San Francisco holidays are a wonderful mix of spectacular
scenery, great entertainment, world famous landmarks
and some of the best shopping in California. Use
the search bar above to check our great prices on
West Coast tours of the USA and multi centre holidays
that include San Francisco.
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San Francisco History
San Francisco was one of the first real footholds
in California for the European settlers and explorers.
The founding of Mission Dolores in 1776 (just pre-dating
the Declaration of Independence) spelt the beginning
of colonisation for the west coast of America and,
ultimately, the end of the hunter-gathering lifestyle
of the native Oholone people. Before this, Spanish
and Portuguese explorers were probably the first
European visitors to set foot on these shores, closely
followed by the likes of Francis Drake. Drake spent
time here re-supplying the Golden Hind and is said
to have gotten on famously with the local people.
He dubbed his little patch of the North Pacific, ‘Nova
Albion’ on the basis that the cliffs reminded
this Englishman abroad of the White Cliffs of Dover.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century trading
ships from Boston came to California and the Spanish
towns and Missions to barter for otter and beaver
pelts. Soon trappers and hunters began to drift eastwards
into the state gradually swelling the population.
Thirty or so years later and the discovery of gold
meant that things would never be quite the same again.
These were wild and exciting times for this ‘city
beyond the frontier’ typified, perhaps, by
characters like Essex born Joshua Norton, who declared
himself Emperor of the United States and even had
the temerity to abolish both the Democratic and Republican
parties! In the mid 19th century San Francisco was
still isolated by wild and inhospitable country from
the rest of the fledgling United States – it
was a long way further west than even ‘the
Wild West’! The Panama Canal wouldn’t
open until 1914 leaving the Pony Express as the only
established land-link with the East. The people of
San Francisco had to wait until 1869 for the arrival
of the first westbound train. However, the city continued
to grow at break-neck speed until, in 1906, a devastating
earthquake and fire destroyed many of the original
wooden buildings. These days Napier Lane remains
as the only wooden street in San Francisco.
The great depression of the late 1920’s and
the 1930’s led to waves of immigration from
dust-choked farms and idle factories right across
America. But, although these were desperately tough
times for many, huge building projects helped absorb
the newest arrivals and really began to shape the
city that exists today. Unlike their European counterparts,
American mainland cities were spared the ravages
of WWII and post-war prosperity quickly came to stay.
These days the city seems to teem with world famous
landmarks like Alcatraz, the fantastic bridges of
the 1930’s and wonderful modern buildings like
the Transamerica Pyramid. Film and television have
made San Francisco instantly recognisable to almost
everyone whether it’s from ’48 Hours’, ‘The
Maltese Falcon’, ‘The Streets of San
Francisco’, ‘Ironside,’ ‘Dirty
Harry,’ or perhaps 1968’s ‘Bullitt’ starring
Steve McQueen, a Ford Mustang and possibly the best
car chase ever filmed!
Shopping on a San Francisco Holiday
Shopping is close to the heart of many a Californian
and San Francisco is one of the best places to shop
in the entire state – no, make that the U.S.A.!
Here are some tips about where to go and what you’ll
find on your holiday.
Union Square: an absolute must for the serious shopper!
Famous names like Saks, Macy's and Gump's rub shoulders
with hundreds of smaller boutiques. Market Street
is often considered the Champs Elysees of the city.
It’s an imposing street – more of a boulevard,
really - full of dramatic buildings, shops and hotels.
At Pier 39, the third most visited attraction in
the U.S., you’ll find restaurants, shops, and
all manner of entertainment. From here it’s
not far to Ghirardelli Square full of shops, restaurants
and galleries set in beautifully renovated factory
buildings.
Don’t miss the San Francisco Centre on your
holiday, home to over 60 stores and, this being America,
the world's only spiral escalator!
San Francisco Landmarks
Where to begin? This is a city full of landmarks!
Leaving aside the bridges – yes, that’s
bridges in the plural – how about starting
at the beginning, with a visit to Mission Dolores?
This is the oldest building in San Francisco and,
thankfully, much of it is still completely original.
Marvel at hand-carved altars, adobe walls, beautiful
tiles and timbers held together with rawhide! By
way of contrast, check out Fisherman’s Wharf
and attractions like the Wax Museum, Haunted Gold
Mine, Laser Maze and Medieval Dungeon. Talking of
dungeons, you can’t come to San Francisco on
holiday and not visit Alcatraz. These days the infamous
former prison that claimed the lives of many a would-be
escapee is now a national park.
Lovers of architecture could do worse than visit
City Hall where the dome is actually a replica of
the one crowning St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. This
is where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were married
- think 1950’s all-American Posh and Becks
and you’re still only half way there! The marriage
was rocky and short-lived; DiMaggio hated the limelight
while Marilyn seemed to live for it. In a rare interview
DiMaggio was once asked what it was like being with
Monroe and replied: ’Better than rooming with
Joe Page’.
On a more spiritual plane, Grace Cathedral is the
largest Gothic structure in the West and famous for
its magnificent gilded bronze doors. If you head
downtown you’ll find the Old Cathedral of St.
Mary, the first Catholic church in California and
an interesting comparison with St. Mary's Cathedral
a mixture of old and new styles. There are many beautiful
places of worship in the city, though sometimes you
need to look carefully. The Holy Trinity Russian
Orthodox Church is very beautiful and features a
silver chandelier donated by Nicholas II, the last
Russian Tsar, while the Sherith Israel, the oldest
Jewish congregation in the city, was founded during
the Gold Rush.
San Francisco Views
San Francisco’s spectacular location means
there are plenty of great views to be had on your
holiday. Climb Telegraph Hill and be rewarded by
a view of the entire ‘Bay. Similarly, Coit
Tower, has an observation deck that provides great
views of the city. And, don’t forget, you can
hardly say you’ve been to San Francisco without
a trip down Lombard Street, ‘the crookedest
street in the world’.
Bridges of San Francisco
If you think of San Francisco, chances are you’ll
think of the Golden Gate Bridge (primarily the work
of Joseph Strauss). But spare a thought for Charles
H. Purcell architect of the mighty Bay Bridge, the
longest steel high-level bridge in the world. Its
foundations are sunk deeper than any other the deepest
pier being bigger than the largest of the pyramids
and filled with more concrete than the Empire State
Building!
Parks, Beaches & Zoos of San Francisco
San Francisco is home to the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area, the largest urban national park
in the world, covering some 74,000 acres of land
and water. The Presidio National Park, once a former
military installation has 1,500 acres of trails,
beaches and brilliant views, while those seeking
tranquillity in the city should try the Japanese
Tea Garden that forms part of Golden Gate Park. Similarly
soothing, the Yerba Buena Gardens features five acres
of shade and murmuring fountains.
You don’t need to spend very long here on
holiday to realise that this is a city that’s
almost completely surrounded by water. It always
seems fitting, therefore, to pay a visit to UnderWater
World where the denizens of San Francisco Bay await.
At San Francisco Zoo on the other hand, you can watch
the penguins taking a late lunch.
If you feel inspired by the fish or the penguins
head for China Beach where you’ll enjoy the
city’s only safe swimming, as well as great
views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
San Francisco Holiday Entertainment
Union Square and Union Street are good places to
start if you’re after holiday entertainment
and nightlife. The theatre district is around Union
Square and there is no shortage of choice and no
lack of quality. Nightlife in San Francisco is varied,
fascinating and fun. Union Street is home to many
a chic hostelry while disco dancers should try the
Minna Street Gallery for the best in modern disco
and rather good cocktails too. You’ll find
plenty of great restaurants all over the city. For
seafood and a great view Aqua is hard to beat albeit
at a price; trendier (and cheaper) The Last Supper
Club is a great place to see and be seen.
Of course for a real taste of San Francisco you
should head for Chinatown (the largest Chinatown
outside Asia) where anything from a pork roll, Dim
Sum to an extensive (though not necessarily expensive)
meal can be yours. While you’re here take a
little time to admire some of the wonderful buildings
like the Bank of Canton (formerly the Chinese Telephone
Exchange).
Getting Around San Francisco
When in Rome… well, you’d go by scooter
or Ferrari, perhaps, but in San Francisco a cable
car is the only way to travel! A three-day ‘Passport’ for
cable cars, street cars and buses will cost $15 and
will take you almost anywhere you’d care to
go.
The cable cars were the brainchild of Englishman,
Andrew Hallidie, who tested his first car on Nob
Hill in 1873. Four years previously Hallidie had
witnessed four horses being dragged to the deaths
as they attempted to pull a heavy load up one of
San Francisco’s many vertiginous hills. Hallidie’s
father had filed a patent for wire rope, the rope
proving to be especially suited to pulling ore cars
from California’s mines. Once Andrew Hallidie
had adapted this technology to literally pull his
cable cars along, an institution was born.
Beyond the City
Outside San Francisco some of California’s
most beautiful scenery is within reach. Yosemite
National Park and the resorts of Lake Tahoe and the
Mammoth Lakes provide a real taste of the great outdoors
as, indeed do trips to Death Valley and the Joshua
Tree National Monument. Between the imperious Sierra
Nevada and the coast lies the Central Valley, where
some of California’s most excellent wines are
grown – well worth a trip! For a taste of those
far off pioneering days try the state capital, Sacramento.
Alternatively, why not hire a Harley or a big American
gas-guzzler and cruise Route 66?
Archers Direct Holidays in San Francisco
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From escorted coach tours and train tours to resort-based
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Year round holidays (summer holidays, winter holidays,
Christmas holidays & Xmas holidays, half term
holidays, Easter holidays) include January, February,
March, April, May, June, July, August, September,
October, November & December. We fly from the
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airport as well as Birmingham airport, Bristol airport,
East Midlands airport, Edinburgh airport, Glasgow
airport, Manchester airport & Newcastle airport.
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