Bay Area Attractions

San Francisco
San Francisco is still very much the city it's reputed to be: The restaurant scene is alive and flavorful, boutiques abound, the Castro is the Castro, liberalism is hip, and all the goings-on in the unique neighborhoods take place against picture-perfect backdrops of famous bridges, bay vistas, cable cars, and colorful only-in-San-Francisco city life.
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Oakland
Although it's less than a dozen miles from San Francisco, Oakland is worlds apart from its sister city across the bay. Originally little more than a cluster of ranches and farms, Oakland exploded in size and stature practically overnight, when the last mile of transcontinental railroad track was laid down. Major shipping ports soon followed and, to this day, Oakland remains one of the busiest industrial ports on the West Coast.
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San Jose
Some may mourn the San Jose of yesterday, a sleepy small town of orchards, crops, and cattle, but those days are long gone. Founded in 1717 and previously dwelling in the shadows of San Francisco, San Jose is now Northern California's largest city. With surveys that declare it one of the safest and sunniest cities in the country and rank it the fifth most popular place to live in America, San Jose is a force to be reckoned with. Today, the prosperity of Silicon Valley has transformed what was once an agricultural backwater into a thriving city of restaurants, shops, a state-of-the-art light-rail system, a sports arena (go Sharks!), and a reputable art scene
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San Francisco Attractions

Alcatraz Island
Pier 41 near Fisherman's Wharf • 415.773.1188 (info-only)
Visible from Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz Island (aka "The Rock") has seen a checkered history. Juan Manuel Ayala discovered it in 1775 and named it after the many pelicans that nested on the island. From the 1850s to 1933, when the army vacated the island, it served as a military post, protecting the bay's shoreline. In 1934, the government converted the buildings of the military outpost into a maximum-security prison. Given the sheer cliffs, treacherous tides and currents, and frigid water temperatures, it was believed to be a totally escape-proof prison. Among the famous gangsters who occupied cell blocks A through D were Al Capone, Robert Stroud, the so-called Birdman of Alcatraz, Machine Gun Kelly, and Alvin Karpis.

Golden Gate Bridge
Highway 101 North • San Francisco, CA • 415.923.2000
The year 2004 marks the 67th birthday of possibly the most beautiful, and certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world. Often half-veiled by the city's trademark rolling fog, San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge spans tidal currents, ocean waves, and battering winds to connect the City by the Bay with the Redwood Empire to the north.

Millions of pedestrians walk or bike across the bridge each year, gazing up at the tall red towers, out at the vistas of San Francisco and Marin County, and down into the stacks of oceangoing liners. You can walk out onto the span from either end, but be prepared -- it's usually windy and cold, and the bridge vibrates. Still, walking even a short distance is one of the best ways to experience the immense scale of the structure.

Cable Cars
Although they may not be San Francisco's most practical means of transportation, cable cars are certainly the best loved and are a must-experience when visiting the city. Designated official historic landmarks by the National Park Service in 1964, they clank up and down the city's steep hills like mobile museum pieces, tirelessly hauling thousands of tourists each day to nowhere in particular.

San Francisco Zoo
One Zoo Road • San Francisco, CA 94132 • 415.753.7080
Located between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Merced, in the southwest corner of the city, the San Francisco Zoo is a fun place to take the kids -- especially if you make it to the hands-on Children's Zoo. The zoo, which was founded at its present site adjacent to the ocean in 1929, is 125 acres, with 80 acres currently developed. Over 850,000 visitors come here annually to see the almost 1,000 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.

Oakland Attractions

Jack London Square
Jack London Square is a special spot at the water's edge where places for shopping, dining, and daydreaming are all waiting for you. Whether you live across town or across the country you'll want to spend a day exploring. Never before have there been so many places to go, people to see, and things to do at the Square. You'll have fun discovering all the facets of this dynamic hot spot.

The Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak Street • Oakland, CA 94607 • 510.238.2200
The Oakland Museum of California provides unique collections, exhibitions and educational opportunities designed to generate a broader and deeper understanding of and interest in California's environment, history, art and people.

Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Road • Oakland, CA 94605 • 510.632.9525
The Oakland Zoo is nestled in the rolling hills of 525-acre Knowland Park. Each year thousands of families and school groups from around the Bay Area come to visit 440 native and exotic animals that live in naturalistic habitats at the Zoo.

San Jose Attractions

San Jose Museum of Art
110 South Market Street • San Jose, CA 95113 • 408.294.2787
This contemporary art museum features revolving exhibitions, post-1980 works as well as older contemporary art from its permanent collection. The renovated Historic Wing now includes a cafe, bookstore, and education center. Public tours of exhibitions are offered every day at 12:30 and 2:30pm. On the second Saturday of each month at 12:30pm, the public gallery tour is signed for deaf and hearing-impaired visitors. Groups are asked to call and make reservations at least 1 week in advance.

Tech Museum of Innovation
201 South Market Street • San Jose, CA 95113 • 408.294.TECH
Now housed in a 132,000-square-foot facility, the Tech Museum allows visitors to grapple with the latest in modern technology. You can create your own virtual roller-coaster ride, survive an earthquake on a giant shake table, operate an underwater ROV (remotely operated vehicle) à la Titanic, and play with tons of other cool high-tech stuff. There's also an IMAX Dome Theater, Jet Pack simulator, and Virtual Bobsled ride, the same used to train Olympic competitors.

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