See and Do

Arts & Entertainment

AfroSolo Theatre Company

Exploring the human spirit that binds us all, The AfroSolo Theatre Company presents works that celebrate African-American art, culture, intellect and entertainment.

Alonzo King's LINES Ballet

Internationally acclaimed modern dance/performance arts company based in San Francisco. Lines Ballet school is one of the highest regarded dance instructional institutions in America. Group rates available.

American Conservatory Theater

The Tony Award-winning American Conservatory Theater nurtures the art of live theater through dynamic productions, intensive actor training in its conservatory, and an ongoing dialogue with its audience and community.

Audium

Audium is the only theatre of its kind in the world, pioneering the exploration of space in music. The theatre's 169 speakers bathe listeners in sounds that move past, over, and under them. "Sound sculptures" are performed in darkness in the 49-seat theatre.

BATS Improv

The Bay Area's "Favorite Improv Company," presenting laugh-out-loud improvisational theatre since 1986. BATS Improv has headlined the Bay Area's innovative improv theatre scene since 1986. Each weekend the company presents a series of completely improvised shows in a variety of formats, from Theatresports to improvised musicals and everything in between. See why critics call BATS "San Francisco's premiere improvisational theater."

Bay Area Cabaret

Bay Area Cabaret is a not-for profit company which presents extraordinary solo performances in a variety of elegant venues in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Cabaret aims to expand the definition of cabaret and broaden the audience for intimate entertainment with Great American Songbook entries from Harold Arlen and Stephen Sondheim to Abba and Stevie Wonder.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Founded in 1968, Berkeley Repertory Theatre has established itself as one of this country’s top-ranking professional resident theatre companies, known for its consistently high-quality productions. Winner of the 1997 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, its national reputation draws theatre artists from around the country to work on a variety of productions from September through July.

Dancers' Group

Founded in 1982, Dancers' Group assists and supports the San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA) dance community by creating a nexus of resources, expertise and knowledge. The group strives to bring a variety of artists and organizations together that create engaging partnerships and civic collaborations.

Lamplighters Music Theatre

Lamplighters Music Theatre is one of the oldest continuously performing theatres in the Bay Area, and the only year-round musical theatre company in San Francisco. Since its debut in a tiny San Carlos theater, Lamplighters Music Theatre has been dedicated to upholding the tradition of light opera and musical theatre, particularly through the production of the operettas of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan.

The Lively Foundation

The Lively Foundation is dedicated to presenting the best in artistic and educational projects in dance, music, and related arts. Based in San Francisco since 1984 and on tour throughout the US and the world.

Marines Memorial Theatre

A midsize commercial theater in the heart of the San Francisco theater district, presenting local, touring and Broadway productions and concerts.

Napa Valley Opera House

Experience a variety of performing arts including music, theatre, dance and comedy in the newly renovated 500-seat theatre located on Main Street, downtown Napa.

New Conservatory Theatre Center

For 26 years, a dynamic performing arts complex and professional theatre arts school, with theatre for adult and young audiences.

San Francisco Ballet Association

The mission of San Francisco Ballet is to share the joy of dance with its community and around the globe and to provide the highest caliber of dance training in its School. San Francisco Ballet seeks to enhance its position as one of the world's finest dance companies through its vitality, innovation, and diversity and through its uncompromising commitment to artistic excellence based in the classical ballet tradition.

San Francisco Chamber Orchestra

The mission of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra is to bring the immediacy and intimacy of music for small orchestra and chamber ensemble to audiences of all ages by presenting classical, contemporary, and commissioned works as well as to educate and enlighten the next generation of music lovers through outreach programs.

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Educating future generations of gifted musicians with over 400 public performances annually.

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus

GALA Choruses, the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses, Inc., with over 200 member choruses, and 10,000 singing members, is the world's only association committed to serving the lesbian and gay choral movement. They are dedicated to providing support and helping gay and lesbian choruses to be strong, both artistically and professionally. GALA Choruses fosters the artistic and the organizational development of member choruses through a wide variety of programs and services. They produce choral festivals, educational conferences, and publications.

San Francisco Girls Chorus

Founded in 1978, the San Francisco Girls Chorus has become a regional center for choral music education and performance for girls and young women ages 7-18. More than 300 singers from 160 schools in 44 Bay Area cities participate in this internationally recognized program, deemed “a model in the country for training girls’ voices” by the California Arts Council.

San Francisco Opera

Internationally acclaimed opera company presents 13 productions in over 80 performances annually from September through December and May through July in the historic War Memorial Opera House.

San Francisco Performances

One of the Bay Area's award-winning, independent presenters of chamber music, recitals, jazz and contemporary dance.

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San Francisco Symphony

Hear the classics, discover new favorites and thrill to the excitement of making music with the San Francisco Symphony.copy.

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SFJAZZ (San Francisco Jazz Organization)

SFJAZZ is a recognized international leader in jazz creation, presentation, and education. SFJAZZ explores the full spectrum of jazz, from the music's origins in the African American community to its diverse present-day expressions around the world. As a non-profit organization, SFJAZZ works to develop the audience for jazz in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. SFJAZZ celebrates jazz as a living art form, built on a constantly evolving tradition.

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Smuin Ballet

Known for dance theatre and ballet at its best with innovative and accessible repertory. The San Francisco Chronicle calls it "the hottest ticket in town."copy.

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Tours

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Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island offers a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and US fort on the West Coast, the infamous federal penitentiary long off-limits to the public, and the 18 month occupation by Indians of All Tribes which saved the tribes. Rich in history, there is also a natural side to the Rock -- gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare.

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Anheuser - Busch Brewery Tours

Free, 45-minute tour includes brewing, presentation, packaging video, product sampling, and beechwood aging and production floor; all ages welcome. Samples for adults 21 and older.

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Boudin Bakery Tour

Visit the flagship location, where bakers make bread with a recipe the company has nurtured since 1849. A Museum & Bakery Tour invites you to witness history in the baking. Stroll through our collection of historic and interactive exhibits as you observe the bakery in action from the museum’s 30-foot observation window and glass-walled catwalk.

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Cable Cars

Moving historic landmarks, the Cable Cars of San Francisco operate seven days a week along century-old routes. For a unique tour of the city, take the California Street line, which runs from the Financial District, through Chinatown, and over Nob Hill. The Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines both terminate near Fisherman's Wharf. Board in San Francisco wherever you see a brown-and-white stop sign.

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Charles Chocolates Factory Store & Chocolate Bar

Premium chocolatier products include gourmet chocolate bars, handmade confections and chocolate covered nuts. While enjoying hot chocolates and confections at the store's chocolate bar, you can sit at the counter and watch as chocolates are being made in the store's 6,700 square foot factory. Free guided factory tours of the production facility are also offered.copy.

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China Town

A dragon-draped archway at the intersection of Bush and Grant streets announces the entrance to Chinatown in San Francisco. Streets teem with fish and vegetable stalls, herbal shops, temples, and eateries. (Lichee Garden, Hunan Home's, and R&G restaurants all rate high with diners.) Museums include the Chinese Historical Society of America and Chinese Culture Center.

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Filoli

Located thirty miles south of San Francisco on the eastern slope of the Coast Range, the 654-acre Filoli estate contains as its central portion a historic house and sixteen acres of formal garden. Guests can enjoy guided or self-guided tours of the house and gardens, nature hikes, orchard tours, and cutting garden tours.

Fisherman's Wharf

The city's most popular destination, Fisherman's Wharf overlooks San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The historic waterfront still serves as a working fishing pier, so expect fresh seafood at area restaurants. Nearby San Francisco attractions Pier 39, The Cannery, and Ghirardelli Square are touristy, but prove irresistible to many visitors.

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is acclaimed as one of the world's most beautiful bridges and with its tremendous towers, sweeping main cables and great span, it is a sensory beauty featuring color, sound, and light.

Hearst Castle

Publisher William Randolph Hearst's 165-room estate was designed by noted architect Julia Morgan and built between 1919 and 1947. National Geographic Theater, located at the Hearst Castle Visitor Center, is a five-story screen theater showing the resident film "Hearst Castle - Building the Dream" as the companion film to castle tours.

Japanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park is the oldest public Japanese garden in California. Highlights include the spendid Moon (or Drum) Bridge, the Tea House and the pond in front of the Tea House. Tea drinkers overlook a waterfall and pond framed by fragrant wisteria.

Mr. Treasure Hunt

Mr. Treasure Hunt develops San Francisco treasure and scavenger hunt adventures where teams solve clues and puzzles as they sleuth their way through a defined area of their city. These treasure hunts offer challenging, fun, and educational entertainment for all ages. And some really great urban hiking!

Napa Valley Wine Train

Relax in the atmosphere of the Napa Valley; majestic hills, expansive vineyards and remarkable wineries. Let us treat you to exceptional, freshly prepared food, crafted with the regions finest seasonal ingredients. Enjoy some of the Napa Valley's world famous wines as our magnificently restored vintage rail cars carry you in the luxury of a bygone era.

"Old Faithful" Geyser

One of three famous "Old Faithful" Geysers in the world. Geothermal self-guided tour, exhibit hall, gift shop, snack bar and picnic area complement experience.

Pier 39

San Francisco's Premier Bay Attraction, Pier 39 is a festival marketplace with more than 110 stores, 12 Bay view restaurants, and a variety of fun-filled attractions for all ages, including world-renowned sea lions, street performers and live daily entertainment.

River Rock Casino

Twenty-four hour gaming entertainment, a little over an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge. All the games you love to play in the heart of the wine country.

Roaring Camp Railroads

See California's towering redwood forests from two historic railroads. Travel by steam train up a narrow-gauge track through the Big Trees to Bear Mountain or by beach train down the scenic San Lorenzo River to the sunny beaches of Santa Cruz.

Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker

Visitors can take a free tour of the factory, sample chocolates, and learn about how chocolate is made.

Museums

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Asian Art Museum

One of the largest museums in the world devoted exclusively to Asian art with a collection comprising over 17,000 objects spanning 6,000 years of history. The museum reopened in March 2003 at its new, expanded facility at San Francisco's Civic Center.

California Academy of Sciences

The Academy combines an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum and scientific research facilities under one roof. Visitors can explore the outer reaches of the galaxy in the world's largest all-digital planetarium, get a bird's eye view of the humid canopy of a Costa Rican rainforest or enjoy the view underneath the waves of the world's deepest display of living corals all in the same visit. It is topped with a 2.5-acre living roof and employs a wide range of energy-saving materials and technologies. Over 38,000 live animals will fill the new aquarium and natural history exhibits, one of the most diverse collections of live animals at any museum or aquarium around the world.

California Historical Society

The state's official historical society, its San Francisco headquarters, galleries, museum store and research library represent California's dynamic history.

Cartoon Art Museum

The only museum west of the Appalachian Mountains, dedicated to the preservation, education and exhibition of cartoon art in all forms. View rare, original cartoon art.

CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts

The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts was established in 1998 in San Francisco at California College of the Arts. It serves as a forum for the presentation and discussion of international contemporary art and curatorial practice.Through groundbreaking exhibitions, the Capp Street Project residency program, lectures, symposia, and publications, the Wattis Institute has become one of the leading art institutions in the United States and provides an active site for contemporary culture in the Bay Area.

Chinese Historical Society of America

Housed in the historic Julia Morgan Chinatown YWCA, the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum and Learning Center includes exhibitions dedicated to the history, art and culture of Chinese America. The permanent exhibition, "The Chinese in America: Towards A More Perfect Union," displays photographs and artifacts relating to immigration, the Exclusion Era, and early and contemporary Chinese American communities.

Contemporary Jewish Museum

cNewly opened in downtown San Francisco, the Contemporary Jewish Museum presents dynamic exhibitions and educational programs, exploring contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history and ideas.opy.

de Young Museum

Located in Golden Gate Park, the de Young is San Francisco's oldest museum. Its collections include American paintings, decorative arts and crafts; arts from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas; and western and non-western textiles. Long known as the City's Museum, the de Young is particularly recognized for its many educational arts programs for children and adults. The de Young re-opened in a new state-of-the-art facility in Golden Gate Park on October 15, 2005.

Exploratorium

Housed within the walls of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium is a collage of hundreds of science, art, and human perception exhibits. The Exploratorium is a leader in the movement to promote museums as informal education centers.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical

The museum collects, preserves and promotes an active knowledge of the history, art and culture of sexually diverse communities in Northern California and beyond.Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society

Haas-Lilienthal House

San Francisco's only Queen Anne Victorian open to the public offering docent-led tours. See a unique view of Victorian life during tour through the fully-furnished principal rooms of this designated landmark.

Legion of Honor

Ancient and European art from 2500 B.C. through the 20th century. Artists represented include El Greco, Rembrandt, Rubens, Monet and Picasso. One of the world's leading collections of Rodin sculpture and dramatic views of the Golden Gate and the city make this a must-see museum. Multilingual tours available.

Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts

A multicultural non-profit arts organization committed to the collaborative artistic vision of the Latino art forms.

Museum of the African Diaspora

MoAD is the only museum of its kind to inform and educate about how all people, ultimately, are African. Original works addressing the dispersal movements out of Africa that populated the rest of the world, as well as traveling exhibitions, film, video and multimedia will tell the exciting untold stories of the African Diaspora.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum

Two floors and over 10,000 square feet filled with the strange, the unusual, and the unbelievable! See in person the incredible "Believe It or Nots" you've read about in the Ripley books and cartoons and seen on television.

San Francisco Aquarium of the Bay

The mission of the Aquarium of the Bay, in partnership with The Bay Institute, is to protect, restore and inspire conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed from the Sierra to the sea.

San Francisco Cable Car Barn & Museum

The City's cable car system is run from a circa 1907 red brick barn. Examine the winding machinery designed to make the motorless cars navigate city streets and study Andrew Hallidie's original prototype Car No. 8.

San Francisco Center for the Book

The Center offers classes, exhibitions, lectures and events in the Book Arts: letterpress, printing, traditional bookbinding and innovative book structures.

San Francisco Museum and Historical Society

Presents walking tours, publications, monthly programs and special events focusing on San Francisco's vibrant history.

San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design

In 2004, the San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design opened its doors to interpret the role of craft and design in contemporary society. All of the museum's exhibitions are designed not only to showcase the art of craft and design, but also to educate people on its importance in our lives. By developing and hosting innovative exhibitions and creating a vital program of education and community outreach, the museum celebrates an artform that not only enriches our physical spaces, but also helps to tell us something about ourselves.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

Located in a spectacular new building, SFMOMA offers the West Coast's most comprehensive collection of modern and contemporary art, shopping at the Museum Store and dining at Caffe Museo.

San Francisco Zoo

Northern California's largest zoological park features approximately 1,000 exotic and endangered wildlife.Experience the wonders of the Children's Zoo and visit other favorites such as Gorilla Preserve, Penguin Island, Koala Crossing, Lemur Forest and the Australian WalkAbout. Ride the historical Dentzel Carousel and Little Puffer minature steam train.

SF Camera Work

The Bay Area's only contemporary photography non-profit, features innovative exhibitions and programming.

The Society of California Pioneers

Dedicated to the preservation, promotion and enjoyment of California heritage, the Society supports a museum that features regularly changing exhibitions of California art, history and culture.

SomArts Cultural Center

Since 1979 SomArts has been providing low-cost rental space and equipment to communities and arts groups. SomArts' large size, its flexible performance spaces and its spacious art galleries afford local artists the opportunity to artistically exploit the venue's multidisciplinary possibilities.

National Liberty Ship Memorial

Fully restored and operational, the Jeremiah O'Brien, America's last unaltered Liberty ship in operating condition, is one of a great fleet that operated during World War II.

Winchester Mystery Museum

Guided tours of this beautiful but bizarre 160-room California Historical Landmark reveal the eccentricities of Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune.

Zeum

A multimedia arts and technology museum where kids and families explore creativity through hands-on programs like clay animation, video production, and more.

Outdoors

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Angel Island State Park

Angel Island has served as a hunting ground for the Miwoks, a Civil War encampment, a quarantine station during the Spanish-American War, a discharge depot and recruitment processing center during World War I, an embarkation station and POW camp during World War II, an Immigration Station often referred to as "The Ellis Island of the West" from 1910 through 1940 and a Nike Missile Base from 1955 to 1962. Today, visitors can enjoy 13 miles of hiking trails and roadway, segway tours, tram tours, bike rentals, hiking, and the "cove cafe."

San Francisco Botanical Garden Society at Strybing Arboretum

San Francisco Botanical Garden Society at Strybing Arboretum Escape to a unique urban oasis of extraordinary beauty. Enjoy the San Francisco Botanical Garden's world of gardens, excellent horticulture library, bookstore, and education programs.

Conservatory of Flowers

A spectacular living museum of rare and beautiful tropical plants from around the world. Prominently situated near the eastern end of Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory opened in 1879 and is North America's oldest existing public conservatory.

Mare Island Historic Park Foundation

Tour National Landmark, former Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Tour locations include the stately Colonial Revival era mansions of Officer's Row, St. Peter's Chapel with its Tiffany stained glass windows, the Mare Island Artifact Museum, and the dry docks along the waterfront of Mare Island strait.

Maritime National Historical Park

The park is home to the Submarine USS Pampanito, an authentic, World War II submarine. Visitors will feel history unfold, seeing how the crew of 80 men lived for weeks on end in amazingly tight quarters. Many original artifacts are on display. Exclusive iPod audio tour features Pampanito crewmen telling real-life war stories. The gift store is chock full of gifts, books, video/DVDs and memorabilia. Additional historical ships include the1886 square-rigger Balclutha, 1895 schooner C. A. Thayer, 1890 steam ferryboat Eureka, 1891 scow schooner Alma, 1907 steam tug Hercules, and 1914 paddlewheel tug Eppleton Hall.

The Presidio

Formerly a military post, the Presidio is a national park and recreational paradise featuring spectacular vistas, meandering trails, and historic and architectural treasures. Come for a hike, a walking tour, a picnic, to view an exhibit, or take a stroll back in time. Entrance to the park and most programs are free. The park is open daily, year-round.

Yerba Buena Gardens

An award-winning public facility, features a children’s garden, public art, museums, a historic carousel, ice-skating and bowling centers.

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See and Do

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