Tourism in San Francisco

Touring San Francisco is best done on foot – although the hills are a challenge. Dependable walking shoes are essential. You will need a jacket for the dramatic temperature swings, especially in summer, when fog rolls in during the afternoon. The land mark of Union Square is the Westin St. Francis Hotel. The hotel’s Art Deco Compass Rose lounge is a stylish place to sip afternoon tea. Boutiques line two blocks Maiden Lane, across Union Square from the St. Francis. The building that holds Folk Art International / Boretti Amber / Xanadu galleries is the only Frank Lloyd Wright building in the city. It’s said to have been the architect’s model for the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

The dragon crowned Chinatown Gate is the main entrance to colorful, busting Chinatown. Among the many interesting architectural examples here is the Chinese Six Companies building. The Old Chinese Telephone Exchange, a three tier pagoda that is now the Bank of Canton, was built after the 1906 earthquake. To learn about the area’s history, visit the Chinese Culture Center, which is working on all days except Monday.