Top 10 San Francisco Attractions

At the north end of the city stands one of the iconic structures of any cityscape in the world. The Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937 and remains to this day one of the most stunning man-made structures of all time. The bright red, 746-foot-tall bridge carries California highways 1 and 101 across the bay from San Francisco to Marin County, California, and can be traversed by car, bicycle or on foot.

At more than 1,000 acres, Golden Gate Park is one of the nation's largest urban, municipal parks and contains all sorts of recreational diversions ranging from running and biking to paddle boating on Stowe Lake, the San Francisco Botanical Garden and the Golden Gate Equestrian Center. The park extends west from Stanyan Street to the Pacific Ocean between Lincoln Way and Fulton Street.

The crookedest street in America is Lombard Street in San Francisco. Featuring a severely steep hill, the street is a series of switchbacks that keep cars, bikes and walkers from simply stumbling downhill uncontrollably. Both sides of the street boast some of the most unique and expensive architecture in the city and some of the most beautiful gardening, and any given day you'll see dozens to hundreds of tourists capturing the sight on camera.

San Francisco boasts one of the largest and most culturally active Chinatown districts of any city in the country. In the mid-1800s, an influx of Chinese and Asian immigration into the city resulted in a large population of Chinese-Americans settling in the area between Knob Hill and the Financial district in the eastern part of the city. Featuring dozens if not hundreds of authentic restaurants, markets and shops, Chinatown gives its visitors a real glimpse of Hong Kong in America.

Known as the country's only moving landmark, San Francisco's cable cars have run through a grid of rail tracks in the city since 1873. Powered by a network of cables running under the streets, the cable cars grip and release the cables to move around each of three lines in the city. A day pass on the cable cars in 2009 is $11 and allows you to get on and off the cable cars as often as you like throughout the day.

Entering the Union Square district is entering the shopping center of San Francisco. With dozens of restaurants, stores, shops and entertainment from which to choose, Union Square is the central hub of tourist and resident commerce in the city. Accessible by car, on foot or cable car, most of the high-end stores in the city have locations here. And it is a fantastic place to people watch.

Home to more than 250 species of animals, the San Francisco Zoo is a world-class facility located in the southwestern part of the city. The zoo was build originally throughout the years of the Great Depression and over the years has developed into one of the most popular destinations in the city and even includes a children's zoo and educational programs. Daily fee for adults is $15 in 2009 with San Francisco residents getting a slight discount.

One of the most crowded tourist destinations in America, San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is part shopping mall, part seafood extravaganza, part entertainment center. With its great food, superior view of the bay and dozens of licensed and not-so-licensed street performers, the Wharf extends along north from the Embarkadero toward Ghirardelli Square and the Golden Gate Bridge. Boat tours, ferries to Alcatraz and bike rentals and sea lions that have taken over an entire pier are among the highlights.

Chocolate fans may never want to leave Ghirardelli Square. Home to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, you can sample chocolate, buy chocolate and tour the factory. Located west of Fisherman's Wharf, the square has a beautiful view of the bay and the San Francisco Swim Club as well as both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges.

Known as "the rock," Alcatraz is the most famous prison in America. Located on a rock island out in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz has been home to a maximum security prison, military barracks and Native American occupation. Al Capone was once imprisoned here, and only one prison break was ever recorded. Ferries travel to Alcatraz for tours seasonally throughout the year from Fisherman's Wharf.