Four GREAT PLACES TO GO IN SAN FRANCISCO

By Evelyn Pang
San Francisco, one of the most exquisite and awesome places to live in, harbors  many stunning and cool tourist attractions. Even if you live in SF, you should still visit these fun attractions (instead of being a couch potato at home). Hey, and if you’re a foodie, there are multiple places to go around town to get a bite. So from decadent croissants to exotic goods, San Francisco is truly a paragon of cities in California.

1. Exploratorium (Pier 15 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111)            

This is an amazing museum of art and various sculptures, science, and human perception. From personal experience, I can say that it’s so filled with color, interactive objects, and knowledge of science that I never encountered before. The museum also has cool demonstrations that you can watch and engage with like the Tactile Dome, Tinkering, Human Phenomena, Outdoor Exhibits, Seeing and Listening, and so much more! The Exploratorium is a great way to encourage people to engage and learn more about science and the living world.  

    2. The Ferry Building (One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111)
Right on the foot of Market Street, on the western edge of the continent, and in the center of the city’s financial banking and transportation district, stands the magnificent Ferry Building. The Ferry Building, opened  in 1898, became the focal point for anyone arriving by train. By the 1930s, the arrival of the ferryboat became one of the only transportation for travelers and commuters to reach the city from the East Bay to San Francisco.  Years later, in the 1950s, the Ferry Building was used very little, and was converted to a standard office. Finally, in 2003, this special landmark was restored and reopened to the public as a world class food market. Now, there is a high quality Cuesa’s Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, sweet treats, restaurants and cafes, and plenty of shops containing exotic goods you can’t really find anywhere else. For example, it has Blue Bottle Coffee, Mariposa Baking Company, Out the Door (restaurant), Dandelion Chocolate, and Village Market (just to name a few). You are guaranteed to have a wonderful and relaxing time in the Ferry Building with your family, friends, or just by yourself.

 3. Japanese Tea Garden (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, San Francisco, CA CA 94118)

The Japanese Tea Garden provides visitors with a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to experience the natural serene beauty and harmony of a Japanese-style garden. Originally, in 1894, it was created as a “Japanese village” exhibit for the California Midwinter International Exposition. When the fair closed, Makoto Hagiwara (a Japanese landscape architect) created a permanent Japanese-style garden as a gift of prosperity. He gave all his passion, wealth, and energy into the stunning garden. This garden features an arched drum bridge, stone lanterns, pagodas, native Japanese plants, stepping stone paths, a zen garden, koi ponds, and a Tea House. During March and April, you can see the elegant beauty of cherry blossom trees throughout the garden. Standing with great tranquil beauty and pride, the Japanese Tea Garden is one of the many wonders of San Francisco today. In addition, this garden will be most suitable for those who enjoy the calmness of nature over their weekend.   

4. b. Patisserie (2821 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115)

Pastry wiz Belinda Leong, is the one behind all of the decadent pastries and cakes of her infamous b. patisserie. Her modern, yet stylish, bakery has an open pastry kitchen, displaying the combination of Leong’s pure talent and Michael Suas’s expertise. The menu consists of French pastries alongside American flavors and local influences. You can choose from tarts, verrines, macarons, a range of viennoiseries, croissants, tartines, individual cakes, all the way to kouign amanns (delicious, different, and strongly recommended!). Grab a friend, have a comforting cup of coffee, buy a chocolate croissant, and enjoy the pleasant setting of Belinda’s refined salon de thé.   ​