San Francisco Attractions

"Keep your fingers crossed" for the Giants "to hit a homer" into the Bay at this "magical" SoMa ballpark with a "captivating" waterfront location and "creative" eats (sushi, fish tacos, "world-famous garlic fries" and "Ghirardelli ice-cream sundaes") that make the national pastime "even more fun"; tickets are "pricey and sometimes hard to get", but "there's not a bad seat in the house" and you can "take a tour" even if you're not attending a game.

There's no escaping that "it's super touristy" – and it's a "chilly", "windy" ferry ride to get there – but this "notorious prison" "where infamous criminals like Al Capone were held" "enthralls" history buffs as well as those aching for a little "solitary confinement"; the "creepy" but "fascinating" audio tour, "complete with bars clanging and prisoners yelling", helps you "imagine being stuck in these cold, gray surroundings with the view of beautiful SF beyond arm's length"; P.S. insiders know to "book online in advance."

This "funky", "amazing" science museum "turns adults into kids" with hundreds of "hands-on activities" that "deftly illustrate" the concepts behind "sound, light, biology, physics" and other subjects that "eluded you in high school"; so bring your "sense of fun" and schedule "at least half a day" – that way, you can indulge your "inner geek" and also "take a walk around" the picturesque Palace of Fine Arts; N.B. free on the first Wednesday of each month.

What was once a working waterfront is now "SF's best-known tourist trap", with "overpriced seafood restaurants" and "tacky souvenir shops" that "no self-respecting San Franciscan would be caught dead in"; still, it's "nice for a stroll", offering "street performers", "great Golden Gate views" and "barking sea lions on Pier 39" – all to be enjoyed while devouring a "yummy sourdough bowl of chowder" and a "delicious" Ghirardelli Square ice-cream sundae; N.B. it's also the departure spot for bay cruises and the boat to Alcatraz Island.

Arguably "the most famous bridge in the world", this "iconic" "engineering marvel" is a "must-see" during "any trip to San Francisco"; you can't miss it from the city's many vantage points, but "brave the winds" and "walk or bike across" for "goosebump"-inducing views ("when the fog's not obscuring them") and a visit to "quaint Sausalito" across the Bay; acrophobes "can drive it" and "snap the mandatory photo" from parking lots at either end.

"You could spend days" at this "mammoth" park (stretching 1,000 acres "from the Haight to the Pacific") that's chock-full of activities: "visit the buffalo" paddock, "take a boat trip on Stow Lake", "play bocce ball", hit a round at the public golf course, catch a glimpse of the two turn-of-the-century windmills or admire blooms "more exotic than the dandelions in your backyard" at the Conservatory of Flowers and the San Francisco Botanical Garden; P.S. given its vast size, don't forget to "enter with a good map."

"Back and better than ever" after an "incredible makeover", this "beauty" of a muni "in the middle of San Francisco" is a "sweet, old-school, tree-lined track" that's "steeped in tradition", as befits the host of the PGA's "prestigious Presidents Cup" in 2009; the "picturesque back" boasts an "exceptional finishing hole", and though a few gripe about about the "minimal facilities", "mediocre service" and "cold SF fog", most just "bring a sweater" and enjoy "one of the best values in California golf (even better if you're a resident)."

"Magnificent gardens" and a "delightful Japanese teahouse" overlooking a waterfall make this "small" yet "lovely" "oasis in Golden Gate Park" a perfect place to have a wedding or "soak in" that Zen feeling, especially during cherry-blossom season; with "narrow paths" winding past greenery, pagodas and koi ponds, it offers nonstop "photo ops", but be sure to take "time for tea" and snacks "served by women in traditional attire."

Located "in the heart of San Francisco", this "old army base" track is a "tight", "hilly", "beautiful" layout routed "among the cypress" and eucalyptus trees, with "no water" hazards in sight; "painfully slow rounds" and "military"-grade facilities bother some, but those who value its "historic" heritage suggest golfers "check it out"; P.S. "bundle up" for the "British Open conditions": "chilly", "windy" and "foggy."

There's "always something to spark the mind" at this SoMa museum, starting with the Mario Botta–designed building, a "fantastically lit, striped granite" "work of modern art in itself", complete with a top-floor "see-through catwalk"; a "diverse permanent collection", "outstanding traveling exhibits", an "excellent cafeteria" and a "cool gift shop" are among its other "gems"; N.B. admission is free on the first Tuesday of each month.

If you've got a half-day and love to see animals "jump up and down", head to SF's "evolving" zoo in West Portal, where the staff is "engaging" and post-millennial "improvements" include the "(literally) howling good" Lemur Forest and the African Savanna; insiders advise visiting the new Hearst Grizzly Gulch exhibit and the six-acre children's zoo, which includes a petting farm, a nature trail and a chance to get up-close-and-personal with birds of prey at the Animal Resource Center; N.B. there is no admission charge on the first Wednesday of each month.

"Make sure to increase your credit card limit" before heading here, as this "bustling" "heart of San Francisco's" hotel, theater and shopping districts contains so many "great restaurants" plus "every store you can imagine" (from Gucci to souvenir shacks); the park square plays host to a TIX Bay Area ticket booth, street performers, art shows and a fair amount of "tourists" – but no matter how "busy" it gets, it's still a fine place to "hang out" and "people-watch."