Sarah Winchester’s life was a happy one, at least until the loss of her daughter and husband. Unable to bear her distress, Mrs. Winchester sought the aid of a medium. This spiritualist claimed that spirits where haunting the Winchester family and had been responsible for the deaths of Mrs. Winchester’s loved ones. The medium also implied Mrs. Winchester would suffer the same fate unless she moved west and began work on a house for the these spirits upon which construction never ceased.
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Mrs. Winchester moved to California and in 1884, she began construction on what has become known as the Winchester Mystery House. As instructed, she continued adding onto the house to ensure the construction was never complete , a process which lasted the remaining 38 years of her life. Carpenters were hired in shifts so work could be carried out around the clock. By the time Mrs. Winchester died, the house rambled over 5 acres.

This focus on continuous construction over nearly four decades partially explains some of the unusual rooms and strange hallways. However, many of the more bizarre aspects of the home are still wondered about by visitors and tour guides alike.

The House

The main reason for the peculiarities in the house design is that Mrs. Winchester sketched vague drawings of what she wanted based on nightly séances. Each morning, she met with the architect to review changes to previous instructions and provide new instructions for additions she intended to have built. She believed that helpful spirits provided her with suggestions that would protect her and even provide her with eternal life if followed exactly.

When Mrs. Winchester died, the final estate had 160 rooms, dozens of staircases and countless hallways. Much of the construction can be called eccentric if not bizarre. Tour guides must warn visitors to stay with the group and not wander off or they risk being lost for hours prior to being located.

Some of the unusual features of the house may have practical explanations. For example, Mrs. Winchester was known to have extremely painful arthritis. This may be the reason for the switch back staircase which rises only nine feet despite consisting of 77 flights of 44 stairs each. The two-inch high steps may have aided her in being able to climb to the next floor.

There are miles of meandering hallways yet Mrs. Winchester rarely used them, instead taking mysterious shortcuts. Secret passageways can be found throughout the house, which are believed to have been used by the owner to confuse any spirits that may have been following her.

Over time, her architect became used to the odd requests and took them in stride. He added upside down columns, staircases which descended a number of steps before ascending to the next floor, chimneys that stop only feet before reaching the roof, doors that open to walls, stairs that dead ended at the ceiling, and windows which led to staircases or passageways.

While it is believed that almost 600 rooms were built, most were redone numerous times with many later demolished such that only 160 rooms remain today. Yet each room and hallway have mysterious and inexplicable features one has to see to believe.

The Gardens

Mrs. Winchester loved her garden which served to provide her with a relaxing retreat and the privacy she required. It is said that when she was alive the surrounding hedges where so high that only part of the top floor of the house was visible from outside the estate.

While after her death the gardens failed to be maintained, they were restored in 1973. Currently open to the public, visitors can wander the paths through tall boxwood hedges and admire more than 1,500 different types of flowering plants, trees and shrubs. Given the mild weather where the estate is located, there is always something in bloom.

Private Parties and Special Events

The Winchester House is available for private parties. This popular attraction has space that can be booked for company picnics, weddings, birthday parties, retreats and other private events.

There are a number of special events open to the public throughout the year. Upcoming events include the annual San Jose Orchid Festival, and Friday the 13th Flashlight Ghost Tours.

Mountain View Accommodations with Special Rates and Discount Packages

Located in sunny Silicon Valley, the Camino Inn and Suites offers picture perfect mountain views, easy access to local area entertainment, business services, and some of the most charming accommodations in the San Francisco area.

The Camino Inn is conveniently located near the San Antonio Shopping Center, and the Los Altos History Museum. It’s also a short distance from the Shoreline Amphitheater, Lucille Packard Hospital, Theaterworks, and the Winchester Mystery House.

Guests are provided with a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, to ensure they start their day with the energy to enjoy everything the area has to offer. The hotel is also near many of the most popular restaurants in the Valley, a number of which are just a short walk away.

Guests can enjoy a number of amenities in their rooms including Satellite Television, free HBO & ESPN, hair dryers in each bathroom, microwaves, mini refrigerators, and coffee makers. Some rooms come with complete kitchenettes and hot tubs. All rooms are non-smoking.

Other amenities offered in the hotel include free services at the business center, complimentary Wi-Fi, coffee service in the lobby, dry cleaning and valet services, a coin-operated laundry, use of a fully equipped fitness center and banquet & meeting rooms. Event, banquet and meeting planning is available.

An additional benefit of the Camino Inn and Suites is that when guests stay here there’s no need to leave their pets behind. Camino Inn and Suites is a pet friendly hotel and welcomes guest’s dogs, allowing two to stay with each guest.

Guests also won’t spend a fortune for lodging when staying at the Camino Inn. The hotel has been consistently voted a Best Value Hotel. In addition to being economical, the Camino Inn maintains the highest standards to provide the best experience for every guest.

Now, as an additional bonus, guests can take advantage of a special package offer that includes major discounts on lodging and tickets to the Winchester Mystery House. This is a great option for visitors looking for an affordable yet fun-filled family vacation.

More information on special rates can be obtained directly from the hotel.

Package hotel Winchester Mystery House

• Camino Inn and suites, Mountain View, CA

You will never know how good or bad your hotel is doing if you do not keep accurate records of your revenues and expenses. By analyzing certain key figures and industry ratios like the Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR), the Average Daily Rate (ADR) and the Occupancy Rate, you can get a clear picture if the current year is better than the previous year.

Of all the figures that hotel owners, managers and financial analysts use to evaluate performance, the most important one is RevPAR. This figure, which is stated in dollars, is attained by dividing Total Guest Revenue by Total Number of Available Rooms. It not only measures occupancy and the room rate, but also provides insight into how well a hotel is utilizing its room inventory.

For instance, it can be misleading to say that you are doing better this year, compared to last year because you are getting an average of $10 more per room that you rent. What you really want to know is if you would generate morerevenue with higher occupancy rates if you lowered your room rates by $10. If you have 200 guest rooms and can fill 180 of them if you charge $100 per night or you can fill 150 of them if you charge $150 per night, what is better? If you do the math, you will see that you will bring in more money by charging a higher rate and having fewer guests.

This information, which can be gathered by studying RevPAR is very helpful in trying to price your guest rooms properly. There is a certain point where the price and occupancy rate meet that will maximize the revenue for yourhotel.

In order to increase your RevPAR figures and maximize the net revenue that your property, you need to keep a close watch on all aspects of your operation. One of the common mistakes that many managers and operators make is that they allocate too many of their rooms to online travel agencies (OTA) so they can fill their rooms. OTAs like Priceline, Expedia and Travelocity, appeal to so many travelers because they sell your rooms at largely discounted rates.

Now this is not their fault. You are the one that signs the contract with each company and you are the one that decides how low a price you are willing to accept for a guest room. Somewhere along the line, perhaps in a frantic attempt to fill every empty room, common sense went out the window. If you factor in the variable costs per occupied room (VCPOR) such as the cost to have a maid clean it or the cost of washing more towels, the expenses can add up. If you discount that guest room through an OTA too low, you may increase occupancy rates, but actually lose more money than if you left the room unoccupied.

One of the tips that will help keep you from messing up your price structure to the point where it actually hurts RevPAR is to get a firm grip on the demand patterns for your property. You should have a very good idea when guests are most likely to visit. For instance, managers at hotels around Disneyland in Anaheim know that demand rises when the kids are out of school in the summer and almost all hotels in the area have very high occupancy rates when Disney celebrates the Fourth of July or some other big event.

Contrary to what most owners and managers of hotels believe, you will not maximize profits by charging less for your rooms to try to attract more guests. When you think about it, people do not flock to a hotel because it is renting rooms for $39 per night. They go to hotels because they need a place to stay when they are in the area. Demand forhotel rooms is basically inelastic. In any given market segment, you will maximize your income and improve yourRevPAR if you charge higher rates than your competitors.

There are some exceptions such as if you own an exclusive resort and offer a special rate during the off-season to attract guests when you have lots of empty rooms. Lower rates can be made up by charging for additional services like spa treatments or fancy dinners when your guests arrive.

Touching back on the subject of fixed and variable costs, can help you maximize profits. If you need to hire more maids, your electricity bill rises when there are more occupants, or you have to buy more donuts for the free breakfast buffet, that will cut into profits. Of course you do not want to shortchange your guests, but you do want to control wasteful spending.

There are a number of great tips that will improve your Revenue Per Available Room figures. Some of these tips are just common sense and others are things you just might never have thought of doing.

It does not take more than a little common sense to know that people driving by and looking for a place to spend the night will gravitate toward hotels that have curb appeal. You can increase your curb appeal by making sure your grounds are well kept, your building is in good repair and you have a big sign that can be seen from a distance. Visual appeal is a good way to attract more paying guests and boost your room sales.

Did you know that there are other ways to attract business besides using the Internet and social media? Yes, it is true that we are living in a digital world, but studies have shown that old-fashioned highway billboards are a very attractive way of steering people onto the exit ramp and into your hotel’s parking lot.

You should certainly pay attention to all of the online reviews that are written about your property. It is quite normal to get a few bad reviews, but addressing them promptly can restore your hotel’s good name. Retaining customers and encouraging new ones to visit will put cash in the register.

First impressions do matter. When a guest passes through the entrance into the lobby, he or she does not want to see some old furniture and a pile of disheveled newspapers on a coffee table. Your lobby should be carefully designed and pleasing to the entering guest. When they get up to the front desk to check-in, the front desk clerk must fill the role of enthusiastic representative with a friendly smile and pleasant personality. This is the hospitality business and a grumpy clerk is bad for business.

A few more tips for hoteliers who want to improve their financial figures are to give the guest more than what they expect. Instead of having an average free breakfast with some cold cereal and donuts, upgrade the experience to hot scrambled eggs, fresh seasonal fruit and premium brand coffee. Reward your employees who come up with ways to save money and provide better guest experiences. Enter into reciprocal relationships with some of the other area hotels. When they have no vacancies, they can send guests to your place and you can return the favor when all of your rooms are filled.

You must work hard and you must work smart if you want to increase revenues and decrease the percentage of empty and available rooms. Demand for guest rooms changes from week to week and at different times of the year. You need to have a good understanding of when demand is high so you can raise your rates. By understanding your customers and their needs, you can be successful.

San Francisco has come a long way since it was a small Spanish mission and settlement in the late 1700s. In the early 1800s, the settlement began to flourish and was becoming an important hub for trade routes and exports.

During the 1848 Gold Rush, the town’s population rose from just under 1,000 residents to over 25,000. Around 1900, immigrants came to the city to find work and the population exceeded 300,000 residents. It was extremely prosperous, full of stately homes, mansions, hotels and theatres.
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In 1906, an earthquake and ensuing fires leveled 75% of the city. Such was the wealth of the city that special projects were constructed to secure its future, including a high pressure fire system, new sewers, reservoirs, as well as the municipal railways. The Golden Gate Bridge was built during the Great Depression and finished in time for the World’s Fair in 1939.

The city currently has over 7 million residents and a yearly average of 16.5 million tourists visit the numerous historical sights. The city has something for everyone, including arts, theatres, museums, parks and gardens, historical architecture and restaurants.

For first time travelers, it is a recommendation that one book a touring package through a travel agency. Touring packages are a fantastic way to see the city if one is on a budget or has limited time.

Located downtown, The San Francisco Visitor Information Center can help tourists with information, maps, booking tours and hotel reservations. A recommendation for first time visitors is to use the City Guides, which offer over 75 free walking tours throughout the year.
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Things to Do

Alcatraz

A must see site for first time visitors, Alcatraz was not only the most famous penitentiary in the U.S., but it was also the foundation for the first lighthouse on the west coast, a harbor defense fort during the Civil War and a military stockade. Opened in 1934 as a federal prison, Alcatraz housed several notorious gangsters including Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.

Four audio tours of Alcatraz Island are available throughout the day. Recommendations include The Early Bird tour for visitors who do not wish to be in a large group and the Night Tour which adds an extra boat tour around the island as well as a guided tour.

Golden Gate Bridge

Opened to traffic in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge crosses the Golden Gate Strait and connects the city and Marin County. The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy offers bridge tours from April through October, or tourists can visit the bridge on a self-guided tour. Sites at the bridge include the Bridge Pavilion, which offers photos, artifacts and exhibits of the bridge’s history and construction, as well as the Bridge Cafe, offering snacks and beverages.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf was constructed in 1849 during the Gold Rush era, when Italian fishermen settled the area and started fishing for crab. It has always been the home for local fishing fleets, and in 1978 it was remodeled for thetourist industry.

Popular locations within the Wharf district include Pier 39, the Cannery shopping center and several museums and restaurants. For World War II history enthusiasts, the USS Pampanito, a decommissioned WWII submarine, is moored at the nearby Hyde St. Pier.

There are plenty of attractions on Pier 39 such as shopping and restaurants, the two-story, carved Venetian carousel, a small theatre, the Pier 39 Marina and the Aquarium of the Bay. Be sure to check out Dock K to see the numerous sea lions basking in the sun.

Ghirardelli Square

In 1849, Domingo Ghirardelli came to San Francisco and opened a store selling mustard, spices, chocolate and coffee. In the late 1890s, the company bought a woolen mill factory and converted it into their chocolate factory. The company sold the factory in the 1960s and the surrounding buildings were converted into offices, shopping and upscale restaurants.

Chinatown

San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest and oldest in the United States. Land was originally set aside for the Chinese in the Portsmouth Square area in 1849, and as industry grew, so did Chinatown.

Chinatown offers several festivals and events throughout the year, including the Chinese New Year, which draws thousands of people to the area for parades and street fairs, as well as the Dragon Boat Festival. Recommendationsfor tours include the free walking tours by City Guides and The Chinese Cultural Center, which focuses on heritage and cuisine. Information for a self-guided tour can be downloaded from almost any visitor’s website.

Food

Breakfast

Founded by Ben and Hilbur Sears in 1938, Sears Fine Foods has been a favorite local diner for breakfast and brunch, offering their world-famous 18 Swedish pancakes. Sold in the 1950s and moved to a larger location in the 1960s, the new owners kept the original menus until it closed in 2003. In 2004, new owners renovated and reopened the diner.

Sears Fine Foods has an extensive menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but locals recommend the world-famous Swedish pancakes for breakfast. They also serve smoked salmon Benedict, southern corn beef hash and eggs, waffles and omelets.

Lunch

Cafe La Taza has been serving delicious Mexican dishes in the city for over 15 years. They offer meals at extremely fair prices and have a large coffee selection that will rival any large coffee chain. Using only the freshest ingredients, they serve breakfast and lunch at two locations and offer dinner at a third.

Favorites at Cafe La Taza are their specialty sandwiches, including the classic Philly cheese steak, the B.L.T., the crab salad sandwich and the hot or cold made-to-order sandwich, popular for anyone on the go.

Tea

For afternoon tea, visit the top-rated Crown and Crumpet Tea Stop Cafe located off of Ghirardelli Square. They serve classic British lunches from 11:00 am until closing. Popular dishes include Welsh rarebit, English cottage pie and sausage rolls with mixed greens. Their specialty, however, is afternoon tea.

They offer a choice of 38 different teas and serve tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, curd and jams, toasted crumpets with butter and house-made sweets. They also serve various champagnes, wines, ports and sherry.

Dinner

Top of the Mark

Top of the Mark is a restaurant and sky lounge located on the 19th floor of the classy Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. It has been a popular destination for dinner and drinks with both locals and tourists since 1939. The Top of the Mark offer meals throughout the day and into the night with spectacular, panoramic views of the city.

They serve a light dining menu in the evening that includes items such as seafood, sliders, salads, tacos and even caviar. They also have an extensive wine list as well as over 100 martinis on the menu.

San Francisco is a unique city with such a rich history that visitors will need a week to see it all. Every nationality is present in the city as one can see in the architecture, the wonderful food, the neighborhoods, the street names and in the arts. Rudyard Kipling was quoted as saying, “San Francisco has only one drawback: ‘Tis hard to leave.”

Lodging recommendation around San Francisco Bay

• Hampton Inn & Suites San Francisco Burlingame Airport South
• Camino Inn, Mountain View, CA

A big thank-you is in order for all the people who help make the travel and tourism industry one of the most important economic engines of the American economy. During National Travel & Tourism Week, travel agents, hotel operators, theme park employees, restaurant workers and a host of other dedicated people, get together to celebrate and advance the goals of the travel and tourism industry.

This year’s National Travel and Tourism Week takes place from May 4-12, 2013. More than 100 cities and towns across the nation will participate in a series of events designed to promote travel and tourism in the local community. By increasing public awareness and interest in the impact on job creation and the many other benefits that tourists bring to a city, it boosts the enthusiasm and energy to make the travel and tourism industry even better than it already is today.

Big cities like Seattle and San Diego are participating in big ways to attract major media attention. In cities like Fargo and Providence, not normally considered hot tourist destinations, strong efforts are being made to make those cities more interesting and attractive to visitors. From Naples, FL and Jackson, MS to Beaumont, TX and Santa Fe, NM National Travel and Tourism Week is making headlines and stirring up interest.

2013 marks 30 years since the celebration of the first National Travel and Tourism Week. In 1983, Congress passed a joint resolution that officially made the first full week in May National Travel and Tourism Week. President Reagan, who recognized the value of having a strong travel and tourism industry, signed a Presidential Proclamation that brought further attention to the cause.

What does travel and tourism mean to America?

The great summer family vacation has been a part of the American lifestyle ever since the roads were paved and the interstate highway system was completed. People love to travel for fun and businessmen need to travel to meetings and trade shows. Both domestic and international tourism generate huge amounts of spending that helps fuel the local economy. Places like Las Vegas and Honolulu depend on tourism as the number one driver of their economies.

Spending

In 2012, international and domestic travelers spent $855 billion on hotel rooms, transportation, gifts and other items directly related to travel. Travel spending also helped generate more than a trillion dollars of economic output in other industries.

Tax Revenues

Towns, cities, states and the federal government were able to collect $129 billion in tax revenues because of the money spent on travel and tourism. It is estimated that every family would have to pay more than a $1,000 in additional taxes if the tax revenue from the travel and tourism industry did not exist.

International visitors

When international visitors travel to the United States, the money they spend on passenger fares to U.S. carriers to get to America, as well as all of the money spent while they are visiting in the United States, is counted by the government as travel exports. The travel and tourism industry is the largest of all service export industries. In 2012, international visitors spent $168.1 billion dollars, which, when compared to travel imports (American travel to international destinations), created a balance of travel trade surplus of $45 billion. More spending by international visitors to America compared to spending by American’s abroad is a major positive for the U.S. economy.

Jobs

Democrats and Republicans alike are always talking about how important it is to create new jobs. Well, thanks to the surge in travel and tourist activities in 2012, 7.7 million workers found jobs directly related to the industry. Another 6.9 million jobs were created in other industries due to the widespread effect of travel. A total of 14.6 million or one in every eight jobs in America is connected to the travel and tourism industry.

All of the statistics show that the travel and tourism industry is a vital part of the American economy. It is so important to keep the momentum going. National Travel and Tourism Week is the perfect way to generate excitement and get people to realize all of the great things about traveling and seeing new places.

Travel Rally Day

Travel Rally Day was held on May 7, 2012 and gave cities across the nation the chance to meet with local politicians and decision makers who could help steer the industry forward. Speakers spoke. Crowds were stirred up at rallies. Ceremonies, banquets and many special events were held in both small and large travel markets. Travel Rally Day showed the great enthusiasm of people working in the industry as well as from the public who love travel and want an even more exciting travel experience.

Events that work well during National Travel and Tourism Week

While this is a national celebration, events are organized on a local level. The travel community in each city is free to be creative and think of new ways to get their message out through all kinds of marketing channels. Following are a few suggestions that will attract attention and help promote the travel industry.

Showing Unity

Get everyone to wear red on Wear Red Day. It has been a long-standing tradition for National Travel and Tourism Week to show your support by wearing red shirts, caps and other clothing. Just like you might see all of the fans at a Green Bay Packers game wearing the green and yellow team colors, red is the color to wear to support travel.

Social Media

Get on Facebook and Twitter and tell all your friends and followers about this special week. Let them tell their friends and soon the word will spread like wild fire.

Conduct tours

Each city has many great attractions, restaurants and other things that make it special. Holding tours with small groups of travel professionals can get them to see the great things in your city and pass that information on to travelers who may want to visit.

National Travel and Tourism only comes once each year. If you get a chance to participate in any of the events, it is well worth the time. Even if you can not make it to a rally or other function, you should think about the important role the travel and tourism industry plays in your community. At the very least, greet a stranger in town and wish them a very enjoyable stay.

More information  http://www.ustravel.org/marketing/national-travel-and-tourism-week

Why Do People Love SF So Much?

Millions of people from all across the globe love the city of SF because there is a multitude of things to do and see for people of all ages and of all walks of life. The beauty of the city is simply unparalleled and there are numerous ways in which to experience the breathtaking natural beauty that surrounds you. The arts and culture of SF are great to experience as well, with museums, art galleries, Golden Gate Park, and spectacular Victorian architecture all at your fingertips. The city is also a top culinary destination. One-of-a-kind sights, activities, tours, vistas, and attractions abound so much so in the city that it is next to impossible to experience all the city has to offer unless you have unlimited time. In fact, Rudyard Kipling once stated, “San Francisco has only one drawback… it’s hard to leave.” In this article, we will discuss numerous ways to have Fun in SF in 2013.
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San Francisco: Beauty All Around

Perhaps the number one reason people flock to SF year after year is because of the city’s gorgeous natural beauty. Muir Woods is a must-see location nestled in Marin County. Here you will stand amongst the oldest and tallest giant redwood trees on Earth. If you have time, you may wish to take a California Wine Country Tour from the city to Napa Valley and Sonoma Wine Country to taste delicious wines and gaze upon the beautiful countryside hills. Yosemite National Park is another spot to experience wild beauty, and if you take a tour you will enjoy a scenic drive through San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. You may spot a black bear along the way. At the park, you will love the multitude of walking and hiking tours, spectacular waterfalls, and giant sequoia trees. Be very sure, however, to find a spot to fully take in the amazing coastline when you are in SF. You haven’t fully experienced SF if you do not feel, smell, see, and hear the huge and frothy waves crashing amongst the jagged rocks of the coast.

Experience the Uniqueness of SF

There are several fun things to do in SF in 2013 that involve exploring the sights and attractions that are totally unique to the city. The number one tourist attraction in the city is Pier 39, where you will find the famous sea lions, over 100 specialty shops, restaurants, street vendors offering delicious and fresh seafood delights, the Aquarium of the Bay, art galleries, boat rides and talented street performers. Also, check out Fisherman’s Wharf where you will enjoy many of the things offered at Pier 39 and also be able to take the famous SF Duck Tour. No trip to the city is complete without also visiting and touring Alcatraz with its very interesting and state-of-the-art audio tour. Other things you should not miss when in SF include the very crooked Lombard Street, Coit Tower, Golden Gate Park, and the Japanese Tea Gardens.

Experience San Francisco’s Finest by taking a Tour

A multitude of city tours are readily available in the city of SF and they provide a great way to see the very best of the city. Take a cable car ride through the famous steep hills or even a double-decker bus tour. The SF Shuttle Tour provides an in-depth five-hour tour and includes a ferry cruise across the bay. If you can handle heights, think about going on a helicopter tour on which you will experience fantastic views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, the beautiful Pacific coastline, the Marin Headlands, and the quaint town of Sausalito.

Art and Culture Galore in SF

SF is a mecca of art and cultural experiences. While in SF, you simply must explore Golden Gate Park, which houses one of the world’s largest planetarium, and aquarium and coral reef, a glass-domed rainforest, and a natural history museum, among other things. The Asian Art Museum is another great place to visit and houses over 15,000 treasures spanning about 6,000 years of Asian history. Other top museums and art galleries include the SF Art Exchange, the SF Museum of Modern Art, California Historical Society, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, MH de Young Museum, and the Legion of Honor.

A “Foodie’s” Dream: SF

Culinary experiences are around every corner in the city of SF. Perhaps one of the best is Ferry Plaza and Farmers Market at the Ferry Building Marketplace. This is a Saturday market filled with the very best artisan specialties and organic produce, from olive oils and cheeses to jams and even flowers. Enjoy food samples from international food vendors and cooking demonstrations here as well. Also, you would be remiss to miss out on visiting Ghirardelli Square and its famous ice cream shop, waterfront dining, art galleries, fine shops and live entertainment. North Beach and Little Italy are amazing spots for to-die-for food as well and even offer food tours so you can taste the very best coffee, truffles, specialty meats, olive oils, and other foods that are featured here.

Golden Gate Bridge: Truly a Sight to See!

We have saved the best for last: Golden Gate Bridge. An architectural wonder, the bridge welcomes over ten million cyclists and walkers every year. Here you will enjoy breathtaking views of the SF skyline, Alcatraz, Angel Island, SF Bay and its plethora of sailboats, and the Pacific Ocean. You can even take the SF Sailing Cruise, which will take you under the magnificent bridge. Linking SF to Marin County, the Golden Gate Bridge features a visitor’s plaza and picturesque vistas, overlooks, and trails.

In conclusion, it really is impossible to include all the ways to have Fun in SF in one article. The city is jam-packed with things to do and explore. From Alcatraz and Golden Gate Park to Muir Woods and North Beach, your choices of activities abound. We hope this article provided a glimpse into some of the ways you can have Fun in 2013 in the spectacular city of SF!