Golden Gate Park
There are plenty of things to do in Golden Gate Park, and two of the major attractions, The de Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences are a two-minute walk from Shakespeare Garden.
De Young Museum -The de Young museum, designed Herzog & de Meuron, is an architectural landmark, and showcases collections of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, and art of the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific.
California Academy of Sciences - Designed by Renzo Piano, the Academy has a 197,000-square-foot living roof. The Academy is a single structure but contains multiple venues, including the aquarium, the planetarium, the natural history museum and the 4-story rainforest. In addition, there's a 3D theater, a lecture hall, a Naturalist Center, two restaurants, an adjacent garden and aviary, a roof terrace, and an Academy store.
Arboretum and Botanical Gardens - Started in 1937 with WPA funds and charitable donations, this 70-acre horticultural extravaganza entices the senses with more than 6,000 plant species.
Conservatory of Flowers - This gem of Victorian architecture has a long and storied history, and is the oldest wood and glass conservatory in North America.
Downtown San Francisco
Union Square - The Hotel Nikko is located in this 25-block shopping mecca with approximately 6 million square feet of retail space. You could spend days wandering around all of the shops.
Ferry Building Marketplace - Numerous shops, large and small, celebrate food in all its forms, offering everything from artisan cheeses, organic produce, sweets, baked goods, and the freshest of local fish and meats. The Ferry Building has a great view of the water and the Bay Bridge to boot.
SF MOMA - Check out their new rooftop sculpture garden and amazing gift store. MOMA's collection of modern and contemporary art includes more than 26,000 works and continues to grow. The museum has holdings in photography, painting and sculpture, architecture and design, and media arts.
Yerba Buena Gardens - With a two-level outdoor garden, a children's garden, an ice rink, a bowling center, and the Zeum, an art and technology museum, the Yerba Buena Gardens complex is a good place to let the little ones burn off some steam. Or if you just want to relax outdoors after visiting the nearby MOMA.
Chinatown - San Francisco Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest Chinatown in North America. Take a walk up Grant Avenue and explore some of the many shops.
North Beach - Best known as San Francisco's Little Italy, with its high density of check-clothed ristorantes, caffes and Old World delicatessens. It's also a popular pilgrimage for fans of the Beat movement seeking the old haunts of Kerouac and Ginsberg. Be sure to stop by BarVesuvio and the City Lights Bookstore. Take a break after the uphill trek in Washington Square Park, which is directly adjacent to the reception site, the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club.
Other Neighborhoods
If you would prefer to skip the hustle and bustle of the more popular tourist destinations, or are spending a few extra days in San Francisco, you might want to check out a few other neighborhoods. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in many of these neighbhorhoods.
