Four
Top Views of San Francisco
| San Francisco offers
one of the world’s most
photogenic skylines. On a clear
day or night, views of the city,
dominated by the spire of the Transamerica Pyramid, can be
spectacular. Add the Golden Gate
Bridge, the rough-hewn hills of
the Marin Headlands, the
sparkling waters of the Bay and
the ocean beyond, and the
panoramic sight is absolutely
awe-inspiring. So where should you
go to find vistas like these? We
recommend the four following
spots as the best places to go
for fabulous San Francisco
vistas.
|
|
1. Carnelian Room
Bank of America Building
555 California Street (corner of Kearny
Street)
(415) 433-7500
Located on the 52nd
floor of the Bank of America
Building, the Carnelian
Room is a private dining room for members
of the Banker’s Club by day and open
to the public for drinks and dining only
in the evening and for weekend brunch. At
781 feet above the ground, this is the
highest man-made perspective
from which to view San Francisco and the
surrounding areas. Drinks and a meal
aren’t cheap, but remember that the
price includes unbeatable views.
Oenophiles will be happy to note that the
Carnelian Room has one of America’s
largest restaurant wine cellars. To make
reservations online, visit the Carnelian
Room's web site.
2. Coit Tower
on top of Telegraph
Hill (Lombard and
Kearny Streets)
(415) 362-0808
The 180-foot tall Coit
Tower, built with funds from the estate
of Lillie Hitchcock Coit and visible from
all over the city, is often considered a
monument to the city's volunteer
firefighters. In fact, many people see a
resemblance between the tower itself and
a fire-hose nozzle. While there are
interesting WPA murals inside, the real
attraction is the panoramic views
from the top. Note that despite the fact
that you can ride an elevator almost to
the top of the tower, the series of steps
to the base and the short staircase to
the observation deck mean that this
attraction is not wheelchair accessible.
For more information about visiting Coit
Tower, see the related
article.
3. Marin Headlands
Visitors Center (415)
331-1540
Whether you hike the
well-marked trails or simply stop your
car at one of the many viewing spots that
dot the Bay-side road, you’ll be
rewarded with spectacular views of
the Golden
Gate Bridge
and the city beyond. Benches are
available in some of the better viewing
areas for those who want to linger. For
detailed directions and other
information, visit the National Park
Service web site (since
they are the ones who oversee and
maintain the Headlands).
4. Top of the Mark
Mark Hopkins Inter-Continental Hotel
1 Nob Hill (corner of California and
Mason Streets)
(415) 392-3434
Once the private,
eleven-room apartment of a San Francisco
copper magnate, this 18th
floor space in the Mark Hopkins
Inter-Continental Hotel
was transformed into a cocktail lounge in
1939 and was immediately a popular spot
frequented by performers like Benny
Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. Glass walls
provide spectacular 360o
views. To check out their entertainment
schedule, visit the Top of the Mark web site.
QUICK
CLICKS
Check out Cheaptickets.com "Cheap of the Week" and
save BIG on featured destinations!
Find 4-star hotels at 2 star
prices at Hotwire.com and get up to 60%
off retail rates!
Luggage Online carries
top brands in luggage, briefcases and
travel accessories at great prices.
Add one of these once-in-a-lifetime
vacation experiences,
including skydiving, helicopter rides,
hot air ballooning and much more, to your
San Francisco trip -- you'll be glad you
did!
The San
Francisco Insider
Site Directory:
|
|
