It is not a secret that there is the Golden Gate Bridge and the popular cable cars. Nevertheless, there are also a lot of secret wonders and Unique Things to Do in San Francisco. This list will highlight the most distinctive activities to do in San Francisco making your visit to this city even more memorable.
You are about to discover a different side of the city that not many visitors would have explored.
What Makes Unique Things to Do in San Francisco?
San Francisco is a hill-built city that is surrounded by water and beautiful parks. It has a rich cultural blend of the world art, technology and food. Such Unique Things to Do in San Francisco combination provides opportunities to do something you can never do elsewhere. You may pass through a tunnel made of rainbow, observe a floating museum, and listen to the music created by the waves of the sea.
You may also read :- 7 Best Free Things To Do In San Francisco
My List of Unique Things to Do in San Francisco
It may be difficult to discover places of special solitude in a large city. This list is the result of my visits to all parts of San Francisco. They are not just normal tourist destinations. These are locations that will amaze and glorify you.
Step into a Kaleidoscope at SFMOMA
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is not a museum that is silent and dull. It is a play ground of color and creativity. One-Way Colour Tunnel is one of the most marvelous displays by the artist Olafur Eliasson. Moving in it is as though one has entered a whirling kaleidoscope. It is an ideal place to have fun shots.
Discover the Musical Waves at the Wave Organ
The Wave Organ is a secret masterpiece hidden in a jetty of the Marina district. It is not an ordinary musical instrument. It is a sound sculpture constructed out of ancient pipes and granite. The tides and waves of the bay cause water and air to flow through the pipes. This produces tones as soft and gurgling music.
There is music that keeps on changing. One had better see them on the high tide when the organ is most in action. Take a snack, sit on the stones and listen to the concert that the sea plays. It is among the most special attractions in San Francisco and a beautiful and serene getaway to the city noise.
Explore the Palace of Fine Arts
Enter one of the scenes of a Roman dream in the Palace of Fine Arts. This magnificent edifice of giant structure, dome, and curved columns was constructed more than a century ago on a world fair. It is now on the placid pond beside which swans and duckings swim.
It is a great spot to have a good stroll as well as some of the best photography in the city. It is even more enchanted when the building is illuminated at night. The best part? It is free to visit altogether. It is an essential must-visit place.
Ride in a Vintage VW Bus Tour
Ride around the city in a vintage VW bus, and have fun and retro ways of viewing the city. These vintage colored buses drive you to classic scenery and insider locations which large tour buses are not able to access.
You are taken on a tour by a local guide, who tells you tales and history that you would otherwise not hear. It is an amazing and special San Francisco event to do on the first day in San Francisco. It makes you familiar with the layout and locate places that you may wish to visit in the future.
Find the Hidden Labyrinths at Lands End
The Lands End trail is a trail which is characterized by spectacular landscape of Golden Gate Bridge and rough coast. However, look a little closer and you may be surprised at something. There is a rock labyrinth that people can walk on in a cliff close to the trail.
The labyrinth path is a relaxing and a meditative walk. It is an exceptionally special and memorable hike coupled with the ocean views and the remains of the old Sutro Baths, which are located nearby. A little secret you shall learn sometime.
See the City from Coit Tower
To get a good panorama of San Francisco skyline, go to Coit tower at Telegraph hill. There is an elevator that you can use to the top of the tower at a little cost. You can see the city, the bay and the bridges all the way there.
When you are going into or out of the tower, make sure that you take the Filbert Street Steps or the Greenwich Street Steps. These lovely staircases are bordered with gardens and you may get to see the well-known wild parrots of Telegraph hill, when you are lucky!
Experience the Magic of the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is the type of fun museum that you will ever see. Neither is it a look, don’t touch establishment. It is an interactive playground of science, art, and human perception consisting of more than 650 interactive exhibits.
Among the most interesting displays is the Fog Bridge that brings the actual San Francisco-style fog that can be walked through. You can also know how earthquakes feel, get to play with unusual lights and how your brain can deceive you. Kids and adults will find it a marvelous unusual activity that is done in San Francisco. They have a Thursday After Dark event on their calendar that is strictly adults only.
Walk Through a Living Roof at the California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is a museum and yet a scientific center. It is also one of the most distinctive museums in San Francisco as it has an aquarium and a planetarium, as well as four stories rainforest under a single living roof.
You may even walk inside the rainforest and have free flying butterflies flying all around you. Then you can descend into an exhibit of flooded Amazon. Native plants cover the living roof and aid in keeping the building cool. It is a wonderful location to spend the afternoon in the natural world.
Go on a Treasure Hunt in Chinatown
The Chinatown of San Francisco is the oldest and largest in North America. Going through the well-known Dragon Gate, one will think that he or she has entered a different world. The aroma of good food, stores, and ancient temples are all over the streets.
To have an experience like none other in the world, locate the small Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in Ross Alley. You even can observe the process of folding the fortune cookies with your own hands, and even have a hot, fresh sample. You even get to make your own fortunes to have a good souvenir!
Your Questions Answered
When is the most appropriate time to visit San Francisco?
The climate is favorable throughout the year in San Francisco. Summer (June- August) is foggy cool. September and October are normally the hottest and sunniest months. I would never forget to carry a jacket, even during the summer season, since it may get cold when the fog sets.
Do these special activities make the family friendly?
Yes! The majority of the activities listed here such as the Exploratorium, the California Academy of Sciences and the Wave Organ are activities that are ideal in families that have children. They are entertaining and amusing across the board.
How can one make the best of San Francisco?
The city is very compact. Neighborhoods are good to be explored on foot. To go farther, you may take the public buses, the olden day cable cars or the BART system to reach the East Bay. Bike renting is also an excellent mode of transportation to explore the sights and more so to ride across the Golden gate bridge.
Should I pre-book the tickets to these attractions?
In case of tourist attractions such as Alcatraz, you are advised to book at least two weeks before hand since they are easily sold out. Another thing you could do is to check online the Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences to make a reservation of your entry time in order to avoid long lines.
