Things to Do in San Francisco

City Lights was the first store to publish Allan Ginsberg’s seminal beat poem, Howl. Since then, it has expanded and dedicated itself to publishing young writers and providing readers with as many different viewpoints as possible.

Connecting San Francisco to Marin County, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. At 1¼ miles long, the bridge is easily walked across and offers outstanding ocean vistas.

The Mission is one of San Francisco's most fascinating areas. There's a striking contrast between the Hispanic feel of 16-24th St and the bookshops and secondhand shops of Valencia St. Toss in the beautiful murals of Balmy Alley, and it makes the perfect quarter for an afternoon stroll.

To avoid crowds, go to 215ft. Coit Tower at night. The views of San Francisco lit up at night are unbelievable, and the sound of the foghorn ringing out in the dark from Alcatraz Island is wonderfully eerie.

Ever since Anchor was bought in the 1960s by Fritz Maytag, people considered it the start of the micro-brewery movement. The 90-minute tour (free during the week) of Anchor Brewing Company's Potrero Hill plant begins with a lesson in brewing, and guests will enjoy the traditional sampling at the conclusion of the tour.