The moment you cross the Bay or Golden Gate Bridge and make your way into beautiful San Francisco, you are immersed by the sights, sounds and smells of a city that lies on the literal edge of Western civilization. With a bevy of San Francisco museums, parks, world-class seafood and sushi restaurants, and a great San Francisco hotels a person can easily spend a week soaking up the immense culture and vibrant atmosphere of the place that is widely regarded as one of the world’s best cities.

People who are interested in experiencing the essence and power of the Pacific Ocean can board a sailboat or a ferry and take a tour of the large Bay, which includes Alcatraz island. The former penitentiary is open for daily tours the majority of the calendar year, and night tours are available during warm summer months for folks who are in the market for a bit of fright.

A slew of piers dot the landscape on the east side of the city, housing businesses that offer up tasty treats such as saltwater taffy and mouthwatering local clam chowder. Street performers and acrobats are sprinkled all over the Embarcadero, an area near the end of the piers that offers up shopping, dining and sea loin viewing.

Golden Gate Park is a rectangular-shaped stretch of land situated in the northwest area of the city that is not to be missed. Located on the public park’s cozy and comfortable grounds are a handful of museums, a large collection of food trucks, a Japanese Tea Garden, a golf course and miles of jogging trails.

Sports fans should be sure to visit the home of the San Francisco Giants, a large and regal stadium which was completed around the turn of the century and has remained on the cutting edge ever since. Try to secure your tickets early, as the Giants have a huge following in the area and games are sure to sell out. If you attend a night game, be sure to bring is a sweater or jacket, as the region is known for its whipping evening winds.