Coit Tower
Some of San Francisco's best photo opportunities are available at Coit Tower, from the great panorama over the bay to the Diego Rivera-inspired murals at its base.

Alcatraz
Alcatraz's exhibits and tours vividly recount the prison's legacy of cruel and unusual punishment, such as unbearably long periods of solitary confinement that drove some men mad.

Golden Gate Bridge
Crossing on foot, pausing under the giant towers and gazing ahead at distant Marin County is the best way to appreciate the beautiful architecture of this incredible span.

City Lights and Vesuvio's
Jack Kerouac Street is the ultimate stop on the Beat pilgrimage, home to Vesuvio's, where Jack and his mates were known to throw back a few, and City Lights bookstore next door, still run by the poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

The Mission
Take advantage of the Mission's many fabulous Central American restaurants and enjoy a stroll through this lively neighborhood.

Grace Cathedral
A bold architectural hodgepodge, the cathedral's sham Gothic exterior encases many modern elements, including an altarpiece by the late artist and AIDS activist Keith Haring.

Russian Hill
Russian Hill is more bourgeois than bohemian, but the neighborhood's literary landmarks - Armistead Maupin and Kerouac lived here - and vantage point overlooking the city make it a great neighborhood to visit.

Cable Cars
They're only kept on for tourists, but San Francisco's cable cars are still among its most visible and charming icons, offering scenic rides up and down some of the city's steeper streets.