ride from Buena Vista on Hyde St is the winding Lombard Street. With eight hairpin turns and

stunning homes, Lombard Street is been one of the most-photographed landmarks in the

city.

For an escape from the city's hustle and bustle, there's no better place than Golden Gate Park.

The park is enormous, and used by all manner of locals and visitors, whether they're looking

for cultural attractions, a good workout or a quiet picnic. The park is so large that

it even features a paddock of live buffalo, and two impressive Dutch windmills.

The California Academy of Sciences museum is also located within Golden Gate Park. It's

one of the largest natural history museums in the world, and features an aquarium, planetarium

and an indoor rainforest.

Across the street is the striking de Young Museum with its copper facade. Inside you'll

find an assortment of African, Pacific and American art.

Nearby, and still in the park, is the Japanese Tea Garden. Originally designed for the 1894

World's Fair, the garden will transport you across the Pacific with its pagodas and arched

drum bridge.

Finally, every traveler visiting San Francisco should spend some time in jail. San Francisco's

most famous penitentiary, Alcatraz, makes for a great day trip, but purchase your tickets

in advance as it sells out quickly.

San Francisco has it all: from history to food, from nightlife to culture. It's a city

of great diversity, shaped by the gold rush, by the Pacific Ocean and by earthquakes, by

counter-culture and the gay rights movement, and even by the explosive growth of technology

firms. Visit once and you'll know why the City by the Bay is considered one of America's

top travel destinations.