Golden Gate Gazette

Like all of California, San Francisco is filled with plenty of expensive activities that will suck your wallet dry. But, if you look hard enough there are also plenty of ways to enjoy a cheap day on the west coast. If you’re heading to the Golden Gate city, take advantages of one of the cities many free attractions.

1. Golden Gate Park: Covering more than 1,000 acres, this is one of the most visited parks in the country, and for good reason. No matter how you envision spending your day, you’ll find something to entertain yourself with here. The Japanese Tea Garden, De Young Museum, the Aids Memorial Grove, and Kezar Stadium are just a few of the diverse attractions of this park. Continue Reading »

Amidst the beautiful weather and enchanting city of San Francisco lies a darker piece of American history on Alcatraz Island. Just 1.5 miles off the city’s coast, this island is home to the oldest functioning lighthouse on the west coast. But it is best known as the now-abandoned military prison. It was first used for this purpose during the Civil War and went on to serve as detention center following the war. The geography and isolation of the island was very conducive to containing prisoners and the island was used for such purposes until 1963. Through its years as a prison, famous criminals including Al Capone, Bumpy Johnson, and Alvin Karpis spent time on here. Though it officially claims that no prisoners ever escaped, a 1962 escape plot, of which the escapees were never found, is one of the most well-known prison escapes in history and was the idea behind the movie Escape from Alcatraz. This island is also famous for its occupation by Native Americans, which lasted for 19 months, from 1969-1971. The Native Americans’ goal of this occupation was to be given rights to use the land based on various treaties that they believed guaranteed their rights to these abandoned federal grounds. Continue Reading »

A trip to San Francisco is the chance to see one of America’s most unique and historical cities. Having an understanding for this place is the key to making the most of your visit. Because San Francisco is such a distinctive city, there are few important factors to plan for before you hit the road.

1. Weather: Seasons in San Francisco differ greatly from most other areas of the country. Long-time residents will swear by a San Francisco fall as the best time of year, followed closely by the spring season. Unfortunately, this is one of those cities that you have to pack for warm and cold weather no matter what time of year you visit, because unexpected wind and fog or a blisteringly warm day could catch you by surprise. If you’re traveling to San Francisco in the summer, you’ll definitely need a jacket. As Mark Twain so eloquently put it, “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Continue Reading »