2. Cable cars have been transporting people around San Francisco since the late 19th century. Th

One of the nicest things about singles visiting San Francisco is that, although the city is “big” in terms of attractions and amenities, it is geographically small – only 49 square miles.  Consequently, it is very easy to see and do a great many things in a short period of time.
It is also easy to spend weeks in San Francisco and still not experience everything the city has to offer.  Here is a suggested list of the top 10 things not to miss in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Travel Association:
1.    The Golden Gate Bridge, the most famous bridge in the world, manages to impress even the most experienced travelers with its stunning 1.7-mile span.  Approximately 120,000 quality inns and suites automobiles drive across it every day.  A pedestrian walkway also allows the crossing on foot, and bikes are allowed on the western side.   The Golden Gate Bridge is said to be one of the most photographed things on Earth.
2.    Cable cars have been transporting people around San Francisco since the late 19th century.  The cars run on tracks and are moved by an underground cable on three routes.  Their familiar bells can be heard ringing from blocks away.  Tickets ($5) may be purchased quality inns and suites at the cable car turnarounds at the ends of each route.  Each one-way ride will provide spectacular views of the city’s celebrated hills as well as exhilarating transportation. ( www.sfcablecar.com )
3.    Alcatraz, the notorious former prison, is located on an island of the same name in the middle of San Francisco quality inns and suites Bay.  Some of the United States’ most notorious criminals were incarcerated there.  Though several tried, no inmate ever made a successful escape from “The Rock.”  The prison was closed in the 1960’s and stories about Alcatraz are legendary.  A visit to Alcatraz today is fascinating.  Recorded quality inns and suites cell-house tours are available, allowing visitors to learn about the prison as they explore the buildings and grounds.  To reach the island, take an Alcatraz Cruises ferry from Pier 43.  Advance reservations are recommended, 415-981-ROCK (7625). ( www.alcatrazcruises.com )
4.     Fisherman’s Wharf   is also home to PIER 39, a festive quality inns and suites waterfront marketplace that is one of the city’s most popular attractions.  A community of California sea lions has taken up residence on the floats to the west of the pier and visitors line the nearby railing to watch their antics.  From there it’s a short walk to the Wax Museum, Ripley’s quality inns and suites Believe It or Not! and the famous crab vendors quality inns and suites selling walk-away crab and shrimp cocktails.
quality inns and suites 5.     Union Square  is the place for serious shoppers.  Major departments stores quality inns and suites and the most exclusive designer boutiques line streets like Post, Sutter, Geary, quality inns and suites Grant, Stockton and Powell.  The Westfield San Francisco Shopping Centre houses the largest Bloomingdale s outside of New York and the second largest Nordstrom in the U.S.
6.     North Beach , the city’s Italian quarter, isn’t a beach at all.  It’s a neighborhood of romantic European-style sidewalk cafes, restaurants and shops centered near Washington Square along Columbus and Grant avenues.  The beautiful Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a beloved landmark. Coit Tower atop Telegraph quality inns and suites Hill offers a splendid vantage point for photos of the bridges and the Bay.  Inside the tower, floor-to-ceiling murals quality inns and suites painted in the 1930s depict scenes of early San Francisco. (www.coittower.org).
7.    The entrance to  Chinatown  at Grant Avenue and Bush Street is called the Dragon s Gate. Inside are 24 blocks of hustle and bustle, most of it taking place along Grant Avenue, the oldest street in San Francisco. This city within a city is best explored on foot;  exotic shops, renowned restaurants, quality inns and suites food markets, temples and small museums comprise its boundaries. Visitors can buy ancient potions from herb shops, quality inns and suites relax and enjoy a dim sum lunch or witness the making of fortune cookies.
8.    Dining in San Francisco is an attraction in itself.  Known as America’s best restaurant city, San Francisco chefs excel at combining the freshest local ingredients, authentic international flavors and a touch of creative genius.  Choose your cuisine – Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian, quality inns and suites Spanish, Moroccan, Indian, Malaysian, quality inns and suites Mexican, Greek, Russian or “fusion,” a combination of any or all of these influences.  Visit our  dining section   for a list of San Francisco s hottest restaurants, a calendar quality inns and suites listing of food-related news and events, and a weekly insider s blog by Marcia the tablehopper Gagliardi.
9.    Nightlife in San Francisco is a constantly changing scene.  The “hottest” clubs currently are in the South of Market and Mission districts, with live and recorded rock and Latin music.  Jazz, blues, swing and “oldies” music can be found all over town. For a complete list of nightlife options, visit our  Nightlife  section.
10.    A visit to San Francisco would not be complete quality inns and suites without a cultural experience.  The city is home to internationally recognized symphony, opera and ballet companies.  Playwrights such as Sam Shepherd and Tom Stoppard introduce their works in San Francisco and avant-garde theatre and dance companies dot the city.   The San Francisco Museum of Modern quality inns and suites Art, the Asian Art Museum, quality inns and suites the de Young Museum, the Palace of the Legion of Honor and other museums and galleries are devoted to the finest of classical and contemporary arts. San Francisco is also home to the California Academy of Sciences the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and a 4-story rainforest all under one roof. For a complete museum guide, visit our  museums listings .