Nearby Attractions
Popular Locations
Attending the RUCC Future Present conference will also offer you opportunities to visit some of the nearby attractions. Some of them are near Fort Mason, the conference hotel, or the California Academy of Sciences.
The map below shows the locations of a number of popular attractions in the San Francisco area that you may wish to visit during your stay.
Golden Gate Park
(Park Map: https://goldengatepark.com/map.html
As part of its experiential learning program, RUCC Future Present will spend two hours in the California Academy of Sciences located on the breathtakingly scenic Golden Gate Park. The Golden Gate Park offers several additional attractions within a short walking distance of each other, which may be visited separately or in combination with the CA Academy of Sciences.
The centerpiece for all these attractions is the Music Concourse, the outdoor plaza between the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum. It is distinguished by its beautiful fountains and lines of heavily pruned London Plane trees, which gives them their unique look.
Getting to the Golden Gate Park
Please note that parking fees apply at each location. Use the above map for directions.
From the Holiday Inn-Fisherman’s Wharf (22-25 minutes)
From the Fort Mason Center (17-20 minute drive)
Pier 39 and Embarcadero
San Francisco’s main attractions are all along the bay and can be reached by walking along the piers. Pier 39 is a 13 minute walk from the conference hotel. Another five minutes and you arrive at Pier 33 where you can book a cruise to Alcatraz Island, which is a National Historic Park. If you want further adventure, walk another 15 minutes along The Embarcadero to visit the Exploratorium on Pier 15.
Pier 39
For shopping and great seafood, you can’t miss a visit to Pier 39. You also can’t miss a visit to the sea lions, which have made their home on Pier 39 since 1989.
Alcatraz Island
(https://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm)
Alcatraz Island is much more than an old prison, and its history is etched into different areas. You will also find that amid the stark, imposing walls of the prison building, you have wildly flowering gardens and scenic views of the coastline. Take a windbreaker and dress in layers, because the ride to Alcatraz Island is windy but well worth the trip.
Please note: Alcatraz cruises sell out about a month in advance, so if you wish to make this enigmatic island a stop in your itinerary, order your tickets online about a month before the conference.
Exploratorium
This interesting museum is a hands-on experience. The more you engage with the exhibits, the more enjoyment you get from the visit. From physics to behavioral sciences, this museum has something for all ages.
Fort Mason and Fisherman’s Wharf
Fort Mason
Fort Mason is composed of two levels; the lower level for the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, and the upper contains Fort Mason National Historic Park. It is a fifteen minute walk to Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square, and another five to the conference hotel. The walk from lower Fort Mason to the Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf is 20 minutes of breathtaking views of the bay, the old ships docked at the Maritime Museum and Hyde Park.
Maritime National Historic Park and Fisherman’s Wharf
You can see the curved pier from the Maritime National Historic Park from Fort Mason, and the scenic walk from upper Fort Mason to the park will offer you views of Alcatraz and the historic boats docked from the park to Fisherman’s Wharf. The Wharf offers a collection of restaurants at different price ranges, food stands, and an opportunity to ride the cable cars. Fisherman’s Wharf is a short walk from the conference hotel to an endless list of possible eating and entertainment options.
Ghirardelli Square
This is primarily a shopping area that features three Ghirardelli chocolate stores, including the original factory store. Ghirardelli also offers amazing desserts, and the Square has an assortment of fine dining restaurants. Ghirardelli Square is part of Fisherman’s Wharf.
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