When I was 10-years-old I took my first trip to San Francisco (along with my parents and three brothers). We took in the traditional touristy sights including Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, Lombard Street (San Francisco’s Crookedest Street), and The Golden Gate Bridge. Recently, I received an invitation to tour the city again (I have traveled to San Francisco several times in the past two decades), this time with an art professor friend of mine.
While I haven’t given her an answer (I doubt I will be able to make it) I was intrigued by her travel itinerary. It gives a helpful insight into what San Francisco has to offer for art lovers.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
The center is located in the Yerba Buena area (Mission St. between Fourth St. and Fifth St.). In the past decade the area has morphed from a warehouse wasteland into the city’s premier arts district. It is filled with museums, galleries, trendy restaurants and nightspots and high-end hotels. It is also home to the Museum of Modern Art (see details below) and the Moscone Convention Center. But, the grand centerpiece of Yerba Buena is found outdoors—the area’s magnificent gardens is typically packed at noon with workers looking to soak up sun and enjoy free lunchtime performances. If you are visiting the area for the first time I would suggest taking in the sights from the Samovar Tea Lounge, which looks out on the city’s skyline and the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial waterfall. If you have children consider heading to the Center for the Arts—-it is home to a museum/exhibition space and theater that features works by local and international artists, and dance performances. Finally, just a short walk over the pedestrian bridge next to the Center is a high-tech children’s museum… and a bowling alley and an ice-skating rink.
Museum of Modern Art
The museum attracts architecture buffs and art lovers from around the world. Its permanent collection includes works by Robert Rauschenberg, René Magritte and Piet Mondrian. It also houses the works of one of my favorite artists–photographer Ansel Adams. If you do go, consider these travel tips: Don’t leave the museum without visiting the MuseumStore. It features one-of-a-kind-items, including jewelry, tableware, and a huge collection of art and design books. Another tips: plan your visit for the first Tuesday of the month when admission is free. Or you could on the first Thursday of the month when entrance to the museum is half-price.
Asian Art Museum
The museum is a must-see for art lovers. It houses a premier collection of Asian art (reportedly the world’s largest showcase), which spans 6,000 years. The building itself (once the site of the city’s Main Library) has been lovingly refurbished to display extraordinary works from China, Japan, India, Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Museum highlights include stone carvings, bronze images, paintings, ceramics and porcelains, shadow puppets and an incredible jade collection. The colorful galleries stand out against the museum’s interior backdrop of dark wood flooring, painted ceilings and glass balconies. The displays feature detailed writings that provide useful information on individual Asian countries and their traditions. A trip to the museum is not complete without a visit to Café Asia. You can dine on a bowl of Thai coconut soup, sushi, or a plate of yakisoba (a noodle dish). Entrance to the museum is free on the first Tuesday or every month.
Related Articles:
More Family-Friendly Spring Break Destinations