San Francisco is a city of history and beauty. Offering amenities to please everyone, San Francisco has an abundance of fun places to visit, stunning sights to see, and a history worth learning. Take a student trip to San Francisco and join the culture and creativity of this unique city.
#1 The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge has become one of the most recognized bridges in the world. It took four years to build and was officially opened to the public in 1937. It’s named after the Golden Gate Strait which was the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Once the longest suspension bridge in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge provides a lot of history about the city of San Francisco. Learn some fun facts and take in some amazing sights with a walk across the famous bridge.
#2 Chinatown
San Francisco has one of the oldest and longest running Chinatowns in the world. Starting as a gateway for incoming Chinese immigrants to reside during the California gold rush and the construction of railroads, Chinatown served as a comfortable place for the Chinese community. Since 1910, Chinatown has been turned into a tourist attraction that shows the culture and life of Chinese communities. Take a stroll through Chinatown and interact with the community by trying new foods, hearing their language, and learning of their proud history.
#3 Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a learning laboratory that explores the world through the use of science, art, and human perception. With over 650 hands-on exhibits, the Exploratorium offers a wide variety of fun learning opportunities. Enhance your learning experience with their interactive exhibits which are mostly created by visual and performing artists as well as scientists and educators. Rated the #1 museum in San Francisco, the Exploratorium offers a one of a kind experience for everyone to enjoy.
#4 Alcatraz
Alcatraz has quite an infamous history, being home to many prisoners from 1934 to 1963. Before it was used as a federal prison, Alcatraz served as a military post for several years and later became the site for an American Indian civil rights protest. Students will love seeing the cells of prisoners and visiting the museum inside the prison walls. Learning the story of this historical island and seeing it firsthand will be a moment to remember.
#5 Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is the largest museum of modern and contemporary art in the United States. With a large collection of paintings, sculptures, photography, architecture, design, and media arts, there is something for everyone to enjoy on this venture. The SFMOMA holds over 33,000 stimulating works, making this a great place for students to extend their artistic culture.
#6 Aquarium of the Bay
Located on Pier 39 of Fisherman’s Wharf, this aquarium is home to more than 20,000 local marine animals. Aquarium of the Bay focuses on the aquatic animals that surround the bay, allowing students a little insight into the world of underwater life in the San Francisco area. Students can enjoy the varying exhibits of sea creatures ranging from jellyfish to river otters.
#7 Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39
If you’re planning a student trip to San Francisco, then don’t miss out on visiting Pier 39. Fisherman’s Wharf is home to many different seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, hotels, famous attractions, and beautiful waterfront scenery. Down on Pier 39 you can watch the sea lions lounging on the wooden docks while they vocally bark and grunt at one another.
#8 The Palace of Fine Arts
The Palace of Fine Arts has an interesting and unique history. Built in the Marina District of San Francisco, this monument was constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition as an exhibit for fine arts. It was designed with inspiration from Roman and Greek architecture and remains as one of the only surviving structures of the Exposition. The event held after the building’s creation helped put San Francisco back on the map as a major global city following the devastation of the 1906 earthquake. The Palace of Fine Arts is an architectural landmark appreciated for it’s exquisite design and gorgeous scenery.
#9 Hike to Twin Peaks
This world famous tourist attraction offers the best views of the Bay area. Being the second highest peak in the city, Twin Peaks stands a tall 922 feet and provides several trailheads to explore. There is much to be learned about the nature and wildlife of the area, why not enjoy it firsthand with a hike to it’s most breathtaking views?
#10 San Francisco Cable Car Ride
The San Francisco cable car system is the world‘s last manually operated cable car system. An icon of San Francisco, the cable car system forms part of the intermodal urban transport network operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway.
Plan a student trip to San Francisco and begin a historical journey of the Bay area!
Get started on your student travel adventure today. Contact us for a free quote and we’ll help you develop an itinerary that fits your needs.
