Union Square is one of the most premier shopping destinations in San Francisco. The area boasts a collection of over 350 shops, including staples like Apple, Tiffany & Co., NikeTown, Barneys New York, Macy's and Nordstrom. Visitors can also find larger shops dedicated to their favorite brands, including Converse, The North Face, Swatch, and Lacoste, as well as smaller boutiques.
Golden Gate Park offers many places to visit, including museums, lakes and gardens, and smaller attractions like children's playgrounds, a carousel that was built in 1912, dog parks, and lawn bowling. Some recommended sites are Stow Lake, the largest lake in the park and second largest lake in San Francisco, Conservatory and Flowers for butterfly and flower enthusiasts, Buffalo Paddock to watch buffalo roam in an open, safe habitat, and the Dutch and Murphy Windmills.
The Embarcadero is a great place for biking, walking and skating and features a wide variety of piers, restaurants, parks and other attractions. Some of the top sights are Fisherman's Wharf, Levi's Plaza Park, The Exploratorium which contains hands-on exhibits to teach science and offers a free bay view walk, and Market Street which has over 120 shops and restaurants.
The world-famous sea lions can be found lounging right on Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf. The Sea Lion Center, located on Pier 39, is a free nature center where visitors can learn about these playful creatures through presentations, hands-on artifacts, one-on-one interactions with naturalists and by observing the sea lions in action as they bask in the San Francisco sun.
When you're ready to take in the sights, San Francisco offers a few free parking possibilities to look for. You can find free metered parking throughout the city on Sundays all day, and on weekdays after 6pm, including on nearby Market Street and throughout SoMA and Union Square. You can also find short-term free parking wherever you see green street curbs.Hotel Nikko offers valet parking with in and out privileges, so you can drive out and explore.
Get to wherever you need to go in San Francisco by purchasing a Clipper Card, which gives you access to BART, Muni, buses, and the cable cars. Walk to the Powell St. station, just a few blocks away, to find public transit within easy reach of our location near Union Square. The cable cars are a fun way to explore the city's neighborhoods and stunning scenery. Ford's GoBike and ride sharing apps like Lyft and Uber also make getting around San Francisco easy.
