There are many places to see and many things to do during a trip to San Francisco. You can visit Alcatraz, ride a streetcar or eat great seafood an one of the many restaurants along Fisherman's Wharf. But some of these things can be a little expensive. There are many other free things you can do to offset some of those costs.
Lombard Street
Lombard Street is known as "the crookedest street" in America. Not only are the views spectacular, but getting there is part of there fun. You can walk to Lombard Street if you are nearby or you can take a street car if you're willing to pay $5. The Hyde Street cable car line will leave you right at the top of the hill.
Lombard Street is paved with bricks, and surrounded by beautifully landscaped homes. For a great photo of Lombard Street, walk to the intersection of Lombard and Leavenworth Streets. You will be directly below Lombard and in the perfect position to take pictures of the cars winding their way through the turns. You can also walk up Lombard Street, but it can be very hard for someone who is not physically fit. If you do walk up, it will give you a great feel for how steep it really is.
If you just want to drive on Lombard Street, go slow and slower. The speed limit is 5 mph.
Golden Gate Bridge
It is free to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. The suspension bridge, one of the largest in the world, spans the opening of the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. At mid-span you are nearly 220 feet above the water. The ships below look like tiny toys. The total length of the bridge is 1.7 miles. Pedestrians are only allowed to walk on it during the day.
Haight Street
Haight Street goes through a neighborhood called "The Haight." This part of the city was heavily populated by hippies during the 1960s and remnants of that era remained as of 2010. There are tons of cool thrift stores and used record stores along the street. If you have a pair of skates with you, you can skate on Haight Street until you get to Golden Gate Park.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
This Botanical Garden is 55 acres and has more than 8,000 types of plants from around the world. It is one of the largest botanical gardens on the West Coast. Because of San Francisco's mild Mediterranean climate, it is able to grow plants from different corners of the globe. Some of its plants are even extinct in their native habitats. The garden is open every day, including holidays.
Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf is a neighborhood located on the waterfront and it is a full functioning wharf. For an enjoyable and entertaining afternoon, walk to Pier 39, home to some of the most famous residents in San Francisco: the sea lions. Sea lions first came to the pier after the earthquake in 1989. What started as a small group of 10 to 50 sea lions has peaked at nearly 1,000 during the winter months. The sea lions are loud, sometimes playful and sometimes aggressive, but always fun to watch.
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