Wick Design Group

When you visit San Francisco for the first time, visiting Alcatraz is definitely a must-do. The Rock, as Alcatraz is known locally, was originally a lighthouse and a military out post and prison before becoming a federal prison. The likes of Al Capone, among others, served their time here. The tour takes you from the shore to this ominous island and the guides are all well-informed and always ready to answer your questions. The inherent drama of Alcatraz itself makes it worth seeing, but the added touches and expert treatment by the guides only underscore how essential it is to see this dramatic facility when you are in the Bay Area.

People who love books love Litquake, the yearly literary festival held every fall in San Francisco. Renowned authors are on hand for lectures and book signings, and interesting panels, workshops and parties are also part of what makes Litquake such an essential event for both readers and writers of all backgrounds. One of the highlights of this event is the three-hour Lit-Crawl through the Mission District that features stops at galleries, bookstores, bars and cafes.

No trip to San Francisco is complete without a visit to Fisherman's Wharf. This highly popular attraction is truly a requisite stop as it seamlessly combines the area's unmistakable natural beauty, commercial prowess, and maritime heritage all in one place. You'll want to save a whole afternoon to take it all in, as you will be struck by the impressive selection of one-of-a-kind shops, unforgettable lookout points and excellent restaurants. And speaking of restaurants, you can't visit Fisherman's Wharf without sampling such tasty delicacies as Dungeness crab and clam chowder.

An evening at the ballet combines classical masterworks brought to life through the sharp and highly skilled movements of the various dancers who grace the stage at the San Francisco Ballet. The group has been touted as the most impressively diverse company in the country, and their busy performance schedule only solidifies that statement. With such impressive titles as Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker among the highlights of their season, its certain that whatever performance you choose to see, you'll experience the thrill of ballet entertainment at its finest.