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COUNTDOWN TO 2015 ANNUAL MEETING |
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San Francisco: A Small City with a Big Punch, the 'Perfect Place' for APTA's Annual Meeting
BY WILLIAM MARONI, Senior Program Manager
APTA’s Annual Meeting is always extraordinary, but when the venue is “the city by the Bay,” you know the four-day event will be otherworldly. Who doesn’t love San Francisco? The bridges, the Victorian buildings, the hills and cable cars, the cultural variety, the food, the free-spirited atmosphere … it’s all there.
As Herb Caen, beloved San Francisco journalist, said, "One day if I go to heaven ... I'll look around and say, 'It ain't bad, but it ain't San Francisco.'"
If it’s true that a city is not gauged by its length and width but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dreams, then APTA picked the perfect place for a gathering about public transportation. With parallels to our own industry, San Francisco began as a relatively small railroad town, evolved from an isolated urban center and became an international symbol of freedom and progress.
One of the nicest things about visiting San Francisco is that, although the city is “big” in terms of attractions, it is geographically small—only 49 square miles. So, it’s easy to take advantage of all the city has to offer in a short period of time—and without missing any APTA sessions!
The APTA website will tell you all about the important sessions and speakers scheduled for the 2015 Annual Meeting, Oct. 4-7. But here’s a glimpse of not-to-be-missed things to do and see right outside your hotel.
Ride a Cable Car: No public transportation aficionado’s life can be complete without riding a San Francisco cable car. This mode of transit has been carrying people around the city since the late 19th century. The spectacular views from atop the city’s celebrated—and steep—hills make this one of the most exhilarating forms of public transportation.
Walk Over the Golden Gate Bridge: The Golden Gate Bridge, the most famous bridge in the world, is impressive to even the most seasoned travelers. About 120,000 vehicles cross it every day, but a walk or bike ride across the 1.7-mile span is the best way to experience this modern wonder of the world.
Visit the Rock: Alcatraz, the former prison, is located on an island of the same name in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Some of America’s most notorious criminals were incarcerated there, but since the 1960s it has been the location of several Hollywood movies and a favorite ferry ride for visitors.
See the Sea Lions: Fisherman’s Wharf is home to PIER 39, a festive waterfront marketplace that is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Best of all, a community of California sea lions has taken up residence on the floats along the pier where visitors can watch (and hear!) their antics.
Shop in Union Square: Chances are your hotel will be in or around this superb shoppers’ paradise. Major department stores and the most exclusive designer boutiques line the bordering streets. Don’t miss Levi Strauss’s flagship store, since Levi’s was founded in San Francisco and is still headquartered there.
Explore North Beach: North Beach isn’t a beach at all, but rather the city’s Italian quarter. The neighborhood has romantic European-style sidewalk cafes, restaurants and shops centered near Washington Square. It’s also the site of the beautiful Church of Saints Peter and Paul (where Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe posed for wedding photos) and Coit Tower (atop of Telegraph Hill), which provides great views of the Bay and houses floor-to-ceiling murals from the 1930s.
Explore a Real Ocean Beach: San Francisco does have a real beach, too. It’s a long, broad stretch of clean sand and moderate waves, right along the western shore of the city. It is easily accessible from downtown by public transportation. The water is almost always cold, but the smell of the Pacific Ocean and the views of the city and Golden Gate Bridge are heartwarming.
Walk Through the Nation’s Oldest Chinatown: The entrance to Chinatown is called the “Dragon’s Gate.” Inside are 24 blocks of hustle and bustle, most of it taking place along Grant Avenue, the oldest street in San Francisco. This city within a city is best experienced on foot to see exotic shops, renowned restaurants, food markets, temples and small museums. Visitors can buy ancient potions from herb shops, enjoy a “dim sum” or watch fortune cookies being made.
Get Dizzy on Lombard Street: Lombard Street in the Russian Hill district is the crookedest street, not only in San Francisco, but in the world. This beautifully-landscaped, steep thoroughfare was created in the 1920s with eight sharp curves to allow vehicles to travel down the one-way, 40-degree hill. Paved with bricks, it is an amazing sight and home to some of the most expensive homes in the city.
Haight-Ashbury: This is The Haight you’ve heard about—the epicenter of the anti-war, counter-culture movement of the mid 1960s, when tens of thousands of young people descended on this corner of San Francisco. The neighborhood still retains enough of its colorful, wild-child self to remind any aging hippie that this is where Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane created legendary music.
Dine at World-Class Restaurants: Dining in San Francisco is an attraction in itself. Known as one of America’s best restaurant cities, its chefs create memorable dishes using local ingredients, authentic international flavors and a touch of innovation. Choose your cuisine—Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Moroccan, Indian, Malaysian, Mexican, Greek, Russian or “fusion,” a combination of any or all.
Get Cultured: San Francisco is home to internationally recognized symphony, opera and ballet companies. Many playwrights introduce their works in San Francisco and avant-garde theater and dance companies can be found throughout the city. The Asian Art Museum, the de Young Museum, the Legion of Honor and other museums and galleries are devoted to the finest of classical and contemporary arts. San Francisco is also home to the California Academy of Sciences—the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum and a four-story rainforest all under one roof. Hope to see you in San Francisco in October!
APTA staffer Maroni lives in the Washington, DC, area but he left his heart in San Francisco, his former hometown.
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