Humanity Life

Grand Canyon North Rim

2010-12-02T21:47:00.000+08:00

No trip to Las Vegas is complete without visiting the Grand Canyon, and why not take the road less traveled and visit the famous North Rim? Thousands of feet higher than the South Rim, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon provides impressive vistas, trails along the Colorado River, and a better glimpse at the inner canyon.

The Grand Canyon North Rim retains a sense of solitude, a remote wilderness rich with scenic hiking trails and overlooks with spectacular vistas. The North Rim beckons day hikers, who want to traipse through meadows thick with wildflowers and dense clusters of willowy aspen and spruce trees, and breathe crisp, Alpine air – all under vast, blue skies.

One of the highlights of the Grand Canyon North Rim is Bright Angel Point, which lies at the end of the Bright Angel Point Trail, a half-mile loop (800 m) and one the most popular of the North Rim corridor trails. From the point, you can see and hear the rush of Roaring Spring, the North Rim's only water source, which lies 3,600 feet (1,100 m) below the rim. You'll find more scenic overlooks at Cape Royal, one of the most spectacular settings in the Grand Canyon. At Angel's Window Overlook is a breathtaking view of the natural bridge that forms Angel's Window.

Point Imperial is the highest point of the Grand Canyon, at 8,803 feet (2,683 m) above sea level, and overlooks the painted desert and Marble Canyon. Cape Royal provides panoramic views of the canyon, desert, and Colorado River.

Keep in mind, it's only about 10 miles (16 km) across the canyon, separating the North and South rims. By car it's another story: from the North Rim the South Rim is a 5-hour, 215-mile (345 km) drive.

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Graceland

2010-12-02T21:42:00.000+08:00

The second most visited home in the United States (behind only the White House), Graceland was home to Elvis Presley during the height of his career. The iconic rock and roll singer, called "The King of Rock and Roll," died in the white-columned mansion in 1977 at the age of 42. The King is buried in the Meditation Gardens on the estate.

A tour of the mansion takes you through the first story of the 23-room house. The interior of the house is worth seeing not because it is especially beautiful, but because of its excessively opulent and tacky displays. Red fur and leopard print constitute the main decorating scheme in most of the rooms. Touring the wacky rooms of this 17,552 square foot (1,630.6 square meter) estate gives you an insight into the quirky mind of Elvis. The television room in the basement, where he often watched 3 television sets at once, is just one example that represents the star's eclectic taste.

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Grace Cathedral

2010-12-02T21:37:00.001+08:00

One of Nob Hill’s many stunning highlights, Grace Cathedral holds many interesting features. Its spectacular stained-glass windows include a series dedicated to human endeavor, depicting such modern figures as Thurgood Marshall, Robert Frost, and Albert Einstein, who is uplifted in a swirl of nuclear particles. Day and night you'll notice people absorbed in thought while walking the outdoor, inlaid stone labyrinth, meant to guide restless souls through three spiritual stages: releasing, receiving and returning.

Grace Cathedral also embodies a commitment to pressing social issues in its AIDS Memorial Chapel, which has a bronze altarpiece by artist-activist Keith Haring. Here his signature figures are angels taking flight – especially powerful imagery as this was his last work before death by AIDS in 1990. Alongside this magical ambience, Grace Cathedral also lifts spirits with Sunday services and musical performances.

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Golden Gate Park

2010-12-02T21:27:00.002+08:00

When San Franciscans refer to "the park", there's only one that gets the definite article: Golden Gate Park. Everything San Franciscans hold dear is here: free spirits, free music, redwoods, Frisbee, protests, fine art, bonsai, and buffalo. Check out the range of attractions listed below, or just follow your bliss from east to west.

Start on the east end, where you pass the Conservatory of Flowers and the sheltered contemplative valley of the AIDS Memorial Grove. As you near the Academy of Sciences, pass by the Shakespeare Garden, featuring 150 plants mentioned in Shakespeare's writings. Nearby are the Japanese Tea Garden, the San Francisco Botanical Garden, and Strybing Arboretum. Head toward Martin Luther King Drive to pass the Polo Fields, where the 1967 Human Be-In took place and free concerts are still held in summer.

Outdoor activities abound here: an archery range, baseball and softball diamonds, fly-casting pools, a disc golf course, greens for lawn bowling, a horseshoe pitch, four soccer fields, and 21 tennis courts. But the big draw here for athletes are the miles of trails for biking, jogging and horse-riding through the park's natural splendors. Or maybe just pack a picnic basket and laze the day away under sunny San Francisco skies.

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Golden Gate National Recreation Area

2010-12-02T21:09:00.001+08:00

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is the largest urban park in the world, covering three counties along nearly 30 mi (48 km) of pristine shorelines. The area wraps around the northern and western edges of the city, encompassing a variety of attractions. Here are some of the highlights:

Aquatic Park, adjacent to the Hyde Street Pier, has a nice swimming beach, while Fort Mason Center holds a variety of museums, theaters, and shops, often with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Marina Green is a favorite local spot for kite-flying, jogging, and walking along the Promenade. The Golden Gate Promenade is San Francisco’s most scenic biking, jogging, and walking path. The Promenade travels along the shore past Crissy Field and ends under the Golden Gate Bridge, at Fort Point.

On the western edge of the bay, Baker Beach draws sunbathers, anglers, and hikers. A little farther around the coast, Land's End provides a lower and upper hiking trail, which winds through wind-swept cypresses and pines on the cliffs above the Pacific.

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area extends into Marin County, where it encompasses the Marin Headlands, Muir Woods National Monument, and Olema Valley behind the Point Reyes National Seashore.

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Golden Gate Bridge

2010-12-02T21:03:00.000+08:00

Brooklyn resident still try to debate who has the more beautiful bridge, but for San Franciscans that argument was won in 1937, and the only debatable point is where to get the best vantage point on their beloved bridge.

Cinema buffs believe Alfred Hitchcock had it right: seen from below at Fort Point, the bridge induces a thrilling case of Vertigo. Fog aficionados prefer the lookout at Vista Point in Marin, on the north side of the bridge, to watch gusts rush through the bridge cables. Crissy Field is a key spot to appreciate the whole span, with windsurfers and kite-fliers to add action to your snapshots. Unlike the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge provides access to cyclists and pedestrians.

From the Golden Gate Bridge itself, you can see stunning vistas of San Francisco and Marin County, as well as Alcatraz, Angel Island, and oceangoing liners passing through the bridge’s tall red towers. Golden Gate Bridge connects the city of San Francisco with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Sausalito and the Muir Woods National Monument.

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Ghirardelli Square

2010-12-02T19:51:00.001+08:00

Willy Wonka would tip his hat to Domingo Ghirardelli, whose business became the West's largest chocolate factory in 1893. The square is no longer a factory, of course. Since then, it’s evolved into a handsome three-level luxury mall with spiffy boutiques, spas, and wine-tasting rooms – care for a massage and some merlot with your chocolate?

Sit in the sun and watch street performers, who regularly entertain at the West Plaza and fountain area. If your sweet tooth beckons, surrender to its desire with a "world famous" Ghirardelli hot fudge sundae at the old-fashioned soda fountain inside the mall.

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Getty Center Museum

2010-12-01T22:06:00.001+08:00

In its billion-dollar in-the-clouds perch high above the city, the Getty Center presents triple delights: a stellar art collection (Renaissance to David Hockney); Richard Meier's cutting-edge architecture; and the visual splendor of seasonally changing gardens. On clear days, you can add breathtaking views of the city and ocean to the list.

Even getting up to the museum aboard the computer-operated tram is fun. From the sprawling arrival plaza, a natural flow of walkways, stairs, fountains, and courtyards encourages a leisurely wander between galleries, gardens, and outdoor cafes. Five buildings hold collections of manuscripts, drawings, photographs, furniture and decorative arts, and a strong assortment of pre-20th-century European paintings. Must-sees include Van Gogh's Irises, Monet's Wheatstacks, and Rembrandt's The Abduction of Europa. Children can visit the interactive Family Room or browse the special kid bookstore.

When not wandering the galleries, take time to visit the lovely Cactus Garden for those amazing Los Angeles city views. A great time to visit is in the late afternoon after the crowds have thinned. Sunsets create a remarkable alchemy of light and shadow and are especially magical in winter, when the orange orb drops straight into the Pacific.

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Georgia Aquarium

2010-12-01T22:01:00.001+08:00

One of Atlanta’s major showstoppers is the Georgia Aquarium, a colossal facility billing itself as the world's largest aquarium. The aquarium’s 8 million gallons of marine and fresh water is home to more than 100,000 animals representing 500 different species. The aquarium's notable specimens include four young whale sharks, two beluga whales, and two manta rays.

The five permanent exhibits, each with its own habitat, will surely enthrall. Within these displays are Australian weedy sea dragons, giant Pacific octopus, Japanese spider crabs, otters, and piranha. There’s even a petting tank where visitors can touch horseshoe crabs, sea stars, stingrays, and shrimp. Take a walk through an acrylic tunnel, surrounded by water, and watch as gigantic whale sharks swim overhead.

Little kids, especially, will love the tropical coral reefs, where they can look for "Nemo" among the reef’s colorful sea creatures. They also will delight in the 4-D movie, which sprinkles water on the audience and teaches about environmental sensitivity.

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Georgetown

2010-12-01T21:53:00.001+08:00

Fronting the Potomac River, Georgetown is an evocative neighborhood, combining the most elegant, wedding-cake exterior décor of Washington D.C. with a genuine sense of lived-in bustle. The neighborhood is rich with American Federal and Victorian architecture, their gardens bursting with flowers and their gables dripping with antebellum charm. You’ll find high-end shopping arcades, hushed restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife scene. It’s also the home of Georgetown University, the city’s most prestigious school.

In spring and summer, Georgetown is green and gorgeous, with the trees waving and the laughing co-eds and well-off families. In fall and winter, Georgetown becomes dignified and reserved, her old-school atmosphere enhanced by the change of leaves or flicker of gas lamps on snowy nights.

Spend an afternoon strolling M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, its main thoroughfares, taking detours down side streets at your leisure. The Georgetown Waterfront is a favorite with first-daters, singles, and strolling families. Between K Street and the water south of the C&O Canal, it's home to parkland, shops, lofts and restaurants. If you have time, walk the historic C&O Canal & Towpath, a bucolic cobble path running alongside a green canal, stopping to watch flat-bed barges float by.

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Gatorland

2010-12-01T21:45:00.001+08:00

With its goofy, gaping alligator jaws as the main entrance, Gatorland is a reptilian wonderland filled with thousands of toothy alligators and crocodiles as far as the eye can see, as well as a few slithery snakes, slimy toads, and leathery turtles.

A splintery wooden boardwalk, inches above the water, winds through the hundreds of alligators and crocodiles in the breeding marsh, and a three-story observation tower provides a soaring lookout for the birds of the wildlife habitat. Get up close on a leisurely walk through the park, or hop aboard the Gatorland Express Train, a treat for younger kids.

The Jumparoo Show has 10 ft (3 m) long alligators leaping almost entirely out of the water to grab a hunk of meat from the trainer's hand. The Jungle Crocs Show highlights four rare species and gives an entertaining history lesson on the creatures. Indulge your Crocodile Hunter fantasy with the Trainer for a Day package, and learn how to wrangle both crocs and gators hands-on. To keep the little ones occupied, there’s a petting zoo and playground.

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Gaslamp Quarter

2010-12-01T21:39:00.001+08:00

Built in the late 19th century, the Gaslamp Quarter is a 16½ block historical neighborhood, filled with streets lined with wrought-iron street lamps, trees, and brick sidewalks. Along with its many historic buildings, the Gaslamp has the city’s highest concentration of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. Many of the bars double as restaurants as well, making the whole district the prime nightspot in San Diego.

The Gaslamp Quarter is also home to many events and festivals, including Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp, Street Scene Music Festival, the San Diego Comic-Con, Taste of Gaslamp, and ShamROCK, a St. Patrick's Day event. PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres is located one block away in downtown San Diego's East Village. Croce's Restaurant & Jazz Bar, named after famous singer Jim Croce, is also located in the Quarter.

For a break from the bustling streets of the Gaslamp Quarter, head over to Third Avenue. This is the historic heart of San Diego’s Chinese community. Below Third Avenue, on the eastern border of the Gaslamp is Westfield Horton Plaza Center, which has five stories of shopping for you to indulge in.

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Garden District

2010-12-01T21:32:00.000+08:00

New Orleans' Garden District is the epitome of "Southern Charm". Plantation style mansions have wrap-around porches and verandas, where friends and family enjoy sweet tea and stories in the humid New Orleans climate. Streets are separated by stretches of green parks and the historic cable car line that runs along St. Charles Avenue.

Take a walk around the Garden District's lush avenues and you'll feel transported into a southern oasis shaded by blossoming magnolia trees. This district is more than a picturesque neighborhood, some of New Orleans' best boutique shopping can also be found along Magazine Street. Stroll by historic Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 where the last names of New Orleans' wealthy families dot the headstones, while establishments along the "Irish Channel" testify to the city's history of immigrant populations.

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French Quarter

2010-12-01T21:26:00.000+08:00

The French Quarter, also know as the Vieux Carre, is the oldest and most famous neighborhood in New Orleans. The Quarter, as it is commonly known, runs from the banks of the Mississippi River to Rampard Street and between Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue. Much more than a historic district, the appeal of the French Quarter is easy see. It's walkable, picturesque, always busy, and filled with an extraordinary range of great restaurants, bars, nightclubs, courtyard cafés, art galleries, rummage shops and museums. A visitor can walk these blocks time and time again, and always notice something new.

Here, you'll find beautiful ironwork details on historic buildings branching out from St. Louis Catherdral. Barter for knick-knacks at the French Market or take a carriage ride around Jackson Square and see the colorful assortment of artwork, merchants, and street performers that give New Orleans its quirky character. The famous Cafe du Monde has been serving their delicious beignets (a french-style doughnut), chickory coffee, and cafe ole in French Quarter since the 19th century and they make a perfect treat any time of day.

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Freedom Trail

2010-11-30T06:30:00.001+08:00

The Freedom Trail is a great way to explore Boston’s most popular sites. The 2 ½-mile/4-km trail itself links a number of historic sites, many associated with colonial United States history. The route is marked with a line of red paint or red brick on the sidewalk; markers identify stops and plaques point the way from one sight to the next.

The Freedom Trail starts on the Boston Common and visits sights on Beacon Hill, in Downtown, near the Waterfront, and in the North End, before crossing the bridge and ending in Charlestown. As such, it provides an introduction to some of Boston’s distinct neighborhoods, as well as its rich history.

Along the way, you’ll see the King’s Chapel, Old City Hall, and the Old Corner Bookstore. You’ll visit Faneuil Hall, which is a choice spot to stop for a lunch from the food court in Quincy Market. More sites include Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground (with its grand views across the river to Charlestown) and the USS Constitution Museum, home of the world’s oldest commissioned warship. Once you reach Charlestown, grab a bite to eat and relax in one of the neighborhood’s trendy or traditional eateries.

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Fremont Street

2010-11-30T06:26:00.000+08:00

The Fremont Street Experience chronicles the legendary history of Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. Believe it or not, the setting is fairly awe-inspiring. Spanning four entire city-blocks, the Fremont Street Experience is a massive outdoor mall built inside of a barrel vault canopy. Featuring concerts, lights shows, and multiple casinos, it is one of downtown’s biggest attractions.

Fremont Street housed the first casino in Las Vegas, and you could say that the Fremont Street Experience changed and illuminated Vegas in the same ways that the original did.

The Fremont Street Experience offers free concerts and live entertainment, with multiple show performances each day. Ten different casinos have games and tables inside of the Fremont Street Experience, so you can get an idea of what they are all about. The famous canopy is now lit up by an LED Screen, projecting thousands of different color combinations and images all day long.

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Fountain of Youth

2010-11-30T04:22:00.001+08:00

For thousands of years, people have journeyed the earth in search of a so called "Fountain of Youth," hoping that a single sip from the spring will restore them to full health and vitality. While you are in St. Augustine, consider your quest complete.

According to legend, the famous Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon came to Florida in the 16th century in search of this miraculous fountain. He claimed the land for the Spanish crown, and soon afterward, another explorer arrived and founded St. Augustine- the oldest continuously occupied European settlement within the continental United States. It wasn't until 1901 that an enterprising woman bought an estate in St. Augustine and began to charge people to drink from the fountain located on the property. She claimed that it was Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth, and patrons immediately began flocking to the site. Whether or not you believe in the legend, it can't hurt to to see what happens if you take a sip from the fountain today!

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Fort Worth

2010-11-30T03:47:00.000+08:00

Fort Worth is a smaller, more user-friendly neighbor to Dallas, proud of its cow-handling roots and Western heritage.

The Southwestern Stock Show and Rodeo is an annual event, held at the Will Rogers Memorial Center, and the Stockyards District has been transformed into a leisure and shopping precinct.

The Stockyards Museum gives the lowdown on the city’s cow-town past, and friendly cowboys on horseback ride past to answer questions and perform a twice-daily drive of Texas longhorn cattle.

There’s high culture in Fort Worth too, including the Modern Art Museum, galleries and Museum of Science & Nature in the city’s Cultural District.

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Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science

2010-11-30T03:42:00.000+08:00

If you’re looking for an educational and exciting experience in Fort Lauderdale, visit the fascinating Museum of Discovery and Science. You can see sharks and marvel that the largest captive living Atlantic coral reef. The museum’s animals include bats, 12-foot snakes, alligators, turtles, and iguanas.

You can also learn about Florida’s Everglades in an interactive cockpit simulator exhibit or discover Mars in the space exhibit, Runways to Rockets. The museum also contains a visually stunning IMAX theatre, which is the largest in Florida. Go on a cinematic journey complete with 15,000 watts of surround sound.

more information : review Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science

Fort Lauderdale Butterfly World

2010-11-30T03:32:00.000+08:00

A visit to the Ft. Lauderdale Butterfly World is a relaxing day and a visual feast for the eyes. Come experience thousands of butterflies fluttering around you in an atrium filled with exotic plants and flowers all while soft classical music envelops your senses.

On a visit to Butterfly World, up to fifty species of butterflies can be seen. There are at least 10,000 butterflies on display at any time. Another major attraction is the hummingbird aviary, where you can sit and observe the tiny birds flying. Remember to bring your camera and extra film to you can pose with the beautiful butterflies

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Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum

2010-11-30T03:18:00.001+08:00

Founded by Arthur O. Stone, former floral company owner, the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum has assembled an impressive collection of pre-war Packard automobiles and other memorabilia. The museum excellently showcases the development of American automotive engineering skill.

Mr. Stone, an automobile aficionado, decked out the museum with everything from grease caps, gearshift knobs, and spark plugs to Texaco Oil signage. The museum also contains a recently added wing and a renovated, bigger library. 22 Packard automobiles from 1900 to the 1940's are displayed, ranging from a 1909 Packard Model 18 Speedster to a 1947 Packard Model 2111 Clipper Eight Deluxe Custom PU Truck. Alongside the automobiles is a gallery dedicated to the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

more information : review Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum

Florida Aquarium

2010-11-29T03:07:00.000+08:00

The perfect place to take the entire family for an afternoon, the Florida Aquarium offers exciting views of nature within the comfort of an air-conditioned building. Home to more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals, the aquarium offers 200,000 square feet (23,000 square meters) worth of fun and adventure.

If just walking around the expansive building and enjoying the amazing wildlife isn't enough, the aquarium also has additional opportunities for more in depth exploration. Some of these family friendly attractions include a Swim with the Fishes Tour, Penguins : Backstage Pass opportunity, and a Wild Dolphin Ecotour.

If you ever want to head outside, the 2-acre "Explore a Shore" water adventure zone provides opportunities for the kids to cool off with water games while parents can relax under the shade of the Tampa Tribune Cantina bar and grill.

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Fisherman's Wharf

2010-11-29T02:58:00.000+08:00

Where once Italian fisherman in Genoese feluccas trapped unsuspecting sealife, San Francisco has expertly created one of the most popular tourist attractions in America. Fisherman’s Wharf is a bustling waterfront strip, filled with shops, restaurants, and a pirate’s booty of attractions.

Sea lions laze the day away sunbathing and posing for photo ops on Pier 39, where the Aquarium of the Bay, carousel, and carnival-style attractions keep little kids wide-eyed. At Pier 45, the Hyde Street Pier Historic Ships Collection give navel-gazers a chance to check out tall ships, submarines and WWII warships. Bring your quarters to consult the spooky mechanical fortune tellers and save the world from space invaders at Musée Mécanique.

And if it’s raining, head to the Wax Museum and wander among the 250-plus life-like celebrities and former presidents. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, with its kaleidoscope tunnel, video displays, and illusions is also a curiously exciting diversion. Rain or shine, there’s something for kids and adults of all ages.

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Field Museum of Natural History

2010-11-29T02:53:00.000+08:00

With more than 20 million artifacts, the Field Museum of Natural History is an engaging museum filled with both interactive and imaginative displays. The big attraction is the Tyrannosaurus rex named "Sue," a 13 foot (4 meter) tall, 41 ft (13 m) long beast who menaces the grand space with ferocious aplomb. The most complete T-Rex ever discovered, it takes its name from Sue Hendrickson, the fossil-hunter who found the 90 percent complete skeleton in South Dakota in 1990.

Dinosaurs loom large in the Field Museum. At the Evolving Planet exhibit, you can also watch staff paleontologists clean up fossils, learn about the evolution of the massive reptiles, and even learn about Homo sapien's evolutionary ties to the extinct beasts. Away from the prehistoric giants, the “Inside Ancient Egypt” exhibit recreates an Egyptian burial chamber on three levels. The mastaba (tomb) contains 23 actual mummies. The bottom level, with its twisting caverns, is especially worthwhile. Those reeds growing in the stream are real.

Other displays worth your time include “Underground Adventure,” a vast exhibit exploring the habitats of animals and insects that live underground, and the “Pawnee Earth Lodge,” which allows visitors to explore a complete dwelling of the Great Plains tribe.

more information : review Field Museum of Natural History

Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market

2010-11-29T02:36:00.000+08:00

Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market is the place where San Francisco foodies and some of the best local chefs come to peruse stalls hawking the finest Northern California produce, breads, dairy, flowers, ready-made snacks, and complete meals by local restaurants.

Outside, you can tempt your taste buds with artisanal goat cheese, fresh-pressed California olive oil, pasture-raised beef, and organic vegetables. The gourmet action continues indoors, where select local gourmet shops sell wild-harvested mushrooms, gold-leafed chocolates, sustainably farmed oysters and caviar from Marin, and other temptations. The variety and quality is amazing, and the crowd scene itself is something to behold.

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