Sunny San Francisco has so much to offer tourists and somehow provides it all without feeling overly touristy. It has an incredibly laid-back feel and its temperatures don't reach the highs of other American cities during the summer, something that was very much welcomed after I arrived there from the scorching July heat of New York. You can fly to the Northern California city direct from Dublin in 11 hours and it's an easy ride by the BART trains from San Francisco International Airport into downtown.
The city is home to some of the most well-known tourist attractions in the States, with the Golden Gate Bridge overlooking San Francisco Bay and the infamous Alcatraz Island. The 1.6km bridge is magnificent to look at and is easy to reach from the downtown area.
It's about a 20-minute drive from Union Square, while it will take you slightly longer to reach via public transport, with a number of bus options available. You can spend as much time as you like around the bridge, with plenty of walks, trails and hikes located nearby. There is also a coffee shop and a welcome centre that offers merchandise and historical information, while you may walk or cycle across the bridge, but be warned that it can be quite windy and foggy.
I've had the pleasure of spending time in a number of American cities and Alcatraz Island is up there with the most enjoyable/ mind-blowing places that I have visited. The federal prison located on the island operated from 1934 to 1963 and was home to some o.