How to Soak up Culture in San Francisco
Eat seafood on the wharf and dim sum in Chinatown, drink vino or espresso in North Beach -- and be sure to take in some cultural activities in San Francisco. Visit the outstanding art and science museums by day; at night, attend a top-rate performance of ballet, opera or symphony. When you return home, you'll remember your cultural experience -- along with the taste of that great San Francisco sourdough.
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Go to the San Francisco Opera for art, drama and music all rolled into one. Enjoy the fine singing accompanied by the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, as well as the magnificent staging and sets. Take in a classic such as Puccini's "La Boheme" or Verdi's "La Traviata," or try something new such as "The Bonesetter's Daughter" (based on the novel by Amy Tan, who also wrote the libretto). To learn more about the performance you're about to see, attend a free pre-opera talk. A music professional will fill you in on the story, the composer and the history of the opera.
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Find out for yourself why locals are so proud of the San Francisco Symphony. The orchestra is known for its quality -- and for its music directors, including Seiji Ozawa, Herbert Blomstedt and currently Michael Tilson Thomas. Enjoy an evening of Beethoven, Brahms or Tchaikovsky; take in a performance featuring a world-class musician such as pianist Emanuel Ax or violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. The orchestra performs in Davies Symphony Hall and also reaches out to the community through free concerts, radio broadcasts and more.
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Choose the dance style you like at the San Francisco Ballet. The variety is amazing, from the "Nutcracker" and a full-length "Swan Lake" to a performance of 21st-century dances with names such as "Fusion" and "Double Evil." The skillful, dramatic dancing is accompanied by the San Francisco Performing Arts Orchestra. You can attend one performance, subscribe for the season or create a custom series of three ballets.
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Visit the wonderful museums in Golden Gate Park. The de Young Museum, housed in a stunning building, features artwork from the Americas, Africa and the Pacific, with special exhibits such as "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs." The California Academy of Sciences was reopened in 2008 in a fascinating new home with a "living" roof on top. The academy includes the Steinhart Aquarium, Kimball Natural History Museum and Morrison Planetarium.
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Turn south of Market Street for a fun, lively neighborhood with several other interesting museums. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) has a beautiful collection of painting, sculpture, photography and more. For more art, visit the Museum of Craft and Folk Art and the Contemporary Jewish Museum, which is housed in a striking modern building.
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Tips & Warnings
Take a side trip to the Legion of Honor, a museum with a fabulous view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. When you're done looking at the scenery, step inside for an impressive collection of ancient and European art.
