Principales destinos: San Francisco, CA

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Culture is appreciated in the most beautiful surroundings in San Francisco. Traditional buildings, former libraries and modern, curvy structures house the talents of international ballerinas and musicians.

Next to City Hall is the War Memorial Opera House, the performance hall for both the San Francisco Ballet and the San Francisco Opera. The stately Beaux Arts building observes approximately 100 performances annually. For more information, call 415-621-6600; located at 301 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102.

The modern Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall stands in direct contrast to the Opera House, with its cylindrical shape and glass and mirror accents. Seating 2,700, visitors appreciate the impressive acoustics and the 9,000-piped Ruffati organ. For more information, call 415-864-6000; located at 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Housed in the city's former library building, the Asian Art Museum is devoted exclusively to Asian art and culture, spanning 6,000 years of history. For more information, call 415-581-3500; located at 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.

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Shoppers delight in the myriad opportunities to shop in unique locales, such as fishing piers, former chocolate factories and large department stores.

Pier 39, one of the most-visited attractions in California, features two levels of shops and destination dining, an aquarium and carousel. Located just two blocks east of Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 is a renovated cargo pier and serves as homeport to the Blue & Gold Fleet. For more information, call 415-705-5500; located at Beach Street & The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133.

In the center of downtown San Francisco is the stylish Union Square, a two and a half acre district lined with posh department stores such as Neiman Marcus and Macy's. Rounding out the area is an open-air stage, central plaza and gardens. Specialty boutiques include Gucci and Tiffany. For more information, call 415-781-4456; located at 870 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Ghirardelli Square, a chocolate factory transformed into a shopping and dining complex, pays homage to its roots by the celebrated Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop, where the original chocolate machines are showcased. Restaurants feature every type of cuisine, and art galleries and specialty shops abound. For more information, call 415-775-5500; located at 900 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.

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Visitors flock to the city's most recognizable landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge, but should not miss equally popular attractions, including Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz.

Often enveloped in a thick fog, the suspension-bridge engineering masterpiece, the Golden Gate Bridge, was constructed in 1937 and towers over 4,200 feet. The 1.2-mile bridge takes about an hour to walk, round-trip, and offers especially spectacular views at the southeast and northeast ends of the bridge. For more information, call 415-921-5858; located at U.S. Highway 101, San Francisco, CA 94129.

Formerly the thriving center of the city's fishing industry, Fisherman's Wharf offers entertainment, shops, bay cruises, parks and museums. To view the fisherman at work, take an early morning jaunt down "Fish Alley," on Jefferson between Hyde and Jones Streets. For more information, call 415-674-7503; located at San Francisco, CA 94133.

In the middle of San Francisco Bay sits the infamous former prison, Alcatraz. In the 1920s, this island became a maximum-security prison that held America's most wanted, including Al Capone. "The Rock" is now a popular attraction and is accessible from Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing. For more information, call Alcatraz Cruises at 415-981-ROCK (7625); located at Pier 33, Alcatraz Landing, San Francisco, CA 94123.