Guide to San Francisco: Arts & Culture

Get in Touch with Your Roots, Creative Side in the Bay Area

San Francisco is truly a cultural haven, offering a bit of something for everyone. From music halls and clubs offering tunes as diverse as punk, rock, trance and classical, to offbeat art galleries and museums, the Bay Area is a melting pot of diverse beliefs and styles.

Museums and Art: Cultural Expressions and Local Finds

If you have a passion for art, San Francisco is your personal cultural heaven. From the M. H. de Young Museum (specializing in American art) to the Asian Art Museum, the Bay Area's institutions pay homage to the rich and diverse cultures so ingrained in its history. Check out the San Francisco Museum of Modern art, the Museo ItaloAmerico, or the African American Historical and Cultural Society. For something different, head to the Exploratorium (housed in the Palace of Fine Arts near Golden Gate) or the San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum.

For a taste of the local art scene, check out the city's diverse (and eclectic) art houses and galleries, where Bay Area artists showcase their work. From mass organized open studios to unexpected peeps at working artists through studio windows, students can really get a feel for the different tastes, styles, and techniques that make San Francisco's art culture so unique.

Music to Your Ears: Emo, Screamo and… Opera?

San Francisco was the epicenter of free love in the 60s, leading to a musical revolution that included the likes of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. While the Bay Area memorializes these classic sounds, there's plenty of room for other tastes. From the San Francisco Opera , Ballet, and Symphony, to dive bars playing the latest and greatest in punk rock, to trendy clubs spinning trance and other electronic fare, the city is alive with musical passions. That's not even including traditional drum troupes and other cultural highlights that define the city.

See the Sites: Wharfs and Wine in San Francisco

The San Francisco Bay area contains so many attractions, it might take you your entire four years of college to experience them all.. Stroll the 4,200-foot landmark Golden Gate Bridge or sunbathe au naturale on the north end of Baker Beach. Hop a cable car for Fisherman's Wharf to witness the crazy antics of both man and mammals, as Pier 39's street performers compete with sea lions for your attention.

When Mom and Dad come to town (and money's no object), experience a Segway tour of the city for about $70 each. After a 35-minute training session, jet off aboard these space-age vehicles to points of interest such as Ghiradelli Square, the National Maritime Museum, and Fort Mason, enjoying views of Alcatraz, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Golden Gate Yacht Club along your way. Then, rent a car and drive two hours north to America's premiere wine-country, the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

Whatever your budget, San Francisco can turn your college experience into a 4-year vacation!

Sources:
San Francisco City Website
San Francisco Tours
Trip Advisor: San Francisco
San Francisco Area Guide
City Pass: San Francisco
SF Official Visitor's Site