Author: Ihor

Union Square itself is only four blocks, but within this small space, they pack in a lot of stores. Here is where you will find your luxury shopping options, including Tiffany’s, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. This is also where you will find the Macy’s flagship store, which is host to the famous Christmas tree that greets Union Square every holiday season.

Powell Street nearby also offers plenty of shopping opportunities. Here you will find name brands for all including H&M, Urban Outfitters, and Express.

Talk a walk on Maiden Lane

This pedestrian-only street was once a former section of the city’s red-light district and is now filled with boutiques, art galleries, and luxury shops, all waiting to be explored. Also, be sure to stop by and see the city’s only Frank Lloyd Wright building.

Across from Union Square is the Westfield Shopping Center. This shopping mall offers larger retailers including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom’s, and the Banana Republic.

Looking for discounted theater tickets? Check out the TIX Booth in Union Square. The booth is open seven days a week and offers both full-price and discounted tickets to almost any cultural event in San Francisco.

Union Square is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in for your San Francisco vacation. With its central location and convenience to public transportation, a stay near Union Square is perfect for getting around the city. Beyond just shopping in San Francisco Union Square, there are plenty of dining options, museums, unique landmarks and buildings that make it a great starting point for your San Francisco vacation.

Need a place to stay? Discover the Golden Gate Hotel. Located just steps away from Union Square, our bed and breakfast offers old-world charm in an elegant and friendly surrounding. Our 23 guest rooms are delightfully decorated with antiques, original art, and original features that make a stay with us truly unique. Enjoy a morning breakfast, afternoon tea, and a warm friendly staff during your stay. So, relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city with a stay at the Golden Gate Hotel.

In its 30^th year this year, the Union Square Christmas tree lighting will take place the day after Thanksgiving and kick off the Christmas season here in the Bay area. The tree lighting will take place across from the Macy’s in Union Square Park between Sutter & Geary Streets and Powell & Stockton Streets. Festivities include a meeting with Santa, walk the festive Holiday Lane on the seventh floor of Macy’s Union Square for even more holiday decorations and fun.

Ice skate at Union Square with the Macy’s Christmas tree set as your backdrop. The classic activity is open to the public and is available from November 6, 2019, through January 20, 2020.

What Christmas is complete without a visit to see Santa? You can do just that at Macy’s iconic seventh floor. Visit with Santa and tell him your holiday wishes from November 23 through December 24. Visit Santa’s schedule here.

Watch, or participate, as hundreds of Santas take over the streets of Union Square and the city. But it’s not just Santas the run through the streets, Mrs. Clauses, elves, reindeer, and even grinches steal the show. The event is open and free to the public (21 and older) and is held on December 7, 2019. While the event is free, they do ask you to bring a toy for donation for the San Francisco Fire Department toy drive.

Begin the new year with the Polar Bear skate on January 1, 2020. Putting a California-twist on an old tradition, watch as ice skaters, dressed in their bathing suits and beach apparel, skate around the Union Square ice rink. Skaters are encouraged to come wearing the best beach attire for a chance to win one of the many prizes offered.

Stay near Union Square San Francisco and don’t miss any of the fun with a stay at the Golden Gate Hotel. Our historic hotel offers an ideal location, just blocks from Union Square, for celebrating Christmas at Union Square San Francisco. Our rooms are delightfully dressed with antiques, decorative artwork, and original details that make a stay here a truly special San Francisco experience.

Plus we put a bit of Christmas cheer throughout our bed and breakfast with festive decorations inside and out. ring in the spirit of the season and book your holiday vacation with the Golden Gate Hotel and

For travelers in town for business, conventions, or just leisure, the Golden Gate Hotel is a lovely alternative to other San Francisco hotels. Located in Nob Hill, we are within walking distance to Moscone Center, the largest convention center in San Francisco and a five-minute walk to Union Square.

One of the many perks you can expect from a bed and breakfast is a delicious breakfast included in your stay. Typically, a home-cooked meal from the innkeepers is provided to all guests each morning. Golden Gate Hotel serves a continental breakfast every morning and afternoon tea. It’s the perfect way to start your day, whether you are site seeing are heading out to a business conference at the Moscone Center.

If you’ve seen one Holiday Inn, you’ve seen them all! Not like a bed and breakfast, where charm and character offer a unique experience. Most bed and breakfasts have unique rooms, none like the other. Here at the Golden Gate Hotel our 23 historic rooms are individually decorated with antique furnishings, unique features like claw-foot tubs and “Pillbox” commodes, plus unique artwork that makes for a charming and cozy retreat in the heart of San Francisco near Union Square. Browse our accommodations today!

Everyone wants personal attention when they travel to make their vacation that much more special. When you stay at a Bed and Breakfast, personal attention is typically the number one focus for innkeepers. Everyone here at the Golden Gate Hotel, even Pip the cat, is here to welcome our guests to make sure they have the best experience with us. Feel like family as soon as you enter through our doors with generous hospitality and impeccable service.

It’s always the special amenities and little extras that can make a memorable vacation. When you stay at a bed and breakfast you will find a lot of little extras you won’t get at a basic hotel. Some leave out warm fresh baked cookies or offer champagne and chocolate packages for romantic weekends. Our amenities at the Golden Gate Hotel include complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, plush linens, and luxurious toiletries.

There are few hotels in San Francisco Union Square area that offer old-world charm and friendly atmosphere, all in an excellent location like the Golden Gate Hotel. Our location is not only ideal for leisure travelers but also for business travelers with our hotel just steps away from the Moscone Convention Center. With our prime location, you won’t find a better bed and breakfast in San Francisco! Browse our accommodations and find which room is right for you!

The history of the cable car began right here in San Francisco with its invention by Andrew Smith Hallidie in 1873. For more than 30 years it was the city’s main transportation system and was sturdy enough to survive the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

In 1947 the cable cars almost saw their extinction. Due to other cheaper modes of transportation, there was a movement to get rid of all cable car lines. In response to this, a committee was formed to Save the Cable Cars. Today the San Francisco cable cars are recognized as a National Landmark and are a protected part of the city’s history.

San Francisco’s cable cars run on two different systems.

The California Street Cable Car line uses 12 large cars that offer open seating and a closed section in the middle. These cars are operational from either end, with a turnaround operated by a simple switch.

The Powell Street lines, on the other hand, are smaller cable cars and operate from only one end. This requires a physical turntable to reverse the direction of the car at the end of the line. The cable car turnaround is located at the corner of Market Street and Powell Street. Visitors can watch as the operators leap out the car and slowly turn the car atop a revolving wooden platform.

To learn more about the history of the San Francisco cable car visit the Cable Car Museum in Nob Hill. Learn more about the historical impact the cars have had on the city. View old photographs of some of the original lines and cars and even watch the actual cables turn, as they keep the cars moving up the hilly streets of San Francisco.

Experience the San Francisco cable car with a stay at Golden Gate Hotel. Our boutique hotel near Union Square sits in front of one of the cable cars stops, making us an ideal location for exploring nearby neighborhoods and attractions such as Nob Hill, Fisherman’s Wharf, and North Beach.  We are just six blocks from the cable car turnaround and the Powell/Market St. Station. Plus, our historic hotel offers the perfect way to experience the best of San Francisco. With unique features like our birdcage elevator, clawfoot tubs, bay windows, and decorative features, a stay at the Golden Gate Hotel is unlike anything else in the city.

Discover our boutique hotel and book your stay with us today!