Marina and Union Street Neighborhoods in San Francisco

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Palace of Fine Arts 360°

Marina Green 360°

Union Street 360°

Pacific Heights/Filmore

click images to enlarge


Wave organ

The Palace of Fine Arts

Palace of Fine Arts Lagoon

The Palace of Fine Arts, designed by Berkeley architect Bernard Maybeck for the Exhibition celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal, is now the home of the Exploratorium. A temporary structure—built to last just one year—the Palace of Fine arts has been renovated a number of times mostly with funds donated by San Francisco residents. It is due for another major renovation in 2006.

The Exploratorium: the museum of science, art and human perception was founded in 1969 by noted physicist and educator Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, who served as director until his death in 1985.

Click on the pictures in the left hand column to view panoramas of The Palace of Fine arts, Marina Green and Union Street.

Marina Green — panorama on the left — is a favorite place for San Franciscans to sunbathe, play team sports and fly kites.

Just visible in the panorama is the jetty that extends from the St. Francis Yacht Club into the bay. At the end of the breakwater is a wave organ, pictured to the left.

I shot another panorama from the end of the jetty, near the wave organ, during the 40th Annual St. Francis Perpetual Trophy Regatta, better known as the Big Boat Series. Just below the panorams on this page is a link to an exciting full screen version.

A Segway Human Transporter Tour begins at Fisherman's Wharf and goes through Aquaric Park to the Marina and back.

Entrance to the Exploratorium is included with both the Go San Francisco Card and the San Francisco CityPass discount multi-attraction cards.

Union Street, just up the hill from the Marina is known for its fashion and gift boutiques. Union Street was the first neighborhood in San Francisco to convert its gingerbread victorians into upscale shops and restaurants. The area was originally called Cow Hollow for its origins as dairy meadows.

Higher up still is Pacific Heights, an upscale neighborhood full of stately mansions with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the Marina and much of the bay.

Some of San Francisco’s steepest streets are in this area, so drive carefully and be sure to curb you wheels when you park. You will be ticketed if you don’t!

Lombard street is the main artery through the area, connecting Van Ness Avenue with the Golden Gate Bridge. Crossing Van Ness in the other direction on Lombard will eventually get you to the section known as The Worlds Crookedest Street.

After you've taken a virtual tour of San Francisco on iNeTours.com you might want to take a real San Francisco Tour.