
Visiting San Francisco for the First Time? Here's What to See and Do
Here’s what you need to know to make the most of a single day in San Francisco.
Huntington Park sits at the very heart of Nob Hill, surrounded by luxury apartment buildings, hotels, and the French-Gothic Grace Cathedral. The park’s focal point is the Baroque “Fountain of the Tortoises,” a bronze copy of a 400-year-old original in Rome. Benches and grassy areas provide a pleasant place to sit or spread a blanket, while a children’s playground is a popular spot for families. Most Nob Hill walking tours stop at Huntington Park for a primer on the area’s illustrious history.
Huntington Park is located between California and Sacramento Streets at Taylor Street in the Nob Hill neighborhood. The California Cable Car line C and MUNI bus route 1 stop right nearby. Parking in the area is limited, though paid garages are available beneath Grace Cathedral and across the street at the Masonic event space.
The park is open daily. Visit after dark to see the “Fountain of the Tortoises” illuminated, or stop by on a Sunday morning to hear the ringing bells of Grace Cathedral.
One of San Francisco's most exclusive addresses, Nob Hill is known for its luxury residences and hotels. While most of the historic buildings here were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire, the Flood Mansion directly across from Huntington Park remains, and today is home to the elite and secretive Pacific Union Club. Next door, the elegant Fairmont Hotel also survived the disaster and welcomes guests to stay overnight or dine in the Laurel Court lobby restaurant and Tonga Room tiki lounge downstairs. Across California Street, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins boasts some of the best views in San Francisco from the Top of the Mark cocktail bar, while the Huntington Hotel lets diners feel like a 19th-century tycoon at its Big 4 Restaurant.