Union Square: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

ALAnastassya LebedevaNastyaLebedeva · Oct 28, 2012Read

Letter from September 4th Sender: Anastasia Lebedeva, San Francisco, California Recipient: Yulya Keda, Kazakhstan Hi! Honestly, I thought I'd write sooner, but I didn't have the time – we spent 3 unforgettable days in San Francisco! Now I understand why Anya wanted to come back here so much! The city is just indescribably beautiful! That's how I put it))) Its whole charm is that it's very different from other American cities! I don't even know where to start! I have an idea! Let me write about why this city is so wonderful instead! 10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO 1) The best way to get to know any city is just to walk wherever you want, ON FOOT! There are no huge highways in San Fran, so you can walk and enjoy the views as much as you like! Of course, the city is built on hills – so the roads take on unimaginable angles! 2) It really is very beautiful! I took tons of photos! The coolest thing is that the city is beautiful in its diversity! Palace of Fine Arts (especially in the evening when it gets dark, the view is stunning), City Hall, Painted Ladies, Japantown, Chinatown, Union Square (a cool square), Haight-Ashbury (a very positive neighborhood)), Coit Tower, Pacific Heights.... 3) You can spend the whole day walking around Fisherman’s Wharf: the embankment, the deep blue ocean, Alcatraz Island, the sound of the waves, seagulls circling over the water – probably one of the most beautiful places in the city! 4) Cable Cars! OMG! After waiting in a huuuuge line, we managed to ride the famous little trams! We specifically took the side seats so we could stand while riding, take photos of people along the way, and enjoy the views!!! An amazing feeling! 5) The city is full of surprises! We spent half the day on the embankment, and by the time we rented bikes, it was already 5 o'clock. Our goal was to cross the Golden Gate Bridge! Anya had talked our ears off (yours too))) about how much she likes this bridge and how many photos she took last year! So to say I was anticipating it is an understatement! But imagine our surprise when we reached the bridge, or rather, the place where it was supposed to be, and discovered that THE BRIDGE WAS GONE!! We were standing in the middle of nowhere (as Americans say), and there was FOG all around, so thick that it was impossible to see the Golden Gate Bridge! After wandering around a bit, we decided to go through with our plan anyway! We rode across the bridge (yes, we found it by touch))), our hair was wet from the fog, it was windy, but we felt great! White haze all around! Anyway, after reaching the other end, we stopped and started sharing our impressions. And when the sun came out and the red outlines of the bridge supports became visible, we took pictures, and, tired but happy, continued our journey. On the way back, we bought t-shirts - I biked the Golden Gate Bridge! The day was a success! 6) Golden Gate Bridge! No words! It's the symbol of the city! 7) It has its own atmosphere here! Probably because of the architecture! Or maybe because of the weather! Fog is a very common occurrence, but it's so cool here in the fall! 8) Golden Gate Park. Everything is so beautiful, green, tons of flowers! Tons of photos! 9) Every time you can find something new: cozy cafes, museums (we managed to see a bit of Dali and Picasso), bookstores, parks, people! 10) You want to come back here again and again! p.s. The flight to New York is soon – we'll be there tomorrow, and on the 8th we fly home! So we'll be back soon! p.p.s. I like your VK status)))))))

UUSAblogi · Oct 5, 2009Read

Mmm... Another unforgettable summer in an unforgettable city with unforgettable people..... It all took place in the fairy-tale city of San Francisco........ If you're going to San Francisco... be sure to wear some flowers in your hair..... The journey began at Sheremetyevo Airport.... I boarded the plane, full of anticipation for the city of my dreams..... A football player who plays for Spartak-Nalchik, Ricardo, sits down next to me.... San Francisco greeted me with rather cool weather, but colorful landscapes.... With its hilly terrain... Cable car... Golden Gate Bridge... Union Square... Haight-Ashbury.... Fisherman's Wharf..... The coolest parties of my life..... The coolest clubs.... The coolest people.... And this is SAN FRANCISCO!!!!!!

DDream-landguest_16012 · Oct 1, 2009Read

San Francisco greeted us with a cloudy sky and a light drizzle! It was scary to even leave the warm, cozy bus! After dressing in all our warmest clothes, we hopped out at Union Square! Our first reaction: "This place is cool!" You could immediately feel the vibrant life, with hip youth wandering everywhere, and endless fun diners and clubs! Not having any idea where to go, we first grabbed some free newspapers, which even contained a detailed city map! We found the street where we had found a cheap hotel online, but there were no rooms available there( We decided to walk along the main streets and check every hostel we saw! But it wasn't that simple: it was Friday evening and almost everything was booked, or only the most exorbitant prices from $150 per night remained! I even started to get a little worried, looking around at the homeless people, whose numbers were growing every hour! But in general, we didn't lose faith in ourselves and our luck; as a last resort, we even had the address of a free homeless shelter! The very same free newspaper helped us, where we found many ads for quite cheap hotels with coupon discounts! We checked into a room for $60. This wonderful room even had a microwave, which I had dreamed of to eat the Chinese noodles I brought from New York) On top of all this, there was a free continental breakfast in the hotel lobby in the morning, everything standard: buns with butter and jam, cereal with milk, juice, coffee, apples, bananas! Out of habit, we also packed some food for the whole day) It's a shame we had to pack our bags and look for new accommodation because hotel prices for the weekend doubled! We found another hotel for $100 a night, dropped off our backpacks, and off we went! We studied various brochures and maps well) Irishka persuaded me to walk towards the pier! Not everyone would agree to that, because the whole city is located on hills, and often quite steep ones at that)) But we aren't afraid of difficulties) San Francisco surprised us in everything! The architecture of the houses reminded me of some light, graceful European style, with the exception of Downtown. Everything here was as usual: powerful skyscrapers, familiar shops, banks—everything reminded me of New York in some way! Cute old cars were driving all over the city, like our "Zaporozhets", an open little tram, small grocery stores where they sold alcohol around the clock! And of course, rainbow flags without the white color were everywhere, and locals with broad views holding hands! Now it's clear why Frisco is called the most democratic city in America; you rarely see such a number of gays and homeless people! Our favorite places became the magnificent piers! I don't even know how to put it into words, the northern coast has a completely unusual atmosphere! Stone embankments with a huge number of sailboats and a stunning view of the bridges and the famous Alcatraz! I dreamed so much of visiting this most famous prison in the world, unfortunately, due to money, I couldn't do it... I had to settle for all sorts of prison-themed souvenirs) We walked along the pier popular with all tourists, Pier 39, to Fisherman's Wharf—extraordinary places! Here you get charged with some kind of energy of a tireless traveler; you want to settle on a pirate ship and wander the World endlessly! Visiting the most beautiful bridge in America—the Golden Gate bridge—had to be postponed for another day because our camera broke((( The morning of a new day began in search of free food! This time there was no breakfast at our hotel, but it was enough to wander around the neighborhoods, because all the doors in hotels are open in the morning. You create the right sleepy look and everything is ok, you can even take something with you) We also bought a disposable film camera, 27 frames) Golden Gate bridge turned out to be just as beautiful as in the TV series "Charmed") We looked with delight at the picturesque views that opened up from the huge bridge, an

Gguest_16009Oct 1, 2009Read

There is so much to tell, so many beautiful and instructive stories... Here are some useful tips for those just arriving. First of all, when you land, don't be afraid of anyone or anything. The airport is a very safe place. Look around, figure out how to get to the Greyhound station, and head calmly to the subway. It's better not to eat at the airport—the prices are sky-high. The subway (it looks a bit creepy, but that's deceptive; for me, these underground tunnels became like home) from the airport goes through Brooklyn. There will be some rough stations, and guys with very stern faces might get on :) Don't be afraid of them; act very confident, keep a 'poker face,' and enjoy the view out the window. Some crazy people or just random guys might approach you—don't be shy to talk to them, don't be afraid, and don't show that you're here for the first time and overwhelmed. Speak calmly and confidently. Oh, I forgot to mention, if you plan to stay in NYC for a while, get a transit pass... Greyhound will probably be the 'most dangerous' place for you :) because all sorts of types hang out there asking for money. Don't walk around quickly and looking confused, and don't dress 'fancy'—travel in casual clothes. If I remember correctly, when you exit the subway, you go straight from the platform into the Greyhound terminal; the ticket counters are on the right if you need to buy one. Oh, about clothes... The second time I traveled, I had a bag with notebooks for university :) It had a towel, a couple of pairs of underwear, socks, pants, and a t-shirt... So, you leave the Greyhound station and need to find a place to sleep (you can actually wait out the night there if you're afraid to go out... though there's no need to be afraid). Go up a few streets and head right toward the center; you'll see hotels along the way, go to them. Don't go left—you'll end up at 12th Ave, and there are no hotels there :) If you arrived in the morning or afternoon, walk around, maybe go up to 59th St. to the park, have a snack there, and catch your breath. It's fresh and cool, just keep walking. Don't go to McDonald's or similar cafes. If you want, look for 'China Buffet King' or something similar around 5th Ave and 42nd to 47th St. (look for a big red crab sign in that area). They have a buffet for $12-14 where you can eat well and tasty. Housing: buy newspapers, call around. Don't go to Brooklyn to the Russians, specifically Brighton Beach—there's nothing interesting there. Moreover, that area really annoys me, and in general, try to have as little to do with them as possible; they are mostly pigs and will scam their own people. Work, well, what can I say... you just have to walk around and look. Try asking the pedicab drivers; there are many Russian guys in the Central Park area, they'll tell you everything. The work is generally profitable. I worked at http://www.meyersmoving.com/—the phone numbers are on the site, call and ask. The salary was $8, but tips were $50-100 daily, almost guaranteed. The main thing is don't be afraid; no one will stab you, kill you, or take your money for no reason. Keep a confident face. I recommend walking in Lower Manhattan, below 12th St.—there are beautiful areas and parks. Definitely visit Union Square Park (14-16th St. & Park Ave-Broadway) in the evening. I got a piercing somewhere in Lower Manhattan—there are tons of salons, $15 per ear :) + don't be stingy with tips. By the way, among other things on the 'wall of fame' at this master's shop, there was a personally signed photo of Philipp Kirkorov with well-wishes :) Getting around by taxi is expensive. I don't remember the exact amount, but drivers (especially the guys) get very offended and angry if they have to give change :) Remember, in Manhattan, a 15% tip is the absolute standard!!! We often ate at Columbus Circle—there are wonderful fountains there. You can 'pick up' (buy) food at a nearby store and eat while enjoying the view of the fountain and the metropoli