The Beat Museum in San Francisco
San Francisco has an alternative kind of vibe. So while you’re here, visit some alternative kinds of museums.
The Beat Museum (540 Broadway): North Beach is the home to City Lights Bookstore, founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. History remembers him for standing trial for obscenity, after publishing Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl.” You can see a signed first edition of the book he published at the Beat Museum, also in North Beach. Along with it, you’ll find a wacky collection of memorabilia from Beatniks like Jack Kerouac, including Kerouac bobble heads, old issues of Playboy that feature Kerouac, and a 1961 check Kerouac wrote to a liquor store. Plus, you have to love a museum with a phone number like this: 800-KER-OUAC. The Campton Place Taj Hotel is close by. Read More »
Artwork on display at the San Francisco International Airport
Air travel certainly has its challenges these days – and even more so when you’re traveling with young children. Here are three ways to entertain the kids at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) if bad weather or tarmac delays have extended your layover a little longer than expected:
1. Ride the rail – The monorail, that is. From your perch high above the ground, you can enjoy a scenic ride as SFO’s AirTrain takes you to each of the terminals, the car rental, parking garage and BART station. You’ll get an eagle eye view of Highway 101 plus some airplanes, while zipping along like the Jetsons. The kids will love the E ticket ride, with its large window (including the window seat on each end) and poles to hang onto. You’ll love a few minutes of peace and quiet.
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Installation piece at the de Young Museum in San Francisco
[Flickr/CRASH:candy]
The youthful city of San Francisco is known for its wacky politics, creative spirit, and out-there artistry—the Burning Man festival started on a beach right here in the City. Here are a few museums that capture and display modern art that reflects San Francisco:
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: Friends and locals call this downtown art museum – with an uptown reputation and collection – the SFMOMA (you’ll see the acronym on signs all over downtown SF). Its galleries full of funky furniture, colorful photos, splashy paintings, and bizarre yet beautiful multimedia installations have been known to delight and occasionally disgust visitors. Whether you love modern art or hate it, the SFMOMA’s collections and exhibitions are always entertaining. SFMOMA lies right in the midst of the Yerba Buena Garden art district, easily accessible from the W San Francisco hotel. 151 Third Street (btwn Mission & Howard)
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