San Francisco makes for a wonderful host city for events of all sorts not just because of its plethora of excellent meeting facilities and accommodations, but because it’s a place rich in culture and history. Planners will want their attendees to have a well-rounded corporate experience and that includes getting to know the city of San Francisco on a more personal level. Having attendees leave their meetings with fond memories is a great way to ensure that corporate clients will continue to make the city their event destination of choice.

When incorporating leisure attractions into an event itinerary, it’s important to keep in mind the difference between the wants of visiting business professionals, and those of local business professionals. What constitutes an entertaining excursion for a visitor might seem redundant for a local who is already more than familiar with what the city has to offer. To ensure that a planner’s attendees never have a dull time, we’ve put together the following two lists, one featuring the city’s major tourist attractions that visitors won’t want to miss and the other highlighting some of the city’s hidden gems that even locals will find interesting. Regardless of what business professionals do on the free time, there’s no arguing that there isn’t a city quite like San Francisco.

10 Things to Do for Visiting Business Professionals

1. The Golden Gate Bridge
No other landmark defines San Francisco like this marvelous feat of human engineering. Traversing the bridge by either walking or bus tour treats visitors to an intricate design of beauty that incorporates the serene views of the Bay with the breathtaking craftsmanship of the structure’s towers. The bridge can also be experienced by ferries that circle the area. Visitors will want to pay a visit to the Gift Center to pick up a Golden Gate Bridge souvenir, including photographs, posters and books. www.goldengate.org

2. Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island is the site of the impenetrable federal prison known as the Rock, which, according to legend, no man was able to escape from. The prison ceased operations in 1964 and the once off-limits island became an instant tourist destination favorite. There are no guided tours available, making visits more flexible for visitors on a fixed schedule. Guests can explore the prison at their leisure and can leave the island whenever the want to. Ferries depart from the island every thirty minutes, but evening rides provide live narration and give guests the opportunities to participate in a number of special activities, such as cell door demonstrations. www.alcatrazcruises.com

3. Chinatown
San Francisco is home to the nation’s first Chinatown, which also happens to be the largest district of its kind outside of mainland China. An exciting array of restaurants, shops and distinctly Chinese architecture make it one of San Francisco’s most recognizable communities. For an in-depth look at San Francisco’s Chinatown, read our spotlight article on this always enjoyable location on page 134. www.sanfranciscochinatown.com

4. The Musée Mécanique at Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the city’s major tourist destinations, with thousands of visitors enjoying the district’s many dining and entertainment options every day. This still operational wharf is a wonderful testament to the seafaring culture of San Francisco and is the place where some of the world’s freshest seafood can be found. The Musée Mécanique is one of the area’s most popular attractions. The museum is devoted to the private collection of Edward Galland Zelinsky, a fifth-generation San Franciscan whose extensive body of mechanically operated arcade machines and musical instruments is easily one of the most interesting destinations on the wharf. Some of the penny arcade machines are more than 100 years old and many of the exhibitions can be played for a quarter or 50 cents. Visitors will want to take pictures with some of the more famous machines, including Laffing Sal, Susie the Can-Can Dancer, and the Carnival. www.museemecanique.org; www.fishermanswharf.com

5. Aquarium of the Bay and Sea Lions at Pier 39
Pier 39 is the picturesque waterfront setting of one of San Francisco’s most appealing shopping centers. It’s also home to a host of restaurants, the San Francisco carousel and several troupes of enchanting street performers. Pier 39 also has two unique opportunities to get up close and personal with the city’s resident marine life. The Aquarium of the Bay is home to some 20,000 sea creatures, including sharks, octopuses and jellyfish. The aquarium also offers special daily events, such as live feedings and naturalist presentations. Since 1990, the West Marina has been home to droves of sea lions attracted to the area due to the abundance of herring and the area’s status as a protected environment. On weekends, the Marina Mammal Center provides docents for visitors interested in learning more about the sea lions. www.pier39.com/attractions

6. Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park
Often considered to be the Central Park of the West coast, Golden Gate Park is one of the largest public parks in the nation. More than 1,000 acres make up this enchanting refuge featuring a number of historic sites and monuments. One of the park’s signature areas is the Japanese Tea Garden, the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Originally commissioned for the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894, the 115-year-old garden features gorgeous specimens of native Japanese plant life and traditionally designed pagodas. Major photo opportunities include the Tea House, the Drum Bridge, the Lantern of Peace, a classical Zen garden and the Hagiwara Gate. www.sfpt.org/japanese_tea_garden.html

7. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco – de Young – Legion of Honor
Art aficionados visiting San Francisco are serviced by two amazing institutions featuring a combined permanent collection representing a broad range of time periods and cultural traditions. The de Young in Golden Gate Park houses primarily American art, including paintings and decorative crafts, while the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park specializes in ancient art as well as European masterworks from such artists as El Greco, Rembrandt, Monet, Matisse and Picasso. The de Young is also noted for its extensive collection of artifacts from Africa, the Americas and Oceania. www.famsf.org

8. Cable Cars and Cable Car Museum
San Francisco’s cable car system is the largest in the world. Even so, it only comprises three routes, making it more of a tourist attraction than a regular mode of transportation for locals. Riding these mementos of a world gone by is a pleasant affair and shouldn’t be missed. The California line takes riders through the financial district, Chinatown, over Nob Hill and ends at Van Ness Avenue. The Cable Car Museum is an extensive historical tribute to the cable car’s presence in the city of San Francisco. The museum features an array of mechanical devices and photograph collections in addition to three authentic cable cars dating back to the 1870s. www.sfcablecar.com; www.cablecarmuseum.org

9.The Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a science museum like none other. Mixing science with art and human perception, the museum is made up of hundreds of hands-on exhibits, making it more of an informal education center that visitors of all ages can enjoy. An endless number of disciplines are explored, ranging from weather science and zoology to sports science and linguistics. The Exploratorium offers an engaging and entertaining experience that redefines what it means to visit a science museum. www.exploratorium.edu

10. Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop in Ghirardelli Square

Ghirardelli Square is known for its charming and piquant atmosphere. This historic square was once the home of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company headquarters, but now is the site of several fine dining establishments and retail shops. No visit to Ghirardelli Square is complete without treating oneself to a hot fudge sundae or a piece of gourmet chocolate from the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. The company’s original manufacturing equipment is on display, giving visitors an inside look into how their favorite sweets were created more than 150 years ago. www.ghirardelli.com

10 Things to Do for Local Business Professionals

1.Sausalito
Sausalito makes for a perfect getaway for local professionals looking for a fresh change of scenery and something to do other than the obvious San Francisco tourist attractions. Sausalito is a small town on the other side of the San Francisco Bay and can be reached by ferry. Some thirty boutiques make for excellent souvenir shopping, with potential purchases ranging from custom-made baskets to unique jewelry. The town’s location makes for wonderful waterfront dining, especially at such esteemed restaurants as the Spinnaker, which specializes in seafood-based entrees, and Le Garage Bistro, a casual diner featuring Southern French cuisine. www.sausilito.org

2. Camera Obscura
One of San Francisco’s many attractions listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Camera Obscura located near Cliff House has delighted locals since its creation in 1946. Based on a 15th century design by Leonardo DaVinci, light enters the top of a building by a reflected mirror and is filtered through a lens down to a white table in the black room below. The resulting image reflects a panoramic view of the surrounding beach. The Camera Obscura is a fun excursion into the beginnings of photograph technology. www.giantcamera.com

3. Mission San Francisco de Asis in the Mission District
The Mission District marks the beginnings of the city of San Francisco. The Mission set up by San Francisco de Asis (also known as the Mission Dolores) is the city’s oldest building and is one of the first missions set up by the Catholic Church in North America. Docent tours are available so guests are able to fully enjoy the original mission building from 1776 as well as the adjacent cemetery and gardens. www.missiondolores.org

4. Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill
Nob Hill is one of the most scenic locations in San Francisco and one that locals like to visit for its many fine dining and high-end shopping options. A group tour of Grace Cathedral at the top of the hill gives guests a chance to explore one of the city’s most famous religious monuments. Highlights of Grace Cathedral include the replica of Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, intricate stained glass windows, medieval furnishings, a 44-bell carillon and two labyrinths. www.gracecathedral.org

5. San Francisco’s “Painted Ladies”
San Francisco is known for its large quantity of Victorian and Edwardian-style homes, many of which were repainted in the 1970s as part of the popular color movement. These “painted ladies,” marked by their elaborate and ornate architectural features and bright colors, can be found on Nob Hill and in Pacific Heights. One of the more famous clusters of these multicolored Victorians is the grouping on Steiner Street, which is often photographed to represent the general residential atmosphere of San Francisco. Victorian Home Walk provides guided tours of the Pacific Heights neighborhood that include access to the inside of a Queen Anne-style home. www.victorianwalk.com

6. Sutro Bath Ruins and Cliff House
Opened in 1896, the Sutro Baths were the world’s largest indoor swimming facilities. The glass, iron and wood structure housed one fresh water pool and six salt water baths and was reported to have 500 dressing rooms. The visionary project eventually burned down in 1966, but the ruins were bought and are now protected by the National Golden Gate Recreational Area. Visitors can still visit the remaining ruins. To the south of the ruins, guests can find Cliff House, a San Francisco dining tradition popular among locals. Two restaurants give visitors the option of casual or fine dining. The seaside view is like no other, making Cliff House easily recommendable for repeat visits. www.sutrobaths.com; www.cliffhouse.com

7. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Art fans wanting to learn more about artwork outside of the traditional Western canon have a great resource in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Visitors can explore more than 6,000 years of Asian history and learn about the cultures and crafts of seven distinct regions. The museum’s collection consists of some 17,000 objects, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, textiles and basketry. Museum highlights include Chinese jade, Japanese woodblock prints and Korean porcelain. www.asianart.org

8. The Castro
The Castro is a popular location for casual corporate outings, especially among younger business professionals. The heart of San Francisco’s gay and lesbian community, the Castro offers a vibrant nightlife and an exciting bar and club scene that is known for its laidback atmosphere and relative safety compared to other after-hour districts around the city. The Castro Theatre is the neighborhood’s iconic landmark and is an impressive example of art deco architecture and design motifs. The theater screens both contemporary and classic films and regularly has midnight showings of specialty features. Great films and great people make a visit to the Castro Theatre a memorable and entertaining experience. www.castrotheatre.com

9. Audium
Audium is the only theater in the world devoted to the sensory perception of sound. 169 speakers flood the theater with sound that moves past, under and over the audience. The sound projected off of sloping walls, a floating floor and a suspended ceiling utilizes different planes of space to create a unique auditory experience that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Performances are live and conducted in a pitch black area, forming “sound sculptures” that are a result of the conductor’s manipulation of perception and space. www.audium.org

10. Anchor Steam Brewery Tour
Known as San Francisco’s last remaining brewery of its kind, the signature Anchor Steam ale is a favorite drink among the city’s bar and pub community. The 45-minute walking tour includes a brief history of the brewery and a look at three floors of the main building. Guests who take the tour are treated to a sampling session afterwards, allowing visitors to taste a variety of the brewery’s beverage options. www.anchorbrewing.com