Six Unique Things to Do in San Francisco, San Francisco, California (B)

As a visitor to San Francisco you’ve probably ridden the street cars, seen the Golden Gate Bridge and watched the sea lions at Pier 39. You’ve been to Alcatraz, explored Chinatown and wandered around the museums. You might also have explored the street art, and walked up to the famous Painted Ladies. But what are some of the less-touristy, unique things to do in San Francisco?

The Wave Organ is possibly the most unique thing in San Francisco. Located by the sea at the end of a long spit of land in the Marina District, this is an acoustic sculpture that amplifies the sound of the waves as they rise and crash against the shore. Put your ears to the pipes and you can hear the different noises generated by the waves.

The Organ seems to have been built out of lots of bits of recycled concrete. It is large and there are places to sit beside it. When I visited there was no-one else around: it was a peaceful place to sit and watch the birds and the sea.

It was a surprise to me to discover that San Francisco has a strong Japanese heritage, and the largest Japantown area in the United States. The Japan Center is an excellent place to start your exploration. Follow the Historic Walk, then try some authentic cuisine in one of the Center’s many restaurants and cafés. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).