Authentic San Francisco Photos

Photograph by Susan Seubert

An 1892 Victorian mansion turned B&B, Chateau Tivoli is in San Francisco's historic Alamo Square district, near the renowned Painted Ladies. "I was excited to photograph the exterior of this B&B, but the trees had grown up all around the home, making it difficult to get a clear photo," photographer Susan Seubert explains. So she decided to instead photograph the building's interior. "It's a wonderfully restored home with incredible stained glass and meticulous furniture. It's a house full of stories."

Read more in "Authentic San Francisco" in the September 2008 issue of National Geographic Traveler.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Spanning 1,000 acres (404.7 hectares), Golden Gate Park is one of the country's largest urban parks. Cherry trees pictured here brighten the park's Japanese Tea Garden, a San Francisco haven since 1894. "The park has an endless collection of trails," Tom Downs, author of Walking San Francisco, told Traveler's Andrew Nelson in September 2008's "Authentic San Francisco" article, "leading into small gardens and opening up to places like the Polo Field, where the 1967 Human Be-In started the Summer of Love."

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Dazzling with a stained glass ceiling dome and Austrian-made crystal chandeliers, the Garden Court's dining room at the downtown Palace Hotel makes it difficult to take your gaze off the surroundings long enough to savor a teatime snack. The world-famous restaurant offers breakfast and lunch, as well as an opulent Sunday brunch. "You don't ever get tired of seeing something like this," HotelChatter senior editor Juliana Shallcross told Andrew Nelson in Traveler's "Authentic San Francisco" article (September 2008 issue).

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Near the Golden Gate itself, Lincoln Park's Legion of Honor houses a fine arts museum. "I like the museum, and I love its setting," Walking San Francisco author Tom Downs told Traveler's Andrew Nelson. "You can see the city turn into a natural area of secluded beaches." Read more in "Authentic San Francisco" in the September 2008 issue of National Geographic Traveler.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

The Mission Dolores is the oldest intact building remaining in San Francisco. The historic church was founded in 1776, when San Francisco was under Spanish colonial rule. The adjacent cemetery is also one of only two left within San Francisco city limits. Visitors can enter the cemetery via the gift shop at Mission Dolores at 16th and Dolores Streets.

Read more in "Authentic San Francisco" in the September 2008 issue of National Geographic Traveler.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Located in the middle of the most extensive Chinatown in the world outside of Asia, the Tien Hau Temple is the oldest Buddhist house of worship in the neighborhood, and claims to be the oldest Chinese temple in the country. Founded in 1853, the temple is situated on Waverly Place, accessible by four flights of stairs. Read more in "Authentic San Francisco" in the September 2008 issue of National Geographic Traveler.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Located in the Presidio's restored wetlands, Crissy Field is a popular walking area, stretching between Marina Green and Fort Point. Pooches abound here, as photographer Susan Seubert learned. "I thought it would be great fun to get all these terriers I saw together in a photograph, so this wonderful woman tried to corral the beasts and bribe them with treats for the photo. It was a very chaotic scene and the dogs assembled and dispersed very quickly." Read more in "Authentic San Francisco" in the September 2008 issue of National Geographic Traveler.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

The Mission District's Foreign Cinema restaurant projects films on the wall of its festive outdoor courtyard beginning at dusk, with sound provided by vintage drive-in movie speakers along the walls. "It's very hip with great energy and quite popular with locals and tourists alike," says photographer Susan Seubert.

Read more in "Authentic San Francisco" in the September 2008 issue of National Geographic Traveler.

Photograph by Susan Seubert

Historic landmark meets eco-chic in the Fairmont Hotel's room 10, the Lexus Eco-Suite, which boasts an enviable view of its Nob Hill neighborhood and beyond. The interiors were designed to enhance the windows' panoramic perfection. "All the colors of the suite were chosen to blend in to the view," says photographer Susan Seubert. "It's a cool blue and gray color that doesn't interfere with the colors of the city just outside your window."

Read more in "Authentic San Francisco" in the September 2008 issue of National Geographic Traveler.