We visited San Francisco for my birthday recently and were amazed at the improvement one year with the new mayor has wrought! We were also there in January of 2025, and the staff at the hotel was very excited that the mayor was meeting and engaging with the Asian community in Chinatown for Lunar New Year celebrations! This is a backbone community that not only works, but lives just two blocks away from Union Square. One year later, the downtown is now alive and humming. Hundreds of workers on every kind of transportation imaginable pour into downtown each day. We saw many riding the new electric bikes that are now ubiquitous. People on electric scooters and skateboards, and lots of pedestrians insure that the downtown businesses thrive. We at dinner at Cheesecake Factory in Macy's on Union Square and walked through the square to see the huge lighted Christmas tree and the skaters on the frozen pond. Hundreds of people were there, enjoying the sights and the Christmas market near the square. San Francisco is a town reborn and enjoying the good life!! read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Huge lighted tree in Union Square - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This review is for the Annual Tulip day. It's a total joke because you have to wait in many lines just to get tulips. I went today and was very angry. Poor crowd control and very disorganized. Complained to many different staff associated with the event that it needs improvement and they don't seem to care. This is a very shoddy event no matter if you arrive early or not. If you have elderly family members over the age of 65, it's best to avoid at all costs. Please bring snacks if you have poor health because you will suffer greatly. My mum had a hard time today because she didn't eat anything. It's also very impossible to grab food along the lines because 1. it's overpriced 2. It's very hard to return because the barricades are sealed tight. There needs to be a time in the Tulip day event where people over the age of 65 and their family get first priority. 3 hour wait for a small amount of Tulips, not acceptable. Pigs! The news and social media is lying to you. read more

I haven't been back to this area in a few years, and my heart absolutely sank when I found out that Rita and Jasmine are no longer with the company. Truly heartbreaking! They were such a light, and Jasmine was an absolute lifesaver the last time I was in town. I was really looking forward to interacting them again. That being said, I was beyond thrilled to see some familiar faces! Orlando is hands down one of the most outstanding young men I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Seeing that the company has recognized his hard work and dedication is not only incredible but also very much deserved! I've witnessed his leadership firsthand, along with the way his team responds to him, so finding out that he's now a supervisor is phenomenal news. Keep up the amazing work, young man--your efforts are seen and appreciated! read more

They could have been cleaner and maybe install a security tape and security officer or so to stop certain people from harassing tourists/people. It happened to me and I saw it happen to many others, which is that several people make it their business and go around and ask people/tourists if they want their picture taken. They act like they just wanna help out. Believing it is a nice person, you hand your phone and they take your picture on YOUR device, but as soon as they take your picture, they demand money before handing your phone back to you and if you don't want to pay or just don't have cash, I saw them even throwing people's phone to the concrete ground and shatter it and run away. No police in sight to help. As a city, they should handle this, I hope some city official reads this. It truly ruins the experience of your enjoyment of SF city and goes against the biz IMPROVEMENT district they are advertising themselves as. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Nice but beware of people offering to take your picture. read my review for caution - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

11/26/2018: Union Square has been through drastic gentrification, remodeling, configuration, building construction, jackhammering the old stairways, constructing more friendly, ergonomic seating, installing art installations, i.e., SF's "HEART" art installations, and creating more community-based events insuring Union Square's expensive real estate will be utilized 365-Days, 24/7! Since I was a child growing up in San Francisco, I remember park benches were the only places resting at Union Square . . . Moreover, I do not recall community-based events taking place at Union Square visiting every weekend-ever. Fast forward to 2018: The wooden park benches have completely disappeared and in its place, slick granite slabs are now the norm for a place resting and relaxing after a hard day's shopping. In addition, due to the Christmas Season, Union Square installed a skating rink being advertised by local radio station, Wild 95.4 plus, a coffee shop's location is conveniently located at Union Square~Cool! Moreover, Union Square installed a tapered version of a Christmas Tree verses Neiman Marcus' widely robust Christmas Tree; nonetheless, Union Square's Christmas Tree is well-appointed and well-decorated despite, it's eccentric juxtaposition and location amongst Mediterranean's genus variety of assorted palm trees. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - 11/26/2018: Distinct juxtaposition between the palm trees and the Christmas Tree~It's 60 ° Fahrenheit! - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

What's not to love about Union Square?! Well maybe driving...which would cause anyone a serious migraine. But hey that's why they made Cable Cars, Buses, Lyft, Uber, Taxi's, Driving Services and Asics. Tons of seating for people watching, live entertainment, coffee sipping and cillaxing. The area also offers the best damn view of the Square. Tons of upscale shopping, eateries, coffee shops, sweet treats, bars, Hearts of SF and more. Union Square ROCKS! Give it a whirl, ~Christy read more

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What to say about Union Square - It is a High End Shopping District and good meeting place to intersect with friends, take tour buses or catch the Hyde-Market Cable Car. Chinatown is only a few blocks away as well. If shopping is your thing - you will enjoy - Dior, Louis Vuitton, Harry Winston, and all the other places offered in this area. I love the decorative hearts that are located on the outer edges of the square. This area is good for hanging out and checking out the local flavor of SF. Con: Lots of Homeless in the area...be mindful..not a douche..just keep your wits about you! read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Tony Bennett's Decorative Heart - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

Union Square is the total package! No, not in that guy way... but it really has everything. And its surroundings, sigh! Prior to catching "The Book of Mormon" a few blocks away, I parked my car in front of Tiffany's which faces the north side of the park. As I rose from my driver's seat, I couldn't help but admire how beautiful the surroundings are during the Christmas season, a time that I usually make a point to avoid the area because of traffic and crowds. As my eyes gazed upon the park, I couldn't help but admire and feel a sense of pride for the hometown city of mine. Besides the Christmas tree, there is an ice skating rink installed for the holiday season (ala Rockefeller Center, NYC). For locals and tourists alike, this is quite a sight to see... checkout my photo. Maybe you'll also take a deep breath and sigh, grinning while enjoying the beautiful view. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

I think I've been here way to many times for my liking. However, for tourists, this is an iconic spot. You can take photos at the big Heart (there should be 3 different ones on each corner), wait in the huge line for the cable car, shop around Westfield, Nieman Marcus, Victoria Secret, etcetera... Only bad, is that there is an extremity of food here. You either have to pay a lot for good food, or you'll have to head out more to market area for more decently priced (but still good) food. There is no cheap food, unless you just grab a hot dog from the hot dog stand, Boudin SF in the Macy's floor basement, or even wait in a long line at Cheesecake Factory on the 7th floor. It also gets cold! Bring a jacket if you plan to stay late. Still a really fun place to chill at night, with the beautiful lights! Driving here is impossible..so don't even try. read more

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Just a few days before Christmas and thankfully today I didn't see any fist fights. A trumpet player near the Apple store and a sax player near the Macys entrance add some ambiance. Oh and also that guy with the painted silver face and silver shoes and clothes. He interacts with the people walking by - I think its the same guy who has been in various parts of the city for years... but hard to tell as his face is completely painted. A couple hot dog carts - one by Apple and the other on the opposite corner. I guess you could get your nourishment here from a guy wearing a santa hat but there are better options. All the stores you want stuff from. Me!! My!! More!! Yes, that is what Christmas is all about... Some of that area is under some construction but it doesn't take away from ambiance or walking paths. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

Union Square operations is not just about shopping or the tourists. This review is for the services that are provided to make Union Square what it is (i.e. ambassadors, cleaning, preserving washers, security) So, let's say, this has changed over the years. funding has changed and therefore Union square has as well. The cleaning team has been had more and more people being hired, which I personally think is great. But, it might not show. Just because homelessness is quite noticeable doesn't mean security isn't around. It's very difficulty to keep up with the messiness of SF. IT's percentage has increased by quite a bit. read more

The Christmas spirit rating. Many lights on palm trees. A very large tree near the ice skating rink. Many people in the ice skating rink having a great time. Then there is Macy's. All windows decorated and another large tree on the wall with an entire holiday section complete with Santa Claus. We couldn't find Scrooge which was a good thing. read more

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A tourist hub in The City for decades largely for shopping. I've enjoyed the Square at the holidays in the past, all decked out in seasonal decor. The last time we stopped in we used the garage under the Plaza so we could ride the cable car to the beach. The rates become reasonable late in the afternoon into the evening. As we waited for the Powell cable car, we had a while to soak up the downtown vibe. Very fascinating people watching! Behind us in the Swarovski store the crystals were gleaming and sparkling. Ooh! read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Swarovski shop - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Massive Christmas Tree? Check! Ice Skating Rink? Check! Blissful seasonal feelings complete with hot cocoa, carolers, and tons of festive decor? Cheeeeck! Union Square is the happening spot for SF, especially during the Holidays. It's where you should go to get into the holiday spirit and maybe even a bit of Christmas shopping. If you're like me, you'll simply enjoy the people watching and browsing that can be done in several of the nearby stores. Union Square is a must see any time of year! read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - 2016 Christmas tree - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

I Love Union Square! This is one of my favorite parts of San Francisco! My favorite is Christmas time when they put the tree up! I started going to the tree lighting festival on Black Friday ever since I was little.They usually have a D-List celeb come to sing carols. I last went three years ago and I tried to go two years back but they had protestors blocking the event... eff you! Ha ha! This year I didn't make it out to the lighting ceremony but I was still able to enjoy it last night! I also love the skating rink here! I've been skating here once before and the one in Embarcadero twice! They're both awesome! The Union Square rink has a better view! I want to come back here with my boyfriend to go iceskating! LMFAO How romantic!!!! read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Visited Union Square with my best friend in the whole entire world! Our annual SF holiday trip! - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a great area of town. Lots of shops, restaurants, parks, and hotels... There is just so much to see and do! It feels so San Francisco with the cable cars rolling past. Just when you think you know the area, the season changes and they start putting out the ice rink and decorations. It has the Powell Street Station on its side so it is always easy to get hear and away. It is located to many of the best tourist areas. It is bordered by Soma, Civic Center, the Tenderloin, China Town, the Financial district... So much to see and do, I can't wait to go back! read more

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It might just be the pseudo-New Yorker in me to think of Manhattan when "Union Square" comes to mind, but this cleaner, exceedingly more retail laden west coast version is likeable too. Be it tourists or locals, there are people just about everywhere and even more during the holiday season. It is a great people watching spot, an ideal time killer, and a great place to relax in a city that offers so much to its inhabitants and visitors. It is in every way a city landmark, a place surrounded by high end retail shops and the consummate meeting place for folks coming from all directions; uniquely SF and constantly changing to keep up with new holiday themes, cultural festivals, and the occasional hipster activists looking to draw attention for some worldly injustice. Most folks know this place as the site of the big Christmas tree lighting and the annually installed ice skating rink, which again conjures up images of New York (ahem, Rockefeller Plaza). To live near Union Square is to pay a premium in the already crazy rent of the Bay area which will coincide with the spendy fees at any of the nearby high end hotels. Union Square is undeniably a place of gathering for all and best enjoyed during the daytime when the bay area fog has lifted. read more

The first time I've EVER been to San Francisco, and my bff walks me through Union Square! It's one of those places you just have to visit to get a great experience in the heart of SF! Streets among streets of shops and places to eat. I felt like I was in NY or LA again! It reminded me of a very large and fancy Promenade. We went on Thanksgiving weekend and they had already started setting up the Christmas festivities. The tree was there, the Salvation Army people were outside ringing their bells, there were Christmas lights everywhere, and there was even ice-skating! It was the first moment while I was in SF that I knew I could actually LIVE in SF! The only downfall of this place (at least when I was there), was that there was so much construction happening! Walk ways were shrunk, there were cones everywhere, and traffic was kind of whacky. Regardless of that, I'm sure this place is somewhere I'm going to enjoy going to when I'm back in San Fran! And hopefully, it'll look 10 times nicer after all the construction ends! read more

This is the mecca of all things great right here. In conjunction, it is a haven of all sorts... ...a haven for consumers, gluttons, locals and tourists alike. Just about everything you've ever wanted to experience in shopping, dining, sight-seeing you will find here in the center of busy, beautiful San Francisco. There is no doubt about that. Smack dab in the center is an area where many can sit and convene, soak up the sun, present their artwork in an art show, picnic, or admire one of the grandest Christmas trees while ice skating under the SF winter sky. Of course, these activities are in accordance with the seasons, but my point is, there is always something to do or something going on that will entice your interest. A parking garage is conveniently nestled under all of this so parking isn't THAT complicated. Parking is allowed along the streets as long as you keep up with your meter, you're all good. I can list the hotels, stores, eateries in the closest vicinity but wouldn't want to spoil it or ruin all of the fun in store for you. Well, I love that Tiffany's is so close. And Nike. And Victoria's Secret. Can't forget Macy's and its seven floors - eight if you count The Cheesecake Factory. The Westin, one of my favorite SF hotels, is also just footsteps away. You can catch a ride on a double decker bus here. Or a trolley or Eco-Bike or cab if you're feeling like heading out to the Golden Gate or Embarcadero. So many options to assist with making your visit a little more adventuresome. I LOVE cruising through Union Square. My frequent trips out here always end up feeling like a new experience each and every time. Make it a point to visit. You'll thank yourself. So be there or be square. read more

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So weird, I swear I have written a review for Union Square before.... So, it's a beautiful, touristy, sometimes crowded public area in a part of SF close to the Theatre District, Chinatown and the Financial District. In the warmer weather you can enjoy a cappuccino or latte out in the two cafes on either side of the park/square. People watching is always a fun little shopping or walking respite. Around the square itself is a Saks Fifth Avenue, a ginormous Macy's, a Nordstrom's, Tiffany and Company, a couple blocks over is a Bloomingdales. There are also stores such as Urban Outfitters a couple blocks away, a Victoria Secret, Journeys, Rip Curl, and lots of touristy shops. There's also a wide selection of moderately to quite expensive restaurants and cafes. Hotel accommodations such as Saint Francis, JW Marriot, and loads of other hotel and boutique hotels are right there. In the winter months, especially around Xmas, they have a cool ice skating rink that we did the couple days before Xmas which was quite nice, they have a massive tree similar to Rockefeller Square in NYC. Cable cars and public transportation are right there for your convenience and in general, everyone can enjoy Union Square at least once in their life. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Inside Macy's at Union Square - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Every time I visit San Francisco, I stay in Union Square. It's eclectic, safe, bustling and so convenient. Eclectic: if you want it, you can find it here. Sure, it might not be the best quality of what you're looking for, but it will be here. In another sense, I also find Union Square great for people watching. Nice to see such diversity among tourists, but it's also like a 'hub' for locals (normally just passing through). Safe: Sure, it's on the border of some up-and-coming neighborhoods, but I've always felt safe here. Whether it's out for an early morning run or on a late night walk home, I feel safe. Again, don't be silly and always keep yourself alert. Bustling: Great for people watching. Street performers, passersby, cable cars, etc. Convenient: Right in the heart of San Francisco and super convenient to get anywhere, whether it's to the west end of the city, to the airport, to the East Bay. Just great! read more

Once you're in sf, you gotta visit the union square. BIG Macy in the center. They have 7 floors I think and if you're feeling hungry, they have Cheesecake Factory and a burger place. But union square is mostly known for the heart. Tourist attraction. There are so many stores and restaurants here. I just like to walk around and go in to a few stores to check out. The parking SUCKS however. We tried to go to union square the first night but couldn't find parking so gave up. The second night took us 30 minutes. read more

To be honest I have no idea why the big fuss to the see the square. It pretty much is just a square and there is cafe so sit down and sip up a coffee, nothing more. It could get quite crowded as the surrounding is quite good as there are many shops and giant Macy's close by. I forgot to mention that you will see quite a few homeless people sitting around the square. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

SUPER TOURISTY! But this is where all the high end shopping happens. Parking sucks a big one here, even with the abundance of parking structures around the area. Definitely a great place to people watch. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I absolutely love this place during the holidays in the winter. Today I was there, I saw a Hannuka sign and of course the beautiful xmas tree! I was there for the tree lighting ceremony as well! It's definitely an event that brings LOTS of people to the center. This place is so romantic in the winter. The ice skating mixed with the lights and the beautiful wreaths of Macys? It's absolutely stunning! Pictures here are beautiful. Wear lots of layers and clothes as SF does it CRAZY cold. You can park underneath the square in a paid garage. There's plenty of shops and food nearby so be sure to check that out as well! It's also great to shop at Macys and make sure to bring or ask of coupons/tourist discounts! It's prettier at night, so if you had to chose between day and night, I say night for sure!!! read more

Oh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas tree how jubilant you make me! I arrived on the busiest day of the year: Black Friday. I had an nice time with my friend seeing the city in all its glory. From the massive union square tree to the sugar candy castles at the Westin, SF knows how to do Christmas right. Just be aware, the city is teeming with people to the point that I got into some foot traffic on the way to Macy's. People tend to also be pushier. If you are claustrophobic, this is not the place for you. It's probably best to stay home and watch it on tv. With all that aside, this was a lovely family friendly event & I would definitely come back with my mom & bf. read more

This is the shopping district of San Fran. It's sort of like the Time Square of NY--sort of. It's just a place to experience the finer things in life. Think of it as a much much pricier shopping experience compared to the nearby Chinatown. There's the typical Macy's, LV, Express, Uniqlo, Daiso Japan, and many other high end brands. The Walgreen's here is worth a mention since it is super large. My friend is a pharmacy tech there so he was super geeky about this. Right in front of Macy's there was the expected Xmas tree that everyone wants a pic of. Ice skating was also available within this courtyard. Union Square is just a place for high fashion shopping. If you're not into shopping then the somewhat crowded sidewalks of Union Square, especially during the holidays, will make you go insane. read more

Absolutely touristy and definitely and literally the heart of San Francisco. There are four different San Francisco hearts to take photos and it's a stop for the tourists buses. It's surrounded by shopping areas, restaurants, and cafes. You won't want to miss this during your visit to SF. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Collage. - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If San Francisco has a "Times Square" equivalent, Union Square is it. Almost like the heart of downtown SF, this square is filled with shops, restaurants, and you guessed it...cars. However, unlike its New York counterpart, Union Square is extremely cramped for both pedestrians and cars alike, and does not truly have an unique character that distinguishes from any big city central plaza. Not exactly a comfortable experience. Unless you are staying in the nearby hotel, you may want to reconsider not driving here and take Uber or bus instead, because getting through the Union Square is a headache and finding parking at all is even more so. While it is a cool place to check out, I would not mark this as a must-go SF destination. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

Walk around on a date. Very romantic and they have the ice skating rink up and working. Perfect time for the holidays read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

Union Square is usually crowded with tourists but it offers a great spot to people watch and take a rest to hang out from all the walking! I like the SF hearts on the 3 corners and yes, there is likely a line to take photos with them, but they are a great sight around the city! The Saturday we were there, they had a Korean festival happening with tents selling food, music, and offering information to visitors. There was a stage with entertainment including singers and dancers. It's too bad they had lots of chairs set up and not many people enjoying the sights and sounds. There are the hop on hop off buses lining one side of the square. There's a coffee shop in the square for those that want to sit down and enjoy a break. There's a public toilet across from Macy's. read more

*Last Yelp review of 2014, and rounding out my year of 100 reviews!* Ah Union Square, the shopping mecca of San Francisco, temporary home to absolutely vast crowds of people any time of day or night. Yet still irresistible enough to visit every so often, if only to see the power of commercialism. For one thing, the Christmas decorations could be on another page of their own. The giant tree, the ice skating rink, and the lights at night are something else, not to mention the wreaths in every window of the Macy's on one side. Other attractions include the Heart statue, which is a very popular place for pictures. Union Square is also the location of the trolley turning and loading point, so you will see them sliding through the streets periodically. In terms of more modern forms of transport, Union Square is also the boarding spot for a variety of SF tour buses that go to a variety of different landmarks; having had a fun experience after taking it once before, I would recommend buying a ticket. Multiple parking garages are located around the area as well. And of course, there are the shopping centers. Westgate and Macy's are possibly the largest, though it seems that all the main clothing stores in the world have a skyscraper devoted to their wares. But beyond clothing, many other companies, from Disney to Apple to Ghiradelli, are represented in this area. For the hustle and bustle commonly associated with being in a city, there's no better place than Union Square. read more

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Beautiful place to relax and do some shopping. I notice there are 4 huge hearts on each corner of the stair entrance each one is painted differently. In the center there is a huge monument called the Dewey monument encrypted with the following "On the night of April 30, 1898 Commodore Dewey's squadron entered Manila Bay and, undaunted by the danger of submerged explosives, reached Manila at dawn of May 1, 1898. Attacked and destroyed the Spanish fleet of ten war ships. Reduced the forts and held the city in subjection until the arrival of troops from America." Pretty neat area. read more

Union Square Business Improvement District - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great location for chillin'. Grab lunch and a coffee and enjoy the City. read more

Great retail, shopping district! Great place to hang-out between the food, the shopping, the parks nearby. This is also one of the endpoint stops for the trolley! (Pro Tip: Instead of taking it up from Union Sq to Fisherman's, which is insanely crowded, it's a lot less crowded when you take it down from Fisherman's to Union Sq.) Do note that Tenderloin is adjacent to Union Square, so that boundary does get sketchy. read more

I love San Francisco's Union Square. It is clean, lively, vibrant. There's a lot of great shopping there. The restaurants around Union Square are a bit touristy and there's not a lot of options, but that's okay. I love hanging out around Union Square, meeting people there, and shopping. There's always wonderful people around. This is a vital part of downtown SF. It's spirited around Christmas time with the Christmas tree and ice skating rink. I've skated at the rink twice. There's a lot of public transportation nearby like the Muni/Bart. Macy's, Barney's, Neiman Marcus, Westfield..lots of great shopping. There's even stores like Merrell and North Face for the outdoors. read more

One of the prime destinations when in San Francisco so make sure to get out there if you visit. They have plenty of shops and stops for people to immerse themselves. My wife loves the shopping here and I have to admit, I did too. I, like most men, hate to shop because it really drags and drags but Union Square made it fun for me. Lots of energy and people watching gave me a better experience than shopping in LA. read more

What is not to love about this epicentre of shopping, hotel and theatre district. All the major brands and also the upscale boutiques, gift shops, art galleries, and beauty salons are in Union Sqaure. The best time to come here is during the Christmas when a giant Christams tree is erected in the park with the whole squre decorated like a palace! read more

According to my taxi driver, this is the place to be during the holiday season in San Fran. I had 45 minutes between meetings, so a friend and I hauled butt to the beautiful set up on Union Square. What to expect? Ice skating, palm trees, a huge tree and the backdrop of Macy's windows all a'glitter with holiday decor. It truly is a festive scene tucked away in the hustle and bustle of the city. read more

This is the place I come to relax when I am in the rush of the big city. It is across the Macy's shopping center in which I love to sit and relax and look down at the people at the Flag ship store. A place like union square is a staple it fact it is a California Landmark! Union Square has one of the many hearts of San Francisco, and I guess there are 7 all around the city so its a good thing for a tourist scavenger hunt. This places serves as the site of many public concerts & events, art shows, impromptu protests, private parties and events, winter ice rink and the annual Christmas tree in the Winter. I mentioned before hand it is the "Times square" equivalent. It can be a beautiful place to rest and take lunch, but at night its a little crazy with various colorful people around. It holds the charm of the heart of the city crown. *pro-tip* the light stand have outlets in where you can plug in your phone chargers if need be and while you are at it, if you are a Macy's card owner you can park in the garage downstairs for a discounted rate. Definitely a place to stop and chill before you spend your billions of dollars on the shopping centers. read more