With your admission ticket in hand, head to the California Palace of the Legion of Honor (known informally as the Legion of Honor), located in Lincoln Park overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, where the Pacific spills into San Francisco Bay. A gift of Alma de Bretteville Spreckels to the city of San Francisco in the early 1900s, this stunning building is a replica of the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur along the Seine in Paris, and its epic location makes this hidden gem one of the city's greatest treasures. 

Explore the museum's extensive collection of more than 124,000 works of art, including European paintings, sculptures and decorative arts; ancient art from the Mediterranean basin; and the largest collection of works on paper in the American West. The permanent collection reflects a history of patronage by its founders, whose focus was 18th- and 19th-century French art. 

Don't miss one of the 28 original casts of Rodin's The Thinker statue and the must-see Salon Doré of the Hôtel de la Trémoille exhibit, reopening in the fall of 2013. This is one of the finest examples of French neoclassical interior architecture in the world. 

Be sure to bring your camera, because after your time at the museum, you can walk a bit down the road for incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands in the distance.

Upgrade: Audio Tour or Special Exhibits for a more in-depth experience, or enjoy entrance to its fascinating Special Exhibits.