Many of the locals already know that Union Square is one of the best places to shop in San Francisco, but in case you don’t, you should run, not walk to Union Square. It’s heaven for your shopping addiction. The name Union Square is in reference to the park that borders the main streets of the square; Geary, Post, Powell, and Stockton Streets. Though some renovation has taken place over time, and some still to come, retail is back up in Union Square and it has once again become "the" place to shop.
It is also a great meeting spot to begin to see the city when you have friends and families come to visit you. There are plenty of places to eat, both for long conversation filled dinners or short business lunches. There are even occasional dance and music performances. You can’t forget the famed Macy’s holiday tree that rolls in during the holiday season. There really is something for everyone here!
As you stroll along the streets in Union Square you’ll come across some fine art galleries as well as galleries that exhibit their work rather than selling it. New stores are popping up every day with specialized boutiques of every flavor and the streets are alive with people looking for entertainment.
When it comes to the shopping itself, Union Square offers both upscale retailers as well as big named stores such as H&M, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom’s, Saks, and Bloomingdale’s. Stores account for almost 125,000 square feet of Union Square with more retailers coming in all the time. The luxury stores are rivaled by the very popular fast fashion stores that sell their clothes at a price than anyone can afford. It gives the people shopping here the best of both worlds.
Union Square is such an amazing place, not only because of all the wonderful stores set in one unique district, but because even if you don’t want to shop you can just pull up a bench and do some people watching. On a beautiful day, you'll find tons of people eating lunch on the grass or just enjoying each other’s company at a cafe.
Getting Here
Union Square is very easy to get to by way of the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable cars that serve Powell Street in Union Square. There are also numerous trolley and bus lines up and down the streets of Union Square. The Muni Metro is even planning an extension of their metro system to include Union Square to be completed by 2016. You don’t particularly want to drive because not only is it hard to find a spot, but if you park in the garage, you’ll end up handing over a hefty amount of cash for a couple of hours.
No matter how you get there, just get there! It is an amazing array of shops and department stores that will be sure to leave your wallet light but your bags heavy.
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