4 Best Sights in San Francisco, California

Joyous creativity pervades the workshops of this art-education center and gallery for developmentally disabled adults. Several dozen adults work at the center each day—guided by a staff of working artists—painting, working in the darkroom, producing videos, and crafting prints, textiles, and ceramics. Drop by to see the artists at work and pick up a unique San Francisco masterpiece. The art produced here is striking, and some of it is for sale.

Originally a depot for the shipment of supplies to the Pacific during World War II, the fort was converted into a cultural center in 1977 and is now home to the vegetarian restaurant Greens and shops, galleries, and performance spaces.

The Museo Italo Americano ( Bldg. C 415/673–2200  museoitaloamericano.org  Closed Mon.) is a small gallery that hosts one exhibit at a time, worth a glance if you're already at Fort Mason.

From March through September, Friday evening at Fort Mason means Off the Grid ( offthegridsf.com); the city's food-truck gathering happens at locations around town, and this is one of the oldest and most popular.

The muralists of this nonprofit design and create murals and lead guided walks. Tours are given on most Saturdays and cover several murals throughout the neighborhood, along with providing insightful historical context to the outdoor art. You can pick up a map of 24th Street's murals at the center and buy art supplies, books, T-shirts, postcards, and other mural-related items.

Night and day, the center hosts many social activities, from mixers and youth game nights to holiday parties and slam poetry performances.