Business Study Trips to San Francisco 

Curriculum Topics

Marketing

Strategy

Globalisation

Production

Digital Technology

Economy

Why San Francisco?

We think a Business study trip to San Francisco has great educational value. Business culture and practices have evolved significantly with technology a key influencing factor. From supplier to proprietor and through to the customer, technology is constantly evolving. San Francisco and the surrounding areas of California’s Silicon Valley is where innovation is continuing to push barriers. Iconic brands such as Apple, Facebook, Fitbit, Google, North Face, Pinterest and Twitter call the West Coast home, and they all use technology in new and inspiring ways.

Not a bad morning at HQ. (Photo: @alexinfocus)

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From Gold to Google

Whilst technology plays a huge part in San Francisco’s business hub, it all began with the California Gold Rush in the 19th Century. When gold was found in the area, people flocked to move here. The population grew in San Francisco from 200 residents to 32,000 within 6 years. This eventually meant the area became the financial district for the whole West Coast and has been dubbed the ‘Wall Street of the West’. A visit to the state and its extraordinary businesses and monuments will give students the insight of how an economy is born and developed. All our bespoke tours cater to the curriculum topics you are teaching. We incorporate a mixture of the ‘must see’ excursions, and the more unusual tours and sights. A business study trip to San Francisco could involve spending a few days in the industrial part of San Francisco, visiting factories and the financial district. Then you could travel through the Silicon Valley down to San Jose, a big city with small-town charm. You may choose to even add on a flight to Seattle, where a visit to the Amazon HQ will provide a unique lesson in building a global business. The opportunities on the West Coast are endless!

What to do in San Francisco?

A stay in San Francisco isn’t limited to the city. With easy access to San Jose-the home of Silicon Valley, a tour here can really pack a punch. Below are some of the excursions and visits we can include.

Intel is one of the few companies in Silicon Valley to permit group tours. The Museum is a fun and interactive experience, which allows visitors explore the history of computer technology and its contribution to the world. Students can explore exhibits hands on in this 10,000 square feet space.

This unique factory tour takes visitors through the history of baking, in the factories of San Francisco’s oldest operating business. It explores how the immigration into California has changed the course of local baking and recipes, as well as showcasing their signature sourdough. As you walk through the Museum you’ll pass through a 40ft glass run way, giving you an aerial view into the Bakery, and the opportunity to ask the bakers questions via intercom.

Our magical bakers 💕🥖📷:@denverrand

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A business started on Andrea Grossman’s kitchen table, has now become a global distribution giant. One of the areas great success stories, this factory continues to evolve with the times, creating new products to suit demand. It has won awards for its environmental sustainability and has been officially certified as ‘green’. A tour guide will take visitors around the factory stopping at different stations including printing, packaging and recycling. At the end a ‘sticker project’ takes place in the onsite shop. A business started on Andrea Grossman’s kitchen table, has now become a global distribution giant. One of the areas great success stories, this factory continues to evolve with the times, creating new products to suit demand. It has won awards for its environmental sustainability and has been officially certified as ‘green’. A tour guide will take visitors around the factory stopping at different stations including printing, packaging and recycling. At the end a ‘sticker project’ takes place in the onsite shop.

Known as one of the world’s most infamous prisons, Alcatraz forms part of the San Francisco horizon. Placed on a small island known as ‘The Rock’, this prison is accessible by energy saving vessels and takes you through the history of this iconic building. Offering interactive exhibitions, cell block tours, guided tours and wildlife projects, this excursion is a must when visiting the area. It also explores its history before the prison was built, which includes serving as a defence port in the civil war.

Fisherman’s Wharf is one on San Francisco’s busiest attractions with views across the bay featuring the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. It is lined with souvenir shops and restaurants offering its local speciality; clam chowder in a bread bowl, a must-try! You can also visit a colony of sea lions that call Pier 39 on the Wharf home. An afternoon spent here is a tour highlight, which can include a meal at the Boudin Bakery restaurant after a factory tour.

Most of the big headquarters in Silicon Valley are not open to visitors and shrouded in secrecy, but this museum gives an interactive insight into what goes on behind closed doors. Exploring how technology has evolved all areas of the world from healthcare to space travel, the exhibits in this museum allow visitors to build robots and become cyber security professionals! A great visit for students studying science as well.

Exploring the history of technological innovation, this phenomenal collection of exhibits, dates back over 2000 years. Play games and take part in interactive exhibitions and educational programs tailored to the needs of your group. Technology is fundamental to business growth, and this museum shows just how far it has come, and far we have yet to go.

Jelly Belly is the worlds most famous maker of Jelly Beans. Collaborating with Disney, Warner Brothers, Krispy Kreme and many more, they have grown into a global distributor. Offering self-guided tours around its California factory, visitors get a bird’s eye view of the production process from creation to distribution. Supported by 4K video and interactive exhibits, this tour brings production to life for students. The free samples are a nice treat, too!

The San Francisco Cable Cars are the last of their kind in the world. Electric tramways have taken over in other countries, but these cars are held as a heritage sight in San Francisco. Grab a hot dog and jump on a car to take a ride around San Francisco’s infamous hills and absorb the views of Alcatraz in the background.

Baseball is the epitome of American culture. AT&T Park on the harbour is home to the San Francisco Giants. Offering educational tours covering sustainability, science and behind the scenes, a visit here will offer an insight on corporations in the sporting and construction sectors. Why not follow a tour with a ball game and soak in the atmosphere of this all-American pastime?

The area between San Francisco and San Jose is known as Silicon Valley. This is home to some of the technological giants including Apple and Google. We arrange a guided tour to include the visitor centres of Apple and Google, as well as the Facebook campus and Stanford University. We can tailor this tour to also include the Intel Museum, Tesla Motors and the NASA research centre. Whilst a lot of the buildings are not open for visitor tours, most have visitors attractions and a tour guide will explain the history of each site. Finish the day at the Computer History Museum and stay in San Jose. The next day, take a visit to the Tech Museum of Innovation.

Example Itineraries 

We tailor each tour to meet the individual educational needs of our groups, but our educational travel experts have crafted these sample itineraries to provide an idea of what a tour to San Francisco could look like.

Day 1: Depart the UK and land in San Jose. Check in to the Hotel. Local Dinner Day 2: Tech Museum of Innovation. Afternoon shopping. Baseball Game Day 3: Check out of the hotel. Silicon Valley tour taking you up to San Francisco. Visit Google and Apple visitor centers, Palo Alto, Stanford University and the Computer History Museum. Check into San Francisco Hotel. Day 4: Boudin Bakery Tour. Lunch at Boudin Fisherman’s Wharf. Afternoon at the Wharf. Cable Car Ride Day 5: Morning at Alcatraz. Afternoon at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Centre. Walk or cycle the Bridge. Day 6: Mrs Grossman Factory Tour. Jelly Belly Factory Tour. Local lunch. City Tour of the Financial District. Day 7: Fly to Seattle. Visit Amazon Headquarters for a tour. Day 8: Boeing Factory Tour. Seattle Space Needle. Day 9: Chocolate Factory Tour. Depart Seattle Airport Day 10: Land in the UK.
Day 1: Arrive in City Centre, check-in, guided city tour. Dinner at local restaurant Day 2: Boudin Bakery Tour. Lunch at Boudin Fisherman’s Wharf. Afternoon at the Wharf. Cable Car Ride Day 3: Morning at Alcatraz. AT&T Stadium tour and baseball game Day 4: Mrs Grossman Factory Tour. Jelly Belly Factory Tour. Local lunch. City Tour. Day 5: Check Out and depart San Fran’. Tour through Silicon Valley visiting Computer History Museum, Intel Museum and Visitor Centres of Apple and Google. Check in to San Jose Hotel. Day 6: Tech Museum of Innovation. Afternoon Shopping in Mall or Waterpark visit. Day 7: Depart San Jose and fly back to the UK.

To make the most of the ‘free time’ segments in your Business study trip to San Francisco, why not try out some of these ideas?

  • Golden Gate Bridge Visitor Centre and Walk
  • Raging Waters, Waterpark in San Jose
  • A local mall
  • Madame Tussauds
  • Golden Gate Bay cruise
  • The Walt Disney Family Museum

 

 

 

Getting there

Flights to San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle are available through several airlines from regional airports throughout the UK. Aer Lingus offers pre-clearance in Dublin, allowing you to fly from your local airport, pass through US customs in Dublin, and avoid those lengthy queues when you land in the US. We will find flights to meet individual requirements and budgets.

 

Headed for the Frisco bay #AerLingus A post shared by Aer Lingus (@aerlingus) on

Where to Stay

Holiday Inn Express & Suites, San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf
Located near the ever-popular Fisherman’s Wharf, this hotel is the perfect base for students to explore the city. It offers a delicious breakfast buffet and WI-FI, as well as comfortable yet simple rooms.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Santa Clara
Located on El Camino with local shops and restaurants nearby, this hotel is ideal for a stay in San Jose. Stylish rooms with TVs, I-Pod docks and coffee and tea facilities provide a comfortable experience in this fantastic city. Breakfast is provided.

When to visit San Francisco?

If you want warm temperatures, visit San Francisco between September and November. The winter months can be chilly, but provide fantastic rates for hotels and excursions, whilst the summer is a tourist’s haven with numerous local fairs and events.

Our recommendations

Read about where other groups have been to on their study trips here:

The Chase School: Geography Trip to Morocco

Lawrence Sheriff School: Modern Foreign Languages Trip to Cologne

Let's Talk.

To find out more, call us on 03333 110335 or email info@msgtours.com

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03333 110335