1. Letterman Digital Arts Center, San Francisco, CA Yoda Statue and Lucasfilm Lobby
Yoda, you seek Yoda! Take you to him, I will... The Letterman Digital Arts Center is located in a sprawling 17-acre public open space which includes five hundred trees, shrubs, and perennials, places to sit, walk, and picnic, as well as breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is also home to Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), the former LucasArts, and the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Who wouldn't want to come into work every day if the scenery was that beautiful? The greatest part is the statue and fountain of a life size Yoda located right outside Building B, which hosts Lucasfilm. All you have to do when driving up to the Security Guard is to tell him that you want to spend time with the Jedi Master. When I was there, the guard told us that the limit for our time spent with Yoda was one hour. One hour? Isn't that too long to just stare at a fountain? But wait, there's more! During the week, you are allowed to enter the lobby of Lucasfilm Ltd. and browse some of the treasures from Star Wars, including screen-used props and costumes. There's also a life size Boba Fett with his gun drawn, waiting to shoot trespassers, as well as a life size Darth Vader. I must give props to the young security guard inside the Lucasfilm Lobby, though. When I badgered him about if George Lucas was coming in that day or if he had ever met George Lucas, he just kept telling me it was classified information and he couldn't say. Yes, this is the number one spot on my list because it's pretty easy to find, free, and a must for any Star Wars fan. If you can't get into Skywalker Ranch, this is the next best thing and as a little known site in San Francisco, it's one of the most satisfying.
Cost: Free. Hanging out where Star Wars is lived and breathed all day? Priceless.