I’m guessing you, and different vacationers won’t have heard of those hidden gems in San Francisco.
Or, you might have heard of them however not thought-about it as a part of your San Francisco journey.
Maybe your head is simply too crammed with the very best issues to do in San Francisco like using the cable automobile, watching the ocean lions at Pier 39, or bike using throughout the Golden Gate Bridge. Don’t miss checking these off your San Francisco bucket record.
BUT, I can promise you these lesser identified San Francisco points of interest will give you a extra rewarding and enriching expertise.
These San Francisco hidden gems are the locations the locals like to go. And in the event you’re like me, you like to expertise what is exclusive a couple of metropolis or vacation spot and what makes it a treasure for the locals dwelling there.
Hearts Scavenger Hunt
A cool technique to go to San Francisco California could be to search out a number of of the 131 vibrantly adorned San Francisco hearts scatted across the facet streets, enterprise foyers and home windows, and staircases.
The hearts are adorned with painted mosaics, compilations of polaroid’s, summary works, even portraits of San Francisco’s notorious wild parrots.
Impressed by the traditional Tony Bennett music, I left my coronary heart in San Francisco, the San Francisco Hearts Mission started in 2004 for the San Francisco Common Hospital Basis, elevating cash with inventive contributions from a number of the world’s most notable artists.
Every year, San Francisco artists are invited to color their very personal Coronary heart to be displayed within the metropolis for that yr.
On the finish of every yr, Hearts are auctioned off with proceeds going on to the hospital basis, which has raised over $10 million {dollars} by way of the hearts.
Probably the most recognizable Tony Bennett’s coronary heart titled, America’s Best Metropolis By the Bay resides completely on the nook of Powell and Put up Streets in San Francisco’s Union Sq.. The three different corners of the sq. even have hearts.
All the ‘heartworks’ are privately owned and a few are in simply found areas, such because the lobbies and storefronts of our beneficiant company supporters, others are on the houses of personal people
Discover some in areas equivalent to Metropolis Corridor, Pier 39, San Francisco Common Hospital, and AT&T Park.
Andy Goldsworthy Artwork, Presidio Park
Andy Goldsworthy is Andy Goldsworthy OBE is a British sculptor, photographer and environmentalist who produces site-specific sculptures and land artwork located in pure and concrete settings.
A number of of his artwork installations are situated within the Presidio.
Goldsworthy’s 4 Presidio items – Spire, Wooden Line, Tree Fall, and Earth Wall – may be visited individually or explored collectively through a three-mile mountaineering loop
Spire, made out of the trunks of 35 cypress bushes towers 90 ft into the air and blends in with the encircling Monterey cypress bushes. It’s situated off the Bay Ridge Path.
My favourite was Woodline, expertly camouflaged and in stunning synergy with the encircling forest panorama of Eucalyptus bushes and fallen foliage.
It took me a second of strolling on the logs mendacity on the bottom to comprehend they had been the artwork set up after which I may observe their weaving sample down the tree lined path and was fairly astounded by its magnificence.
Whereas Spire invitations you to search for and ponder the rejuvenation of this stunning metropolis forest, Wooden Line invitations you to ponder the place the lifetime of a tree begins…the fertile earth.
Tree Fall is throughout the red-tile roof of the Powder Journal constructing southeast of the Predominant Parade Floor and Earth Wall is contained in the Presidio Officers’ Membership.
Each invite viewers to come back inside and to ponder the connection between what’s “pure” and what’s “constructed.
Video: Driving tour of San Francisco Neighborhoods
Tin How Temple, Chinatown
Most individuals come to Chinatown on the lookout for Golden Fortune Cookies, Ross Alley, and Dim Sum.
You could find many different treasures and San Francisco secret spots within the oldest neighborhood within the bay space – and the most effective neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Pop into Tin How Temple, the oldest extant Tao Temple in temple in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and one of many oldest still-operating Chinese language temples in the USA.
It’s solely a small area on the 4th flooring of an condominium constructing on Waverly St and there’s not a lot else to do however scent the incense, absorb the peaceable ambiance and marvel at one thing fairly historic and magical.
Whereas strolling round Chinatown, take note of the murals on the partitions too. They’re simply as worthy of consideration because the murals within the Mission District and may be labeled as hidden San Francisco factors of curiosity.
Jack Kerouac Alley
I believed this was the most effective locations in San Francisco I noticed.
Flanked by the Vesvuio café and beatnik bookstore, Jack Kerouac Alley is the place the East meets the West.
Chinatown merges into Little Italy and as you stroll from one finish to the opposite, look all the way down to study a couple of nuggets of knowledge from Confucius to Maya Angelou.
Close by is the steepest avenue in San Francisco, Caffe Trieste the place Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay for the Godfather, and Vesuvio Café the place Jack Kerouac and Allen Ghinsberg used to sit down and ponder the which means of life over a couple of cocktails.
For years it’s hosted writers, poets, artists, and musicians. Its unique Beat-era Bohemian spirit remains to be very a lot alive, with little adjustments to its design and objective since its institution in 1948.
Add this to your record of secret locations in San Francisco.
Metropolis of Lights Bookstore
Metropolis Lights Bookstore was based in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin and have become grew to become an immediate gathering place for readers, writers, artists, and activists.
This bookstore is synonymous with Beatnik tradition, showcasing the Beat Technology’s writing works and is finest identified for publishing Allen Ginsberg’s Howland Different Poems.
Metropolis of Lights is likely one of the most well-known impartial bookstores within the USA and has probably the most complete collections of any bookstore in San Francisco.
Throughout three flooring you’ll discover new-release books from main publishing homes in addition to harder-to-find, specialty publishers.
I headed straight to the second flooring the place the Beatnik publications are and did what anybody wannabe author and religious traveler would do, picked up a duplicate of The Open Street at Metropolis of Lights Bookstore and headed subsequent door to Vesuvio Café to learn a couple of chapters.
Vesuvio Café
Vesuvio Café has been on my San Francisco bucket record for a while, however as its 21+ bar we walked previous on our earlier go to.
I used to be not going to move up this second alone to learn a e book with a glass of wine in some of the well-known bars within the USA.
It’s the type of bar you wish to sit round in all day and, whereas I relished the chance to sit down alone and browse, I used to be envious of the twenty-somethings sitting across the bar deep in dialog and laughter.
This was the type of pub I discovered myself in as a traveler in London and Europe – chasing desires.
This was a pub that advised tales.
And had tales born from inside – most of the greats have gotten sloshed right here: Dylan Thomas, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Bob Dylan.
I selected one of many balcony tables by the window over wanting the bookstore and Jack Kerouac Alley.
Transamerica Redwood Park
What native wouldn’t wish to escape from their busy workplace to sit down with a redwood grove on their lunch break?
Vacationers are going to adore it as effectively.
As you’re exploring the Monetary District in Downtown San Francisco and gazing up on the Transamerica Pyramid formed constructing you’ll be able to see from all around the metropolis, you’ll want to pop subsequent to the small half acre pocket park subsequent to it.
80 mature redwood bushes introduced in from the Santa Cruz Mountains had been planted there in 1972. Fifty of the unique bushes stay, making a shaded, inexperienced oasis amidst the world’s glass and metal skyscrapers.
With ferns and fountains it’s a tranquil place to sit down for some time and one of many true San Francisco hidden gems.
Mark Twain as soon as lived and wrote on this website. Ponder that as you stare on the leaping frog sculptures within the fountain which might be in remembrance of him.
Video of our Non-public Strolling Tour of San Francisco (+Alcatraz tour)
Twin Peaks View
Look down on the winding street from above, automobile lovers will acknowledge it from quite a few automobile Commercials. Fairly the backdrop for it proper?
Twin Peaks is called for a pair of 922-foot-high summits in a distant residential neighborhood with trendy houses densely packed on steep heaps alongside winding streets.
Greatest time to go to Twin Peaks is both early within the morning proper earlier than dawn or sundown.
Getting there by automobile:
- From downtown, take Market southwest till it turns into Portola. From Portola, take a proper on Twin Peaks Blvd. and observe the street as much as the highest.
- Or, take Market to seventeenth, then go left on Clayton, then proper on Twin Peaks Blvd. After you are taking the correct, take one other left to remain on Twin Peaks Blvd. after which you’ll be able to wind as much as the parking zone on the summit.
Lands Finish and Sutro Baths
How did I not find out about, or take note of this space of San Francisco earlier than?
The Sutro Baths on the finish of the Lands Finish Path (or starting relying the place you begin) is so attention-grabbing.
It was as soon as the most important public swimming recreation space on this planet, earlier than it was destroyed by a fireplace in …
There at the moment are a couple of crumbling stays on the sting of the ocean – the last word infinity pool. The view right here out to a couple rock outcroppings is stunning. The Pier 39 seals used to reside right here after which by some means had been spooked by the 1986 earthquake and moved themselves to their present location.
The attractive Lands Finish Path will give spectacular views of San Francisco’s rugged shoreline hugged by cypress pine and the odd gum tree.
It’s additionally a path to get many stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge spanning throughout the bay. I liked how quiet this path was. It’s a mile return hike.
We walked from the beginning of the trial on the east facet till the trail taking place to the Labyrinth.
Sadly we ran out of time however the labyrinth is one other of the hidden gems in San Francisco that’s meant to be definitely worth the return hike all the way down to.
Video: Bike Trip by way of Golden Gate Park and Lands Finish Path
Baker Seashore
Baker Seashore wouldn’t be a spot I’d advocate to hangout for an entire seaside day. I couldn’t think about that’s a type of finest issues to do in San Francisco, ever?
Too chilly, too windy, harmful water circumstances. I additionally discovered the sand fairly darkish and yucky and there was a little bit of trash round.
Fortunately, our women picked up plenty of it – the nice Junior Rangers they’re.
However the view from Baker Seashore of the Golden Gate Bridge towards the Marin Headlands is particular.
You can even admire the homes perched on the cliffs at Sea Cliff. The large brownish purple one on the finish is Jack Dorsey’s home, proprietor of Twitter. You can even see it from the Lands Finish Path from the China Seashore facet.
Remember to drive by way of the beautiful Sea Cliff neighborhood after to have a look at the million-dollar houses lining the cliff face.
Bike Trip over Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito
You won’t consider this as the most effective hidden gems in San Francisco, as this excellent half day or full day expertise is turning into very fashionable on a visit to San Francisco.
However, Sausalito is a spot locals like to go for a calmer native bayside expertise and recent seafood. And it’s an space that jogs my memory a lot of Sydney.
Craig and I biked from Fisherman’s Wharf to Tiburon, which is additional across the bay from Sausalito in 2006. It was a spotlight of our journey to San Francisco. We caught the ferry again as a substitute of using as it will be too huge of a day. The bike over the bridge is way additional than you suppose.
We contemplated biking the bridge with our children on this San Francisco trip, however felt it was too chilly and windy. After six months of RVing within the winter I simply couldn’t deal with any extra chilly circumstances!!
We rode round Golden Gate Park as a substitute.
Try the Sausalito houseboats whereas there – it’s slightly vitality saving enclave that has popped up full with a neighborhood of mailboxes. They’re cute, however dont be deceived, in true San Francisco fashion, these run down wanting houses are value a good bit of cash.
Our choose for espresso could be Cibo.
Undoubtedly put this in your record of actions to do in San Francisco.
Try this 3 hour Sausalito Cycle tour. Or, bike rent (and guided bridge bike excursions) are a part of the San Francisco Sightseeing Cross.
Spectacular Views from Coit Tower
Coit Tower is a 210-foot white, fluted tower within the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. It’s surrounded by Pioneer Park, which was established in 1876 on the previous website of the telegraph station.
It prices $10 to go to the highest of the tower for the views, however it’s value it. You’ll get 360-degree unobstructed views of San Francisco metropolis and bay space – all the best way out to the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island and Angel Island.
If the everyday San Francisco fog has risen and the blue sky is radiating, you’ll see views that may make you suppose you’ve landed on a Greek island. (Try this Reel)
You might benefit from the murals downstairs on the partitions telling the story of life in California throughout the Melancholy.
Pioneer Park, on the backside of the tower has good gardens and seating areas and trails. I completely LOVED the large gum bushes round right here. As if San Francisco didn’t’ remind me of Sydney sufficient.
I’ve been advised there are parrots alongside the paths in Pioneer Park. the tower right here. I didn’t see any however was not paying consideration.
Staircases adorned with Mosaic Tiles
San Francisco is a hilly metropolis, so to cut back the ache of getting up and down the streets they’ve created a couple of fairly stairways across the metropolis with patterned mosaic tiles, or stunning gardens.
Two staircases we appreciated had been:
- Lyon Road Steps have manicured gardens on both facet with gorgeous views of the Palace of Fantastic Arts and San Francisco Bay. You’ll even discover a Coronary heart of San Francisco on the backside of the steps.
- The Lincoln Park staircase in Sea Cliff is a vivid and colourful tiled mosaic staircase main as much as views and beautiful bushes standing guard.
We found these stairs as a hidden gems in San Francisco on our non-public Audi tour with our good friend Michael who owns Boutique Traveler.
Different San Francisco Staircases of observe:
- At sixteenth and Moraga, you’ll discover SF’s most well-known mosaic stairway, the sixteenth Avenue Tiled Staircase
- Hidden Backyard Stairs characteristic flowers, butterflies, leaves and different backyard staples.
Presidio Park
I used to be so shocked I had not heard of Presidio Park till January of this yr!
The Presidio Park was a real delight to spend time in and it rapidly grew to become one in all my favourite San Francisco points of interest.
It’s included on our 3-day San Francisco itinerary as I imagine it’s so unmissable.
With strolling trails, historic buildings, museums, artwork installations, biking trails, seashores, spectacular bay and bridge views, and huge open inexperienced areas for picnics and communal gatherings make one of many true San Francisco hidden gems.
Don’t miss the Sunday Presidio Picnic throughout the summer season when the Parade floor is lined with native meals and beer vehicles.
The Walt Disney Museum can be superior as is the numerous totally different mountaineering trails you are able to do. Ecology Path is a straightforward overview that takes you to some viewpoints.
Video: Issues to do in Presidio Park:
Try how cool Presidio Park is! Plus, peer inside our lodge, The Kimpton Sir Francis Drake.
Ice Cream from Bi-Ceremony Creamery
Your quest for scrumptious and distinctive ice cream flavors will take you into the colourful neighborhood of the Mission District and to Bi-Ceremony Creamery.
My choose: Espresso and Toffee. Good for a refreshing afternoon choose me up.
Take your ice cream to Mission Dolores Park. The views from right here was one in all my favourite views of San Francisco.
Whereas within the Mission District you’ll want to take a look at:
- Mission Dolores Park. The highest of the park (between Church and Dolores St) You’ll discover excellent views of town skyline and is an ideal spot for the skateboard lovers, households and picnickers.
- Mission Dolores was based by Spanish clergymen in 1776, making it the oldest constructing in San Francisco and the oldest mission chapel nonetheless standing in California.
Admire the Mission Murals
A whole bunch of partitions and fences all through the Mission District are adorned with colourful murals displaying cultural heritage and social political statements.
It’s a vibrant out of doors artwork gallery and one of many cool locations in San Francisco so that you can discover on foot.
- Clarion Alley displays quite a lot of inventive types and shares themes of social inclusiveness.
- Balmy Alley has been showcasing native ideas and humanities on its partitions for the reason that mid-Nineteen Eighties favoring outrage over human rights and corruption.
- The Girls’s Constructing has a shocking full Maestra Peace mural throughout two of its partitions and is a collaboration between seven girls artists.
Video: GoCar tour of San Francisco and Mission District Murals:
Chocolate Croissants from Arsicault Bakery
Arsicault bakery is likely one of the true hidden meals gems of San Francisco!
These are award profitable croissants guys! And never simply any award, however the BEST CROISSANTS IN THE COUNTRY award!!
Oh My Gosh.
They definitely earned that! I’m gluten free and couldn’t resist a chew. It was so troublesome to not demolish your complete factor.
The croissant was so mushy and buttery and candy. Completely soften in your mouth goodness.
For foodies, this is likely one of the finest off the overwhelmed path San Francisco locations to eat.
Coming second in the very best croissants in San Francisco is Tartine Bakery within the Mission District. Our good friend and tour information Michael from Boutique Traveler gave us that tip.
Ferry Constructing Lunch and Farmer’s Market
How the Ferry Constructing isn’t extra common with vacationers I don’t know.
They’re all vying for clam chowder and fried seafood down at Fisherman’s Wharf. I’ll commerce that for the all native, natural seafood from The Ferry Constructing any day.
This place been an iconic San Francisco landmark because it opened in 1898, the place it started because the transportation point of interest for trains and ferries.
The constructing’s good blue façade and clock tower gives views out over the Bay and Bay Bridge, and there’s a farmers market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and (even greater) on Saturdays.
Buttery lemon mussels or recent oysters not your factor? What about freshly baked bread or empanadas.
There’s additionally native honey, chocolate, cheese, ice cream, chocolate almond brittle and my favourite and full retailer devoted to gluten free pastries.
The Ferry Constructing showcases the superb produce California has on their doorstep. I used to be so upset we needed to run out of this constructing with meals in hand to catch our Alcatraz Island Ferry tour and couldn’t attempt one thing from each retailer.
There’s historical past inside these partitions as effectively. When all else round it crumbled and burned, the Ferry constructing withstood the wrath of Mom Nature.
Remember to stroll out the again for a stunning view of Bay Bridge and Treasure Island.
The F Market streetcar stops proper out the entrance.
Seward Road Slides
We didn’t make the >Seward Road Slides, however we had a number of individuals advocate it to us as one of many locations to go to in San Francisco that the locals love.
Two lengthy, steep concrete slides, designed by 14-year-old Kim Clark, are the principle occasion on this neighborhood backyard.
It says to convey a chunk of cardboard and put on sturdy pants and benefit from the thrill. All adults should be accompanied by kids!
Angel Island
This island within the San Francisco Bay tends to get overshadowed by the a lot smaller Alcatraz Island.
Angel Island is San Francisco’s reply to Ellis Island, a spot the place immigrants had been processed earlier than making their technique to their new life in California or past.
Now it’s a state park and is stuffed with mountaineering and biking trails. Ferries go away…
Japantown
Most individuals head to Chinatown, however we additionally loved visiting Japantown.
The five-tiered Peace Pagoda and vivid purple cherry blossom banners mark the area of the oldest of three remaining Japantowns within the US.
While we have now not but visited Japan, our non-public tour information Michael from the Boutique Traveler has (study extra about him and his excursions down beneath) and he says this Japantown is as genuine as it may possibly get exterior of Japan.
Issues to see and do:
- Head for the Japan Heart, a procuring complicated that’s two blocks lengthy crammed with dozens of retailers and loads of locations to get your Japanese meals repair.
- Kabuki Springs and Spa for a conventional Onsen expertise
- Catch a film on the Kabuki Theater
- Benefit from the Cherry Blossom Competition within the spring
- Self-guided historic strolling tour. The primary plague is on the Japanese facet of the Peace Plaza and can information you to what you will notice and do and the place the following cease is.
- Calm down within the Peace Pagoda located in a courtyard between Japan Heart’s East and West mall. The Peace Pagoda was gifted to the individuals of San Francisco by Osaka Japan in 1968.
Marin Headlands
Hawk Hill is likely one of the finest locations to observe the sundown with views of town.
We didn’t make it to right here because the street was closed for some cause. We additionally ran out of time.
However this was one other factor really useful to us as an area’s favourite. There are numerous trails for mountaineering, Rodeo Seashore, and beautiful views of the Pacific Coast and San Francisco.
Really useful is a scenic drive alongside Conzelman Street from the northern foot of the Golden Gate Bridge to Level Bonita.
Remember to additionally go to Muir Woods, which we discuss in our put up on issues to do in San Francisco with children. It’s a San Francisco bucket record merchandise!
Non-public Strolling Tour
An enormous variety of these San Francisco hidden gems we found (and extra) due to our Boutique Traveler excursions.
Michael Glass is the founding father of this award profitable tour firm, which started in San Francisco and now runs excursions in three international locations.
Michael can be a good friend of ours. He’s Aussie however has lived in San Francisco for the previous 8 years and through that point has amassed an enormous quantity of insider San Francisco journey suggestions.
He spent two days with us showcasing his excursions and town he now calls residence. And as our good friend, in fact we are able to attest to his pleasant character.
However we additionally found his ardour for the tales that lie behind what felt like each constructing within the metropolis. Tales that you just move over unknowingly when strolling the streets by yourself, or becoming a member of one of many closely scripted excursions.
Michael helped San Francisco come alive for us by way of tales of the previous from the Gold Rush to the San Francisco earthquakes and fires to its present vibrant and thrilling melting pot of cultures and neighborhoods with their very own fashion and taste.
He made us wish to keep longer and return typically and discover even deeper.
His excursions are small and personalised AND the very best factor is, tour guides additionally grow to be your individual private photographer on the journey.
Calm down and revel in all the things you might be seeing and studying, the guides will seize photographs of you experiencing San Francisco.
I’m positive if you’re like us, there’s at all times somebody lacking in your photographs. we had been so grateful to have photographs of the 4 of us as we made these superb recollections in San Francisco.
UPDATE: our good friend is now not working these excursions (Thanks COVID!!) however I discovered one other non-public strolling tour possibility right here that will get good critiques. We nonetheless extremely advocate this San Francisco exercise!
3-Day San Francisco Itinerary
We mapped out your 3 day journey to San Francisco, together with what we predict are the should see San Francisco points of interest and provide you with a timeframe to get pleasure from them, plus a helpful map that will help you get round!
The right way to Save Cash on San Francisco Sights
The Metropolis Cross saves vacationers 42% or extra on mixed admission to San Francisco’s high points of interest.
Pricing $94 adults and $74 kids age 5-11. It’s legitimate for 9 consecutive days and consists of:
- California Academy of Science
- Non our bay cruise
- Aquarium on the Bay
- Exploratorium or SF Museum of Fashionable Artwork
- and three limitless MUNI bus and cable automobiles.
However, I a lot desire the San Francisco Sightseeing Cross because it consists of extra range of their points of interest and extra native excursions.
We solely used the MUNI from town move. We’re not huge museum individuals so it wasn’t a win for us. And I don’t like how the bay space points of interest are chosen for you.
Video: high points of interest in San Francisco with Children
Click on play to observe the enjoyable we had visiting the High points of interest in San Francisco. You’ll love the Museum of 3D Illusions.
Greatest Promoting Excursions of San Francisco
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