Angelika/Mike Schilli |
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Michael We've been living in San Francisco for 16 years already and know our way around the city pretty well. Every once in a while, we get German visitors who then want to know what to do in the city. We're usually rolling our eyes when they insist on going to the touristy "Fisherman's Wharf" area, but we've given up on lecturing our friends that this is a waste of time. For some reason, "Fisherman's Wharf" is still listed in the mainstream travel guides, and apparently, if you told your friends back home that you were on vacation in San Francisco but didn't go to the tourist area and ate clam chowder soup out of a hollow loaf of sourdough bread, they'd probably think that something is wrong with you. Oh well.
During years and years of exploring the city, however, we've kept adding to our collection of lesser known visitor attractions, which even the locals here in town find worthwhile going to occasionally. Today, I'm going to open the secret vault and let it all out!
Take a ride on the Cable Car. There's a ticket booth for tourists at Powell (next to the Bank of America ATM machines) selling daily and weekly passes for all public transportation in San Francisco (MUNI, BART, and Cable Car combined), buy one, it's a great deal. (Update 2014-06-08: The 1/3/7-Day Visitor Pass tickets seem to be available now at the ticket vending machines, no longer at the kiosk). Be there early, as around nine the line at the Cable Car gets longer and longer, at times the wait is an hour or more. Exit at Fisherman's Wharf. The Wharf area isn't really that rewarding, but tourists can't be talked out of going there, so just get it over with.
Take a ride to Crissy Fields. (or if you like hiking, it's about three miles from the Wharf). Stroll about one and a half miles alongside the Bay to Golden Gate Bridge. Get on the bridge, walk on the footpath to the first pillar (or all the way to the other end if you like). Alternatively, to get to Crissy Fields, rent a bicycle at "Blazing Saddles" at the Wharf and ride over there.
Walk barefoot in the sand at Ocean Beach. Either start just south of the Cliff House or further south at the end-of-the-line stop Ocean Beach of the N-Judah MUNI street car. Walk south as far as your feet will carry you. Alternatively, park at Sloat Street (about 2 miles south) and walk north. Collect clam shells and sand dollars.
Explore the Mission (mexican neighborhood). If you're hungry, enter a taqueria and order a burrito or tacos. The number of people standing in line are usually a reliable indicator of how good the place is. My personal recommendations: "La Taqueria" (2889 Mission Street), "Papalote" (3409 24th Street). Recommended walking path through the Mission: On 24th street, go from Potrero Street to Valencia Street. At Balmy Street (a tiny alley between Harrison Street and Treat Ave), take a short detour and check out the murals (South American style wall paintings). On Valencia Street, explore the hip/crazy stores between 24th Street and 16th Street. If you're not easily scared, proceed till Market Street and notice some run-down blocks around 14th Street. Alternatively, stop at 16th Street and visit one of the restaurant and bars. Or, enter the Zeitgeist bar and beer garden on Valencia Street at 14th Street.
Take the Alcatraz tour. But book your ticket weeks (!) in advance!
Skate through Golden Gate Park on rented roller blades.
Visit the hippie neighborhood Ashbury-Haight. Check out the stores with vintage and new hippie clothes between Ashbury Street and Golden Gate Park entrance. There's even vinyl record stores! Juvenile runaways from all parts of the country seem to gather here, loitering on the sidewalks.
Get a rental car, drive to Napa or Sonoma Valley up north. That'll take about 1.5 hours one way. Many vineyards offer wine tasting, it's no longer free, usually they charge between $5 to $20. Very good (but expensive) restaurants. If you like great traditional American food, I'd recommend Rutherford Grill.
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