Places of Interest

Pier 39: replication of Victorian era market with shops and restaurants along the length. Very popular day-time attraction with regular performing buskers. Plus, home to large pod of California Sea Lions who can se seen & heard lounging on specially built docks for them just north of the outer pier. Very short walk along embarcadero.

Union Square: premiere shopping district with huge number of shops and restaurants. Can reach via cable car from Hyde or Taylor lines. Or, via F-Market streetcar getting off at Montgomery, Kearney, or Powell stops.

Ferry Building: historic ferry building dating back to 1898. Today, home to a variety of excellent eateries and food shops. Located along the Embarcadero where Market St intersects.  F-Market streetcar stops right in front.

Exploratorium: amazing hands-on science museum that includes over 300 custom-built exhibits for visitor to explore and try.  The huge facility is located at Pier 15. Truly one of the great science museums in the world. Located along the Embarcadero and a stop on the F-Market Streetcar.

Ghirardelli Square: former chocolate factory, that is now mixed-use facility. Multiple storefronts for the famed chocolate, plus restaurants, shops, and San Francisco Brewing. Located 5 blocks west from hotel along Beach St.

Chinatown: largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest Chinatown in North America. Grant St filled with shops and interest architecture. Stockton St includes mostly traditional sidewalk markets and restaurants, very similar to what you would find in a Chinese city. Access via Columbus Ave. Bus: 8 (Powell & North Point)

The Painted Ladies: another iconic San Francisco image, picturesque row of colorful Victorian homes. Located along Alamo Square on one the seven main hills in San Francisco. If you would like to visit, talk with Garrett about to how to get there.

Haight Ashbury: location of the hippie movement and the 1967 Summer of Love. Still retains unique vibe and full of eclectic shops and beautiful restored Victorians. Located along the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park on the west side of the city. If interested in visiting, talk with Garrett about how to get there.

Lombard St: iconic street with 8 hairpin turns, originally created to prevent carriages from racing down steep street. Located between Hyde St & Columbus Ave; Hyde-Powell cable car passes along the upper end. Unfortunately, it’s popular area for criminals to rob tourists. Do not visit in evening or take expensive camera there at any time. 

Coit Tower: iconic fluted concrete column that has been a staple of San Francisco’s skyline since 1933. Famous for its murals depicting life in California during the Depression and flock of wild (noisy) parrots. Fee for elevator: $10 adult, $7 Senior (62+). Group tour available – 4 to 6 people for $10 pp last 30-40 mins. Located on Telegraph Hill.  Bus: 39 pickup at Powell & Beach

Cable Car Museum: dedicated to the history and science of the cable car. Located in the actual building with cable pulling mechanism and provide viewing platforms showing that actual pulleys in use. Located on Mason St in Nob Hill. Taylor St Cable Car passes right next to museum. If interested, talk with Garrett about the best way to visit.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park: NPS managed Pacific Coast maritime history park including Visitor Center, Maritime Museum, Maritime Research Center, and Aquatic Park Historic District with a variety of historic ships. Located in Fisherman’s Wharf at Jefferson & Hyde St, Hyde Street Pier

Restaurants

Fisherman’s Wharf: Cioppino’s, Sabella & La Torre, Franciscan Crab Restaurant, The Codmother Fish & Chips, Surisan (Korean)

Little Italy: Sotto Mare, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Sodini’s, Original Joe’s, Piccolo Forno, Tommaso’s Ristorante Italiano, Cotogna

Excellent restaurant further away: Piperade (Basque tapas), Coqueta (Spanish), Wayfare Tavern, Tadich Grill, Boulevard, Isa Restaurant (French), Karaweik Burmese Cuisine, Swan Oyster Depot, Mensho Tokyo SF

Brewery Nearby: San Francisco Brewing

Activities & Events

Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise: 60-min cruise with narration @ Pier 41 (3p, 4:15p, 5:30p, 6:45p)
Red & White Fleet Cruises: 1hr Bay Cruise, Bridge 2 Bridge Cruise, California Sunset Cruise (1.5hrs) – all depart from Pier 43.5 with multiple times
Fleet Week: Finishing up, but likely will see some ships still in the bay
Green Film Festival of San Francisco:  10/10 @ The Roxie (6:30p) – focus on environment films
Mutiny Radio Comedy Festival: 10/10 @ The Bar on Dolores (8-9:30p) – variety of comics
21st Amendment Oktoberfest 2022: Oct 10 & 11 @ brewery (11a-10p), can rsvp
Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs: 10/11 @ de Young Museum (9:30a – 5:15p)

San Francisco Transit

Cable Car: A moving national historic monument dating by the 1870’s and the world’s last manually operated cable car system. There are 3 remaining cable car lines
   Hyde – Powel Line: most scenic line; runs from Hyde & Jefferson to Powell & Market
   Taylor – Powell Line: closest line; runs from Taylor & Bay to Powell & Market
   California Line: east/west line along California St; runs from Van Ness to Drum St 
Runs daily 7am to 10:30pm. Singe ride costs $8 pp. Tickets must be purchased prior to board at Hyde, Taylor, and Market St location either at ticket booth or via Muni Mobile app.

Streetcar: heritage streetcar service, almost exclusively using historic equipment both from San Francisco’s retired fleet as well as from cities around the world.
  F-Market: runs from Fisherman’s Wharf down Embarcadero & Market St to the Castro
  E-Embarcadero: currently suspended 
Runs daily 7am to 10:00pm. Singe ride costs $3.00 adult, $1.50 senior – paying exact cash to conductor. $5 one-day pass is best deal allowing unlimited rides on the streetcar, light rail, & muni-buses (not cable cars) which can be purchased via Muni Mobile app.

Muni Bus: extensive transit bus lines throughout the city

Muni Light Rail: runs under Market St and connects southern & western parts of the city to downtown

* All-Day Passport – unlimited Cable Car, Streetcar, muni bus & light rail rides. Cost is $13 if use Muni Mobile app or load onto existing Clipper Card. If use paper option, cost is $24.