Événement

The Grand Tour of San Francisco - Part 1

Come experience the beauty and uniqueness of San Francisco, its stunning vistas and its subtle charms.

Join Monika for an eclectic walking/riding tour tracing San Francisco's transition from an 18th century mission/pueblo to the booming Queen City of the West to the modern metropolis of the 21st century. Learn about the impact of the Gold Rush, the Comstock Lode discovery and the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. Sites visited include San Francisco's oldest building ($5/$3 entry fee), a Gold Rush-era museum, its magnificent City Hall (security bag check), a 1950s Beat-era bookshop, and one of its grandest hotels. Tour attendees will view an array of architectural styles, including the "Painted Ladies," and enjoy the city's public art, urban parks and picturesque cityscapes.

Tour features Monika's witty, but accurate, commentary plus her collection of vintage maps and photographs which make the past come alive. The tour will stop for lunch at noon or so at a neighborhood café and, again, mid-afternoon, at a saloon that goes back to 1851 for a cocktail which originated in San Francisco in the 1890s. All public transit costs are included for cable cars, streetcars, buses; restroom stops along the way. Maximum of 10 attendees. Reservations required.

Districts/Neighborhoods visited:
Alamo Square, Hayes Valley, Castro District, Jackson Square District, Chinatown, Mission District, Civic Center, Nob Hill, Dolores Heights, North Beach, Financial District, Portsmouth Square

Important: To enjoy this walking tour, you must be able to walk up two flights of stairs, down one flight and up two separate moderate-size hills. For your comfort and safety, please wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes (no flip-flops or loose sandals). San Francisco has many micro-climates, so please dress in layers. Wearing sunscreen and, perhaps, a hat or a visor is a good idea. Also, bring water, a camera and lunch money and be ready to enjoy a fun day.

Tours go forward rain or shine. In the case of heavy rain, cancellation is at the discretion of the tour leader (refunds only in this case).