| While it's said that "nobody walks in L.A.," it's known | | | | Hill to view the Murals created by some of California's |
| that everyone walks in San Francisco. Having been a | | | | leading artists of the 30s depicting life in the Great |
| resident and frequent visitor to San Francisco, I can | | | | Depression. The murals are definitely worth seeing, |
| tell you that the very idea of walking in the City has | | | | either as a tour group or on your own. San Francisco |
| always seemed odd to me. Let's face it; it's not the | | | | City Guides say their tour shows you some murals |
| flattest town in which to walk. Yet, that's what | | | | not shown to the general public, so I recommend |
| everyone does. Walk, and huff and puff, and walk | | | | you consider the tour for this San Francisco landmark. |
| some more. There's just something about San | | | | "Ghost Walks" |
| Francisco that makes you want to step outside your | | | | Here are a couple fun walking tours. The "Ghost |
| hotel and walk. Perhaps it has something to do with | | | | Walk at City Hall" and the "Ghost Walk at the Palace" |
| the many different fascinating neighborhoods and | | | | are held in October only, and explore, what else, |
| buildings that compel people to slow down and take | | | | ghostly occurrences. |
| it all in. | | | | The tours typically begin in easy to identify and very |
| If you're planning a vacation or holiday to San | | | | public places and most of them even meet near |
| Francisco one of the best ways to actually | | | | access to public transportation in order to |
| experience the city is to take a walking tour. And, | | | | accommodate visitors coming from other areas of |
| when it comes to walking tours, both free and | | | | the city. |
| fee-required, San Francisco has more than its share | | | | Fee-Required Tours: |
| (it must have taken some from L.A.). | | | | While you do have plenty of opportunity for free |
| Free Walking Tours | | | | walking tours, you might also consider some of the |
| First, let's begin with the free tours offered by San | | | | fee-required tours. One such fee-required tour is |
| Francisco City Guides, a non-profit organization of | | | | Hobnob Tours, a walking tour of Nob Hill, often times |
| more than 200 trained volunteers who lead free | | | | referred to as Snob Hill due to the number of |
| walking tours in San Francisco (donations, of course, | | | | wealthy people who live there. This two-hour tour |
| are gladly accepted). If you visit their website, | | | | costs $30 and takes you to an elegant ballroom |
| sfcityguides.org, you'll notice an interesting array of | | | | where Tony Bennett belted out "I Left My Heart in |
| free walking tours offered every day of the week, | | | | San Francisco," through spectacular Grace Cathedral, |
| tours like "1906 Earthquake and Fire," "Art Deco | | | | through Huntington Park, with a cable car ride up Nob |
| Marina," "Chinatown," "City Hall," "Downtown Deco," | | | | Hill. There is an optional breakfast, lunch or high tea at |
| "Financial District" and "Gold Coast Architecture." A | | | | added cost. You can call for more information at 866- |
| few of the more interesting walks include: | | | | 851-1123. |
| "Bawdy & Naughty" | | | | Another Fee-required tour is a tour of Chinatown |
| This downtown two-block walk explores the arrival | | | | which includes a visit to a fortune cookie factory and |
| of "professional" women in San Francisco during the | | | | herbal pharmacy, as well as a hosted 10-course Dim |
| Gold Rush. And, no, we're not talking about women | | | | Sum lunch at a Chinatown restaurant. The tour-only |
| doctors or lawyers. | | | | price is $28 for adults, $15 for children 6-17. With the |
| "Castro: Tales of the Village" | | | | added Dim Sum lunch the price is $40 for adults, $27 |
| The Castro area in San Francisco is a predominately | | | | for children. You can call for reservations at |
| gay area of town. But, it wasn't always that way. | | | | 415-982-8839. |
| This tour explores the early years of the Castro. | | | | Whichever tour you decide to take you will probably |
| "Coit Tower Murals" | | | | leave you feeling satisfied, either with a greater |
| This tour takes visitors to Coit Tower on Telegraph | | | | insight to San Francisco, or with great Dim Sum. |