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