San Francisco Sights

by Shelley Cardwell

So you've resolved to snub San Francisco's main attractions in order to mix it with the locals and soak up the "real San Fran ". Sure, you could do that - read about San Francisco's neighbourhoods here - but don't dismiss all the tourist options. San Fran is famous for many things, so pick a few good ones and get over your "I don't wanna be a tourist" tude dude. Avoid trappings like exorbitant tickets for open-top double decker buses: work out the cheaper MUNI and BART systems instead. Do take at least one ride on a cable car. These enduring icons save your legs as well as offering a scenic ride. Hanging precariously off the edge as the cable car rolls up and down some of the city's steeper streets is pure enjoyment; the kind that taps into your inner child.

Alcatraz should also be on your San Fran checklist. Where else can you visit a prison in the middle of a harbour, where hot water was not a luxury afforded to its inmates but as a means of ensuring they did not acclimatise to the cold and brave a hypothermic escape? Splurge on the Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio Tour for a spirited retelling of the prison's unconventional punishment methods. Alcatraz Cruises departs from Pier 33. Other cruise companies will take you by the prison but cannot stop there.

As part of our Adventure package at The Mosser Hotel we received a Blazing Saddles guided bike tour. There may be times when you're convinced you've put yourself through unnecessary torture, but the sights are rewarding and the bikes do have cushioned seating. Our ride took us along the Bay Trail, through the Presidio, over the misty Golden Gate bridge, and then back by ferry from Sausilito. If you're a bit fitter you can extend your ride to hug the tall trees in Mt Tamalpais State Park or stop for refreshments at the seaside village of Tiburon.

There's plenty of freebies around San Francisco too. Check out the wild sea lions huddling on Pier 39. The first sea lions "hauled out" to safety on the dock after the 1989 earthquake. They continue to return, some even remain permanently, because of the abundant food source and lack of predators in the bay. Drive down the world's crookedest street; a small section of Lombard street near the top of Russian Hill famous for its 27° incline. Winding left to right avoids a head over heels tumble, but technically Lombard street is not the most crooked or steepest in San Francisco. Still it is the most photogenic, particularly in springtime. There are more photo opportunities at the top of Coit tower on Telegraph Hill, which has an observation platform with spectacular 360° views over San Francisco. The interior of the 63m tall cylindrical tower is equally as interesting. It's decorated with murals depicting life in California during the Great Depression. The lobby murals and outside vista points are free, but there is a fee to go up the elevator. Skip around the Presidio of San Francisco, once an army post for three nations, or any of the beautiful leafy parks that make up the broader Golden Gate National Park. Click here for maps of all the Golden Gate National Parks areas, including the Presidio, Marin County and Golden Gate Conservancy. If walking's your "thang", there are also free walking tours of the city led by dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers.

Check out all San Francisco tours here.

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